Robert Garza, M.B.A., Instructor; Veteran & Military Council Member

Robert Garza III holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Operational Management from the University of LaVerne in Southern California and a Master of Business Administration from Lourdes University. He is a Navy Veteran who served eight years on active duty and was stationed on the west coast.  Robert traveled to countries such as Singapore, Bahrain, Dubai, and Abu Dabi during his deployments. He developed a deep understanding of other cultures and people through his interactions, which has been invaluable during his professional growth as he transitioned to civilian life.

He was promoted through the ranks rather quickly during his Navy career, which he attributes to his work ethic and love of teaching and helping others. Robert developed a training curriculum and classes for his command of junior sailors, which resulted in a 90% advancement rate. He held numerous other roles as well during his Navy career including Production Manager, Quality Assurance Manager, and Drug and Alcohol Prevention Program Manager.

Robert also possesses extensive operations management knowledge in automotive and industrial manufacturing. He has led many Kaizen projects resulting in millions of dollars saved through process improvements and waste reduction utilizing LEAN principles and leading cross-functional teams. His skillsets derived from his military and manufacturing experience are proven with over 12 years leading cross-functional teams in dynamic, fast-paced environments during high-pressure situations and developed a comprehensive background in Quality Control, Root Cause Analysis, Continuous Process Improvement, Operations Management, Military Leadership, and Complex Problem Solving.

Robert firmly believes that it only takes one person to make a change and strives to be that person in all he does. He serves as a Mentor to business students in the Lourdes University Mentoring program.