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"The Mexican culture is community based. We look out for each other and that’s the foundation for my commitment to public service."
Roberto Garza, Deputy National Coordinator, Health & Social Services Recovery Support Function, Director, Division of Recovery Operations has been in public service since 2006 and has been with ASPR for six years.
What motivated you to work at ASPR? I found the National Disaster Medical System (NDMS) mission exciting and important and wanted to be a part of supporting communities impacted by disasters and public health emergencies. In my current role, I am honored to support communities equitably recover from disasters.
Does your heritage shape the way that you serve the public or give you a unique perspective that contributes to public service? I was raised in Mexico and went to school there K through 12. The Mexican culture is uniquely rich and traditional in regard to family structure, respect for elders, and general overall politeness. That impacts how I interact with people. And the Mexican culture is community based. We look out for each other and that’s the foundation for my commitment to public service. Additionally, as both a Spanish and English speaker (Spanish is my mother tongue), I have the flexibility to communicate to a wider group of people.
Has your work impacted Hispanic or Latino communities? As the Hispanic community is part of the entire community, yes; we respond to the needs of everybody. And it’s not only a short-term response, after the acute phase of a disaster, but also through federal support for locally-led recovery. That can be anything from supplying expertise to helping with identifying grants and applying for federal funds.
National Hispanic Heritage Month
