John Garcia is currently the District Director of the United States Small Business Administration’s for the New Mexico District Office located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was appointed to this position in October 2016. He is responsible for the statewide delivery of SBA programs and services to support business owners in starting and growing their businesses, create jobs and develop local economies through capital, contracting, exporting and counseling initiatives throughout New Mexico. Garcia first-hand knowledge in business and government, with a strong commitment to our Veterans in our local communities brings a unique asset and advocacy for New Mexico small businesses.
Prior to joining the SBA, John Garcia was President and owner of Garcia & Associates, a privately owned consulting company with over 25 years of professional administrative and hands-on experience in the area of inter-governmental relations working closely with the public and private sector at the federal and state level specializing in strategic planning, tactical marketing, and business development with a special emphasis on veteran wellness and stability.
Garcia & Associates, is a service-disable veteran owned company, which consistently demonstrated excellent interpersonal and communicative skills, critical thinking, and strategic reasoning, sound counseling for both the public and private sector leaders in complex matters, providing sound judgment and a business acumen. Garcia consistently demonstrated cultural sensitivity, planning and project management skills with a strong tactical understanding of issues and needs of small business owners, veterans and their families as well as military members with an emphasis in wellness, education, employment and business development
John M. Garcia was appointed by the White House as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in June 2011. Garcia oversaw VA’s Intergovernmental, Tribal Government, International, and Consumer Affairs Programs. He was responsible for developing, managing and coordinating the department–wide intergovernmental and consumer affairs programs, while providing VA senior leadership with strategic advice, guidance and information by fostering partnerships and acting as a liaison between state, local, tribal and international governments.
Prior to joining the VA, he was appointed by Governor Bill Richardson in January of 2003 as the first Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Veterans Services. In 1991 Garcia was also appointed to serve as Deputy Chief of Staff for the administration of New Mexico Governor Bruce King and during the King administration was alao appointed as the Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Economic Development Department.
Among his numerous awards, he has most recently been presented with the Profile of Courage Award by the Vietnam Veterans of New Mexico. He has received the New Mexico Veteran Small Business Advocate of the Year Award by the New Mexico Small Business Administration. He was presented VA’s National Secretary’s Leadership Award and has been honored by the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs for his leadership as President of the organization with the Iron Mike Award. He was recognized with the National Pillar of the Veteran Business Movement Award, and recently was presented with the Veteran Advocate of the Year Award by the Vietnam Veterans of America, New Mexico Chapter. Garcia also is listed among the Who’s Who Among Hispanic Americans. He is a graduate of Leadership Albuquerque and was awarded the New Mexico Business Leadership Award by N.M. De Colores, the National Hispanic Leadership Award by the Mexican American Foundation and the International Leadership Award from The American Center.
Garcia has served on numerous boards and commissions and most recently was a member of the National Small Business Administration Veteran Business Advisory Board, the U.S. Association of Veterans in Business, and the White House Task Force on Veteran Business Development. He is also Past President of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs.
In 1969 Garcia was drafted into the United States Army and took his Basic and Advance Infantry Training at Fort Ord., California. He served with the 4th Infantry Division in the Central Highlands of South Vietnam from 1969-1970, and was honorably discharged in 1971.
Garcia is a founding member of the Vietnam Veterans of New Mexico and the New Mexico Vietnam Veterans of America. He served 12 years as a Commissioner for the New Mexico Veterans Service Commission. In 1982 he also served in Washington DC as the National Deputy Director of the Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program an initative established by President Ronald Reagan. He was also actively involved with the dedication of the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, DC.
He is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Mr. Garcia attended the University of Albuquerque, Chamber of Commerce Institute at Stanford University and the Kenan-Flagler Business School at University of North Carolina.