Ricardo Martinez, Assistant Secretary for Border Affairs

Biography

Ricardo Martinez is Assistant Secretary for Border Affairs for the California Environmental Protection Agency. Ricardo serves as chief advisor to the Secretary for Environmental Protection and the Governor on policy and environmental protection matters related to Mexico and the U.S.- Mexico Border Region. Ricardo is responsible for managing the Border Environmental Program and the Agency’s initiatives related to California-Mexico Affairs, as well managing the newly created California-Mexico Border Relations Council.

Prior to joining Cal/EPA, Ricardo served as the Senior Policy Advisor at the State Water Resources Control Board and has held technical and managerial positions for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, Department of Pesticide Regulation, California Integrated Waste Management Board and Department of Fish and Game.

Since 1994, Ricardo has worked on California-Mexico environmental issues, specifically addressing water and air quality issues, acquiring NAFTA financing for environmental infrastructure projects, building relationships at the three levels of government in Mexico, coordinating the Ten States Retreat, the California Delegation to the U.S.- Mexico Border Governors Conference and developing the concept and structure of the Border 2012 Environmental Program.

Ricardo also coordinates with other state agencies on developing strategic collaboration efforts to address environmental impacts from Mexico to California, as well as assisting the boards, departments, and offices within Cal/EPA to address longstanding and emerging environmental challenges along the California-Baja California border region.

Under Ricardo’s direction, Cal/EPA has been one of few State agencies to sign environmental agreements with the Republic of Mexico.

Ricardo currently serves as the State Representative to the Government Advisory Committee to the Commission for Environmental Cooperation, a position appointed by the USEPA Administrator.

Ricardo holds a Bachelor of Arts in Animal Biology from California State University, Sacramento and is a Graduate of the California Leadership Institute. Ricardo and his wife, Blanca, live in Elk Grove with their three children, Giovanni, Amariani and Diego. Ricardo is an accomplished flyfisher, having taught at the L.L. Bean School of Flyfishing in Maine and having received the L.L. Bean Master Angler Award.

Executive Management Biographies