The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING RODRIGO ``ROD'' GARCIA
______
HON. JUDY CHU
of california
in the house of representatives
Wednesday, July 20, 2022
Ms. CHU. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Rodrigo
``Rod'' Garcia, who passed away on July 2, 2022. Rod was a respected visionary, leader, and advocate whose incredible life was defined by his dedication to empowering the Hispanic community to achieve educational excellence, economic opportunity, and social equity.
Rod Garcia was born in East Los Angeles, California in 1943. He graduated from California State University, Los Angeles with a bachelor's degree of science in engineering and also obtained an associate degree in engineering from East Los Angeles College, launching a lifelong career in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) field. Rod subsequently served as a civil engineer for the City of Los Angeles and worked for the Port of Los Angeles in Public Works, Building and Safety. Due to his expertise in the field of engineering and his leadership abilities, Rod went on to chair the City of Monterey Park's Planning Commission as well as serving on the Dean of Engineering's Advisory Board for his alma mater, California State University, Los Angeles. Rod also served as president of Century Diversified, Inc., an engineering and construction firm, for over thirty years.
Rod was one of the few Hispanic engineers amidst a tech boom in California in 1973 and despite being in the minority in the STEM field, he gathered a cohort of fellow Hispanic engineers determined to contribute and diversify the sector. That's why, in 1974, Rod founded the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) with the mission of ensuring networking and education opportunities for Hispanic students and professionals in the Southern California region. Shortly thereafter, SHPE's first collegiate chapters were established at California State University, Los Angeles, East Los Angeles College, and the University of Southern California. For five decades, Rod's high-
spirited and fearless leadership propelled the SHPE to reach 13,000 memberships and 286 chapters nationwide. His unique ability to unite community partners and leaders around the country serve as evidence that closing the STEM education gap and increasing the number of Hispanics in STEM can and will be done.
Rod will be remembered by his colleagues and thousands of current and former SHPE students and professionals for his devotion, service, mentorship, and immense contributions to expanding awareness, access, support, and development opportunities to Hispanics in STEM so that they may realize their potential and positively impact the world. His legacy of empowering the Hispanic community to achieve educational excellence, economic opportunity, and social equity will guide many members of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers for generations to come. I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating the life of this extraordinary individual.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 120(1), Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 120(2)
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