We are proud to welcome Josh Cortez to the SOAA Board of Advisors, bringing with him a lifelong commitment to service, veteran advocacy, and national security leadership.
As an eighth-generation Texan, his family’s roots in service stretch to Texas’ founding but it is the lessons passed down through generations of veterans that truly guide his leadership. Cortez’s dedication to veterans is rooted in a family legacy of service spanning from World War II through more than four decades of active duty and Department of Defense service. Those experiences shaped his values of honor, discipline, teamwork, and responsibility, principles that have guided his professional career in public service, policy, education, and business.
Cortez began his career advocating for veterans as a Veterans Liaison for U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, where he worked directly on behalf of Texas veterans and military families. He later served in senior congressional leadership roles, helping strengthen support for veterans’ programs and advocate for military installations across Texas. His work has also included defense policy coordination, support for U.S. Army recruitment initiatives, and advocacy for responsible innovation as a member of the Organizing Committee for the Harvard Business School and MIT Technology and National Security Conference he was able to advocate for responsible innovation in defense technologies.
As a former educator in Texas and an alumnus of both Harvard University and the Darden School at the University of Virginia, Cortez has consistently emphasized the value veterans bring to classrooms, boardrooms, and communities, highlighting their resilience, leadership, and ability to drive innovation in complex environments.
Cortez’s appointment aligns closely with SOAA’s mission to empower, educate, and advocate for Special Operations Forces and their families. His experience across government, academia, and the private sector will support SOAA’s efforts in policy advocacy, economic opportunity, and community building. Most recently, in his current role as a congressional candidate part of his message has been underscoring, not only veteran support, but how veteran voices and relationships are a great example of bipartisan consensus.
SOAA is honored to welcome Josh Cortez to the Board of Advisors and looks forward to his continued leadership in advancing opportunities for America’s Special Operations veterans and strengthening the bridge between military service and civilian impact
