Speakers
Joe Garcia
President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
Biography:
Joe Garcia is the President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the largest national Indian organization representing over 250 member Tribal Nations from throughout the United States. Actively involved in NCAI since 1995, Joe Garcia served two, two-year terms as the 1st Vice President of NCAI prior to being elected President in November of 2005. Joe just completed his 3rd term (Jan 2005- Dec 2006) as Governor of Ohkay Owingeh (San Juan Pueblo), located in northern New Mexico. After his term as Governor he was elected as Chairman of the All Indian Pueblo Council (AIPC), the organization which was formed in 1598 and serves the 19 Pueblos of New Mexico. He will serve as Chairman for 4 years (2007-2011).
Joe Garcia was born and raised in Ohkay Owingeh and continues to serve his community in traditional, educational, tribal government, and economic development efforts. Joe and his wife Oneva have three children - Melissa, Nathan, and MorningStar, four grand daughters, Kaelynn Garcia, I-Rey Garcia, and Marcela Garcia and Imperia Bark and one grandson, Emiliano Garcia.
He is an electrical engineer by profession, with an Electrical Engineering degree from the University of New Mexico. In June 2003, Joe retired from Los Alamos National Laboratory after 25 years of service, at which time he started his own firm, MistyLake Consulting Services. He has taught numerous courses in computers, electronics, lasers, and math at the Northern New Mexico Community College since 1979. His professional training also includes Black Belt Certification for the renound Six Sigma Quality Improvement process.
Joe has been recognized for his service to his tribe as well as to the State of New Mexico. In 1995, he was awarded the New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Award and in 1998, Joe received the Luminaries Award from the New Mexico Community Foundation.