Featured
“I didn’t get here on my own.”
Jason Montoya, Bureau Chief, Pipeline Safety
He smiled and said, “I was born in Roswell in 1977. My family has always been an integral part of my life. This support structure helped keep my feet on the ground. Almost the day after graduating from Roswell High School, my uncle came by and told me to pack my stuff; you are going to college and getting an education.”
They headed to Las Cruces and New Mexico State University. Jason said, “After having learned to appreciate the daily support a family provided, it was an adjustment for me. But I knew it was important, and even in Las Cruces away from my family, I represent them.”
Jason left New Mexico State University with a degree in Civil Engineering in 2000. He accepted a position with Brown and Caldwell in Phoenix, Arizona, as an entry level engineer. He rapidly began to move through the ranks with the consulting giant. Even though he was making huge advances with the company, he wasn’t exactly where he wanted to be.
Jason Montoya is a New Mexican. His roots were still back home. He wanted to find a way to go back home to give back to the people who made it possible for him to succeed. An opportunity to move back to New Mexico was made possible when Brown and Caldwell needed someone to identify opportunities for business development in West Texas and New Mexico. He accepted the challenge and relocated to Las Cruces in 2008.
Jason said, “My background as an engineer included working with underground infrastructure, and especially water and waste water systems. I certainly understand many of the challenges facing those in the water industry. We must continue to work together to find ways to build trust and confidence in our mutual commitment to keep New Mexico a safer place to live and work.”
His new role kept him busy in the area, but business models do change. His company really wanted Jason to assume a larger and more focused role back in Phoenix. Jason said, “I am a goal oriented individual. I’m committed to achieving my family goals as well as my career goals.”
Part of his goals included staying in New Mexico. His wife Angelique wanted their two children, Paul and Angeline to be raised in the Rio Rancho area. They committed to staying home, believing that staying in New Mexico was not only the right thing to do, but worth the extra effort to make it happen.
Jason said with a big smile, “The Pipeline Safety Bureau Chief’s position opened up. I applied and was selected for the position. I went to work as the Bureau Chief in February 2010. Without debate, I am younger than many of my peers across the country. But that is not necessarily a disadvantage. I believe I’ll be able to bring new perspectives to the position and that can be a good thing.”
He continued, “I’ve not been in the position long, and I am anxious to meet the people our organization impacts. We aren’t here to police people who are working to keep New Mexico’s vital infrastructure flowing, we are here to help them keep it flowing and to do it safely.”
Jason said, “I pride myself on being fair and as an organization, we’re not looking to fine people. What we are looking to do when damages occur is to prevent them from recurring. You should know that the 18 inch rule is being strictly enforced. We want excavators, those who are digging in our state to know that this is not just our policy or suggestion. This is the New Mexico law, and as such, must be respected and followed in the best interests of all our citizens.”
When asked about his goals in the new position, Jason responded, “Certainly I have goals, but at this point it is as much about responsibilities as it is about goals. Including me, there are nine employees. We must understand our roles, and that includes defining our limitations. The staff has done a remarkable job in the past. We are blessed with really good people. They work hard to help everybody who calls on them. That doesn’t surprise me because it is just part of the New Mexico culture. We help one another. I’ve been taught that I owe a debt of gratitude to family, friends, and New Mexicans because I couldn’t get here on my own.”
The Pipeline Safety Bureau is charged with the task of enforcing Federal and State Pipeline Safety Regulations in order to provide for the safety of New Mexico. The Bureau is also responsible for investigating intrastate pipeline incidents/accidents within New Mexico, and is the agency that enforces the State Excavation Damage Prevention Law.
The new Bureau Chief may be working overtime to learn the scope of his new responsibilities, but he brings to the table core values that will help him be successful in his new role. For Jason Montoya, working to keep our communities and families safer is not just a matter of the law.
It’s the right thing to do.
