Mr. Garcia was born in Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, Texas to an Army family that traveled the world,
as Fort Jackson, South Carolina would be their last duty assignment. He attended High School at
Richland Northeast in Columbia, SC. Mr. Garcia began his military career Active-Duty Army in 1987 and
was deployed to Operation Desert Shield /Desert Storm with First Infantry Division, 1 st Squadron 4 th
Calvary out of Fort Riley, Kansas. After completing his four-year tour in 1991, Mr. Garcia enlisted into
the South Carolina Army National Guard and completed his tour of duty in 1995 and during that time he
was pursuing his studies at Midlands Technical College graduating with an Associates Arts Degree in
Human Services in 1993. He then transferred to the University of South Carolina and graduated with a
Baccalaureate Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Sociology and Psychology in 1997. In
1997, Mr. Garcia enlisted into the United States Marine Corps. He was stationed at Marine Corps Air
Station Beaufort where he was part of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 251 deploying aboard the USS
John F. Kennedy in support of Operation Southern Watch in the Persian Gulf. After his tour duty in the
Unites States Marine Corps, Mr. Garcia enlisted into the South Carolina Army National Guard again in
2001.While in South Carolina Army National Guard Mr. Garcia assumed the responsibilities as State
Personnel Security Manager as a full-time member of the agency until his retirement in April 2018
totaling over 29 years of service. Currently, Mr. Garcia works as a Senior Data Integrity Specialist for
Absolute Total Care and is working on another Baccalaureate Degree in Integrated Information
Technology from the University of South Carolina. Mr. Garcia is avid supporter of the University of
South Carolina Athletics programs and Veterans programs. He is married to Rachel Gunter-Garcia and
they reside in Lugoff, South Carolina. Their daughter Savannah currently attends Primary C at MSC.