Board Member since November 2010. The current term expires in December 2024
Chair: Human Relations Committee ~ Member: Engineering Committee
Dir. Martin grew up in Long Beach, California where he attended Wilson High School, Long Beach Community College, and Cal State Long Beach, majoring in art history. In 1968, he started a career in law enforcement with the Santa Monica Police Department. For the next three decades, President Martin worked on a wide range of assignments including Narcotics, Robbery-Homicide, Communications, Crime Prevention, Community Relations, and Special Enforcement. His last assignment was to command the police sub-station in the busy downtown Third Street Promenade. He retired from the Santa Monica PD in 2000 and was recognized for his service by the Governor of California and the President of the United States.
Dir. Martin has previously served on the board of directors or advisory boards of 10 organizations, including the United Way, Urban Water Institute Board of DirectorsWestside Shelter Coalition, Claire Foundation for Substance Abuse, National Conference of Christians and Jews, the Bay Area Hotel Security Association, and the City of Desert Hot Springs Public Safety Commission.
He currently serves on the Urban Water Institute Board of Directors, Riverside County Wide Oversight Board, is a member of the Agua Caliente Tribal Water Authority Board, and a Member of the Priority One Coachella Valley Advisory Committee’s effort to bring a 4 year College Campus to the Coachella Valley. He has lived in Desert Hot Springs since 2006 with his wife Florence. His daughter, Jaclyn, graduated from Columbia College film school in Los Angeles and previously taught school in South Korea. Jaclyn returned to the U.S. and is now attending college in San Francisco pursuing her master’s degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. His daughter, Katie, graduated from Sonoma State University with a degree in ancient history and now resides in Boston with her husband Evan, and daughter Avery. Katie just recently blessed the family with grandson James.