Richard L. Rodriguez
Richard L. Rodriguez is the President and CEO of Acero Schools, one of the largest and highest performing public charter school networks in Chicago. With 15 schools serving more than 7,000 K-12 students across the city, Acero partners with students, families and colleagues to cultivate achievement, community, equity, resilience, and optimism at all network schools.
An attorney, Mr. Rodriguez began his legal career with the Office of the Attorney General of Guam, Solicitors Division. He then served as Deputy Director of the Guam Governor’s Disaster Recovery Coordination Office, and later joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Office of General Counsel.
A lifelong Chicagoan, Mr. Rodriguez has since dedicated much of his professional career in service to the city he calls home. Prior to leading Acero Schools he served in a number of public sector leadership roles as President of the Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Commissioner of Buildings, Chicago Commissioner of Aviation, Chicago Commissioner of Energy and Environment, and Managing Director of Operations for the Chicago Housing Authority during the delivery of its historic Plan for Transformation.
Post-government, Mr. Rodriguez served as Vice President of Res Publica Group, a Chicago-based award-winning strategic communications firm, as well as Vice President and Business Development Director of Lendlease Corporation, a global property and infrastructure solutions provider.
A staunch education advocate, life-long learner and son of migrant/immigrant parents, Mr. Rodriguez has served on the Board of Trustees for DeVry University as well as Loyola University Chicago, where he has taught as an adjunct Political Science Professor and continues to pursue a PhD in Sociology. Mr. Rodriguez earned a Juris Doctorate degree with a certification in International Law from the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Sociology and Communications from Loyola University. He resides in Chicago with his wife and is the proud father of five children, three dogs, a turtle, and a hedgehog.
- Name
- Richard L. Rodriguez
- Position
- Chief Executive Officer
- Send email
- Other
- Richard L. Rodriguez is the President and CEO of Acero Schools, one of the largest and highest performing public charter school networks in Chicago. With 15 schools serving more than 7,000 K-12 students across the city, Acero partners with students, families and colleagues to cultivate achievement, community, equity, resilience, and optimism at all network schools. An attorney, Mr. Rodriguez began his legal career with the Office of the Attorney General of Guam, Solicitors Division. He then served as Deputy Director of the Guam Governor’s Disaster Recovery Coordination Office, and later joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Office of General Counsel. A lifelong Chicagoan, Mr. Rodriguez has since dedicated much of his professional career in service to the city he calls home. Prior to leading Acero Schools he served in a number of public sector leadership roles as President of the Chicago Transit Authority, Chicago Commissioner of Buildings, Chicago Commissioner of Aviation, Chicago Commissioner of Energy and Environment, and Managing Director of Operations for the Chicago Housing Authority during the delivery of its historic Plan for Transformation. Post-government, Mr. Rodriguez served as Vice President of Res Publica Group, a Chicago-based award winning strategic communications firm, as well as Vice President and Business Development Director of Lendlease Corporation, a global property and infrastructure solutions provider. A staunch education advocate, life-long learner and son of migrant/immigrant parents, Mr. Rodriguez has served on the Board of Trustees for DeVry University as well as Loyola University Chicago, where he has taught as an adjunct Political Science Professor and continues to pursue a PhD in Sociology. Mr. Rodriguez earned a Juris Doctorate degree with a certification in International Law from the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law, and Bachelor of Arts degrees in both Sociology and Communications from Loyola University. He resides in Chicago with his wife and is the proud father of five children, three dogs, a turtle, and a hedgehog.