Mr. Jose I. Gutierrez was born in Havana, Cuba but raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico after his family relocated in 1964. He is a graduate of Marquette University where he received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in 1983.

Mr. Gutierrez started his Government career in 1982 as a Cooperative Engineering student while completing his college education. In 1994 he received a Masters degree in Business Administration at Averett College and in 1996 a graduate level Certification in Public Management at the University of Indiana. Mr. Gutierrez is also a graduate of the Defense Systems Management College and a member of the Acquisition Professional Community.

Mr. Gutierrez started his professional career in 1984 in the Replenishment at Sea Systems Division of NAVSEA as the Life Cycle Manager for Fueling at Sea Systems. In this position he represented the U.S. Navy at NATO and was selected as the Chairman of the NATO Technical Working Group to negotiate standardization agreements on issues pertaining to joint Replenishment at Sea systems and operations. Mr. Gutierrez also performed temporary assignments at Norfolk Naval Shipyard Design Division and the Naval Ship Weapon Systems Engineering Station in Port Hueneme, California. In 1988 Mr. Gutierrez accepted a two-year assignment in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as the Fleet Modernization Program Manager and Budget Coordinator for OP 37. He was awarded the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award for his efforts in support of OP 37 and the Fleet Modernization Program.

In 1989, Mr. Gutierrez returned to NAVSEA as the FFG 7 Fin Stabilizer Life Cycle Manager until 1990 when he accepted a position in the Industrial Quality Assurance Division as a Quality Control Engineer. In this role he helped industry to identify production line flaws and establish quality plans to reduce inspection and institute process control management practices. In 1992 he was detailed to the Environmental Engineering Group to develop and coordinate the Fleet environmental compliance program and ship alteration schedule. In 1993 he was selected as the Director of the Naval Pumps Branch and in 1994 as the Director of the Fluid Systems Technology Division. In these two capacities Mr. Gutierrez managed the introduction of new and emerging material technologies to reduce maintenance and improve efficiency on shipboard auxiliary piping systems and components.

He also performed a series of temporary assignments through various Navy activities. These include serving as Deputy Program Manager for the AEGIS Foreign Military Sales Program Office. In this role he managed FMS contracts for the sale of the AEGIS technology to Japan and Spain for their new class of destroyers and frigates. He also served as the Deputy Program Manager for the Naval Surface Fire Support Program Office; as Action Officer at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Ship Programs; and as Maintenance Officer in the Sixth Fleet Staff in Combat Task Force 63.

Before joining FTSCLANT, Mr. Gutierrez was the Director of the Next Generation Technology Division in the Naval Surface Fire Support Program Office. In this capacity he was responsible for the development and integration of Land Attack Standard Missile Weapons Control System to be introduced on AEGIS ships after the turn of the century. He also was responsible for the development of the advanced projectile and propellant charge for the Advanced Gun System currently being developed for the DD 21 Land Attack Destroyer.