The Steady Rock: Alex Rodriguez's Resilient Leadership
Alex Rodriguez (right) with his immediate family.
As the youngest of three children born to Mexican immigrants who arrived in California in the early 1970s, Alex Rodriguez learned early that when life gets hard, someone has to step up. This lesson would define his 16-year career at Iris Technology Corporation, where he now serves as Director of Operations, ensuring mission-critical power systems reach the warfighters who depend on them.
Roots and Responsibility
Growing up in Santa Ana, California, Alex's modest home was filled with the hum of family, the richness of Mexican traditions, and core values his parents brought from Mexico: sacrifice, responsibility, and a relentless work ethic. His father and mother balanced multiple jobs — day shifts and office cleaning by night — to chase the American dream for their three children. By age nine, Alex was under the family car with his father, learning to change oil — hands-on lessons that would shape his entire approach to problem-solving and leadership.
When his mother suffered a severe workplace injury during Alex's teenage years, the family's foundation shook. His older sister managed housework, his middle sister Xochitl stepped up financially, and Alex filled the gaps. "I didn't realize how much she did until she couldn't," he recalls. These moments forged the calm, dependable strength that would later define his leadership style at Iris.
From Underdog to Operations Leader
At 18, fresh out of high school, Alex started at the bottom: shipping and receiving at a fitness equipment company in Tustin, California. No college degree. No connections. Just determination to prove himself.
“I was the underdog — young, no degree, overseeing people older and more experienced than me. Some in management doubted me, but that drove me. I wanted to show that loyalty, hard work, and consistency matter more than what’s on paper.”
By 25, through relentless problem-solving and refusing to accept "that's how we've always done it" as an answer, Alex was managing global logistics for over $60 million in annual inventory. The skeptics became believers. The underdog became Employee of the Year in a 300-person organization.
When Stakes Get Real: Fatherhood and Finding Purpose
February 2007 changed everything. His son's birth triggered an explosion of thoughts about responsibility — a new life depending entirely on him. One month later, layoffs hit. New father. No job. The stakes had never been higher.
Two years later, while driving home after picking up his parents from Mexico, his phone rang. Iris Technology was calling with an opportunity. "They took a chance on the determined young guy," Alex says. That chance would transform not just his career, but his sense of purpose.
At Iris Technology, despite having no military background in his family, Alex discovered something profound: contributing to ruggedized tactical power solutions that protect warfighters ignited a patriotism he'd never felt before. "Everything we do supports the warfighter and national security," he emphasizes. This perspective transformed the Fourth of July into his family's most celebrated tradition — a tribute to the opportunities his parents chased when they crossed the border decades earlier.
Tested by Crisis: COVID, Cancer, and Loss
When COVID-19 struck in 2020, Iris Technology's offices emptied. Global supply chains collapsed. Defense programs couldn't wait. Alex and a skeleton crew kept operations running, sourcing critical components for tactical solutions when the world had ground to a halt.
Chris Bolt's locker stands as a memorial to Iris Technology's Production Lead — a patriot who ensured every product met uncompromising standards because he knew warfighters' lives depended on them.
Then came a blow that shook the entire team: the sudden death of Chris Bolt, their Production Lead and the team's reliable "fix-it" guy. Chris had been with Iris for nearly five years, always willing to take on challenges and overcome them. A patriot who understood the weight of their mission, Chris ensured every product was fully tested and delivered with uncompromising quality — because he knew the warfighters depending on them.
"Losing Chris was major for the team," Alex says quietly. The loss reinforced something Alex already knew: the people you work alongside aren't just colleagues — they're family. And you show up for family, no matter what.
But the most profound personal test came at home. His wife Aurora's cancer diagnosis brought fear crashing into their lives. Through doctor visits, chemotherapy treatments, and the agonizing uncertainty of remission, Aurora's strength became the family's North Star.
"She's the glue that keeps us from falling apart," Alex says, voice softening. "Her strength and resilience taught us that fear doesn't have to control your actions or your outlook on life. She's my rock as much as I am hers."
Aurora taught their three children what Alex had learned from his own parents: "Always have a plan. Home is home, no matter what or how old you get. And never give up."
Leading from the Trenches
At Iris Technology, Alex's leadership style isn't learned from MBA programs or management books. It's lived daily through actions that speak louder than any mission statement.
Late-night shipments? Alex is there, hands dirty, problem-solving alongside his team. Breakroom running low on supplies? He quietly restocks it — or drops off packages at UPS himself. Someone on his team is facing a personal crisis? Alex steps in, shields them from pressure, and tells them: "Go home. Take care of what matters. We've got this."
“I believe leadership is about protecting your people,” Alex says. “When things get tough, I step in where I can to make sure my team knows I have their back. That builds trust — and trust builds loyalty.”
Alex (center) with his team that makes mission success possible.
His team describes a leader who never asks them to do something he wouldn't do himself. Who remembers their kids' names and asks about their families. Who celebrates their wins and absorbs their mistakes without judgment. For some on the team, he's become more than a boss — he's a mentor and protector they genuinely trust.
"I've done every job here," Alex explains. "From restocking fridges to managing complex logistics. When something goes wrong, I'll fall on the sword for my team. That's what leaders do."
But Alex is quick to deflect credit: "My success is because of the great people here. I rely so heavily on the people around me. I have been fortunate enough to have great people under me. I am very blessed to have a really great team."
But Alex also knows something many leaders forget: "Work is work. We're family here — family comes first, work comes second, and the work will always be there in the morning." It's a philosophy shaped by his mentors: his sister Xochitl, whose relentless work ethic started at age 15 and has inspired him for over 20 years; CEO Ed O'Rourke's ingenuity (Alex often asks himself, "What would Ed do?"); and Aurora's unbreakable spirit.
Delivering What Matters: Innovation and Reliability
Over 16 years, Alex has overseen the seamless delivery of Iris Technology's tactical power solutions — ruggedized AC and DC hybrid systems ranging from 1W to 10kW that operate in the harshest conditions imaginable. Built to withstand military standards and fully interoperable with generators, solar panels, and fuel cells, these essential products support soldiers who depend on reliable power in combat zones and remote operations.
Merlin-3 Single Battery Radio Power Adapters from Iris Technology's Tactical Power Manager line. MIL-STD certified ruggedized power solutions for communications systems in hostile environments.
But it's not just about delivery. Under Alex's leadership, the operations team works hand-in-hand with engineering to innovate and improve. When challenges arise — supply chain disruptions, new technical requirements, evolving mission needs — Alex ensures operations don't just react, but helps drive solutions.
“Our work isn’t just logistics — it’s about national security and protecting those who protect us. When a soldier in the field powers up their communications equipment or critical systems, they’re trusting technology we helped deliver. That trust is everything.”
Under his leadership, Iris Technology has maintained its reputation for on-time delivery and exceptional quality standards even through supply chain chaos, pandemic disruptions, and the ever-increasing complexity of defense requirements. It's operational excellence built on the same foundation his parents laid: show up, do the work, and never compromise on what matters.
A Legacy Beyond Titles
When asked how he wants to be remembered, Alex doesn't mention operational metrics, successful programs, or industry recognition. His answer cuts straight to what matters:
“That I was someone people could count on. Not just at work, but as a husband, father, and friend. Titles and awards fade. What lasts is how you made people feel and whether you stood by them when it mattered.”
In the demanding world of defense, Alex Rodriguez has become Iris Technology's steady center of gravity. His journey — from the youngest of three children of Mexican immigrants to Director of Operations for mission-critical tactical power systems — proves that leadership isn't about credentials or pedigree. It's about showing up, doing the work, protecting your people, and being the rock others can lean on when everything else is uncertain.
For 16 years, through personal tragedy and global crisis, through supply chain chaos and organizational challenges, Alex has embodied the values his parents brought across the border half a century ago: sacrifice, resilience, and the unshakable belief that hard work and loyalty matter more than anything on paper.
He is living proof that the American dream isn't about where you start — it's about who you become along the way.
Learn more about how Alex's leadership powers Iris Technology's mission-critical tactical power solutions for defense, or follow us on LinkedIn for more stories from the team supporting tomorrow's heroes.