Meet Charlie Garcia, the visionary founder of R360, who is transforming the privilege of wealth into a force for good and reshaping not just the lives of those it touches but also the world their children and future generations will inherit.
A highly decorated veteran, Charlie’s patriotic service includes advisory roles to six U.S. Presidents from both parties. His distinguished military career is marked by the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, one of the highest peacetime honors from the Department of Defense, for courageous service in war-torn Central America during the mid-1980s. After the 9/11 attacks, Charlie quietly supported critical intelligence operations, earning the CIA Agency Seal Medal and the Director of National Intelligence Medallion for exceptional contributions to national security.
Charlie's dedication to public service parallels his extraordinary entrepreneurial journey. As the founder of Sterling Financial, he expanded the company across eight countries with sixty offices, ultimately leading its successful sale to prominent public companies. Recognized as “Entrepreneur of the Year” by three organizations, Charlie’s strategic insights have guided Fortune 500 boards and inspired numerous successful start-ups.
His impact extends deeply into the nonprofit and educational sectors. Appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the Florida State Board of Education and as leader of the statewide Reading Task Force, Charlie dramatically advanced literacy for Latino and African American students, who now surpass their white peers in reading proficiency in 33 states and hold the nation’s highest graduation rates. From 2005 to 2012, appointed by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, Charlie decisively led the U.S. Air Force Academy Board of Visitors through a severe sexual assault crisis, restoring honor and accountability and receiving the Distinguished Public Service Medal. He also serves on boards including Girl Scouts USA, Junior Achievement USA, and 3DESchools, a groundbreaking initiative reshaping public high school education nationwide.
Charlie now authors “MarketSense by Charlie Garcia,” the first external column offered in over a decade by MarketWatch, an influential global financial publication closely affiliated with its sister publications, Barron's and The Wall Street Journal. In its debut alone, Charlie’s distinctive blend of satire and sardonic humor engaged over 750,000 of MarketWatch’s eight million discerning readers, who regularly turn to him for sharp, clear-eyed perspectives on business, finance, and geopolitics.
In the ever-turning rhythm of life, Charlie’s truest center is his family. Cristina isn’t just his wife—she’s his soulmate, his steady flame, the kind of love that deepens with time and still catches him by surprise. Together, they’ve built a life rich in laughter, meaning, and devotion.
As a father of four extraordinary children and a grandfather to three bright, beautiful souls, Charlie knows where his heart lives. It lives in bedtime stories and phone calls, in proud smiles and quiet prayers. These are the chapters he cherishes most.
Each morning, he rises with intention—grounded by faith, driven by service. His work is not just a calling, but a commitment to give more than he takes, to serve with heart, and to leave the world better for those who follow. Because beneath it all, Charlie loves his country—not blindly, but with the clear-eyed loyalty of someone who believes it’s worth fighting for.
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