Javier R. Aguirre Martinez

As a high school student, Javier R. Aguirre Martinez always imagined himself attending Arizona State University. When it came time to decide on a college while stationed in Virginia, he immediately thought of his high school aspirations. 

As someone who is passionate about numbers, business, real estate and technology, Aguirre realized that pursuing a bachelor’s degree in technological entrepreneurship and management and minoring in real estate was a great fit for him. In his major, he found not only a great professor, but a mentor and friend in Aram Chomina-Chavez, an assistant teaching professor in The Polytechnic School, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU. 

“The day I met Señor Chavez, I knew I was in the right place. Learning from a master financier and entrepreneur is both exhilarating and humbling,” Aguirre says. “He is someone I look up to and aspire to emulate. I can turn to him for guidance and count on him to point me in the right direction.”

Aguirre has had leadership experience through his military service and has received several awards, including the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Franklin Award from the Armed Forces and other agencies.

At ASU, he capitalized on his military background and used his skills to get a job at the Pat Tillman Veterans Center while serving as a part of the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps. In his senior year, he served as the president of the Polytechnic Student Veterans Club, where he handled a variety of tasks and collaborated with other organizations to help enhance the learning experience for all students.  

Aguirre, who is also a student at Barrett, The Honors College at ASU, feels a sense of satisfaction from achieving a 4.00 GPA and consistently making the dean’s list. He is grateful to have been recognized as an Outstanding Graduate, serving as the speaker for the Fulton Schools Undergraduate Convocation Ceremony and the fall 2024 Veterans Honor Stole Ceremony.

His most significant accomplishments are giving back to those in need and empowering students with knowledge and skills in financial literacy, economics and entrepreneurship through the Arizona Council on Economic Education and the Fleischer Scholars Program.

Looking back, a memorable project that stands out for Aguirre is a startup he worked on for his honors thesis called RAJAJE Sauce, a veteran-owned and family-operated business making hot sauce. The concept is near and dear to his heart because his mother dreams of making this recipe a household name. 

“RAJAJE Sauce has been proven to sell. Therefore, my next step is to start attending the food market to get more exposure,” Aguirre says.

After graduation, Aguirre will relinquish his current rank of Gunnery Sergeant and be commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He will be heading to Quantico, Virginia, to attend The Basic School and then pursue an Accelerated Master’s degree at ASU.

Driven by a desire to serve others, his long-term goal is to help those in need using real estate. Though his time is limited, he has started investing in real estate and will accumulate enough wealth to give back to the community. 

“When I was young and living at the House of Refuge, I was a child in need. Fortunately, I had many wonderful people who believed in me,” Aguirre says. “As a result of their support and encouragement, I was able to excel. Now, it is my turn to give back to those in need.”

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ fall 2024 class here.