Mr. Damien N. Perez is a retired U.S. Air Force Master Sergeant with over 20 years of distinguished military service, where he led aircraft maintenance teams and served as an instructor in avionics systems and leadership development. He holds a Master’s Degree in Management with Specializations in Operations and Project Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in Professional Aeronautics, both from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Mr. Perez is also a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), bringing proven expertise in strategic planning and operational execution.

With over a decade of experience in public charter schools, Mr. Perez has served as a teacher, administrator, and founding board member for multiple charter schools in North Carolina. He is the Founder and CEO of Total School Operations, a veteran- and minority-owned consulting firm that supports schools by managing non-academic operations so educators can focus fully on students. His areas of expertise include facilities oversight, compliance, safety, logistics, and long-term planning.

Mr. Perez lives in Clayton, North Carolina, with his wife Karey and their two Shiba Inu dogs, Dash and Sebastian. They have five children and enjoy road trips, exploring national parks, and spending time together as a family. As a passionate advocate for operational excellence in education, Mr. Perez is guided by his company’s motto: “We Manage, You Educate.”