Meet Cruz

Cruz Apodaca-Flores was born and raised in South Phoenix, where he continues to live and serve his community today. He attended Phoenix Union schools, where he met his wife of 21 years. He is an active PXU parent — two of his children have graduated from Phoenix Union High School District schools, and another child is currently enrolled in a Phoenix Union District high school.

Cruz previously served on the District's Student Safety Committee, advocating for enhanced campus security. He is a U.S. Army Veteran and former paratrooper who deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. During his time in the military, he led convoy operations in high-risk environments — service that instilled a strong foundation of discipline, leadership, and accountability.

Cruz holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Phoenix and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Business Administration at Grand Canyon University, focusing on qualitative data research.

In his professional career, he has led large-scale operations, managed multimillion-dollar budgets, and overseen teams in multiple states and countries. Cruz brings real-world business and operations experience to the Board along with a commitment to accountability, critical thinking, and student success.

Cruz is not a politician and is not using this position to build a political career. He serves on the Board solely for the wellbeing of students — because his own children and his community's children deserve leadership that puts them first.