JR grew up in Hollister, California, where he spent much of his time playing, working and learning outdoors in the surrounding orchards and fields. At a young age, he developed a passion for protecting the environment and ensuring that all people have access to clean water, air, and land. From 2011-18 he served in multiple environmental leadership roles as an appointee of California Governor Jerry Brown. In those various roles, he has enjoyed working on transformative climate change policies, which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the energy and transportation sectors in California. Most recently, he has coordinated efforts to measure, plan for, and adapt to climate change impacts, such as wildfires and sea-level rise, throughout the state. In his free time, JR enjoys connecting with family and friends, learning to play songs from the Beatles, and backpacking.