He is a Systems Engineer, with MSc Organizational Studies, PhD in Education/Social Sciences and also Doctoral Studies (PhD-C) in Human Sciences. He has post-degree specialization studies in Operational Research, Urban Risk Management (Spain), International Cooperation and United Nations System (United Nations University), and Disaster Damage Assessment in the Water and Sanitation Sector (PAHO). He is a consultant, researcher and lecturer in emergency systems management, disaster planning and integrated management of natural and technological risks. He was founder and professor of the Master's Program in Socio-natural Risk Management at the Universidad de Los Andes. Between 2000 and 2005, he worked as Coordinator of the National Program of Applied Research for Disaster Reduction of the Ministry of Science and Technology (Venezuela), he was also Vice Minister of State for Risk Management and Civil Protection of Venezuela (2014-2015). He has been an invited professor and consultant for international projects in more than 25 countries in 3 continents and which have been promoted by various international development cooperation agencies (IDB, CAF, OAS, EU, JICA, etc.,). He is author and co-author of several books and technical articles on topics of his specialty and currently serves as CEO of a multi-regional NGO called RESEARCH CENTER ON DISASTER RISK REDUCTION CIGIR.