Business/Professional Achievements:

Mr. Cal has built a 30+ year career applying his leadership and management talents across a wide variety of endeavors in both the private and public sectors.  With 20+ years as a U.S. Army infantry officer serving in staff and command assignments both in the United States and overseas coupled with 11 years in the private sector, Mr. Cal brings unique depth and breadth of experience to the University.   He has a track record of strengthening performance and building sustainable organizations focused on delivering results.

As the Associate Vice President for Facilities Management at the University, Mr. Cal is responsible for real estate master planning, facilities operations, and construction. Real Estate and Master Planning entails the 20 year master plan and all updates, the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), and management of all construction related competitive solicitations. Operations includes the management of more than 120 permanent buildings totaling more than 7 million square feet located at the two major campuses, University Park and Biscayne Bay, along with the Engineering Center located in Sweetwater, and the Wolfsonian Museum and Annex located in Miami Beach.  Together all four sites encompass approximately 575 acres and require an operating budget of $34 million with 350+ employees.    His construction responsibilities include a five year major capital program that exceeds $250 million and minor project construction averaging approximately $12 million annually.

Beginning his service at the University in November 2007, Mr. Cal has focused the organization on meeting the demands of the capital construction program while maintaining and upgrading the existing physical plant to meet the requirements of a growing research institution.  Continuing the aggressive capital program that has characterized the University for the past decade, Mr. Cal has focused the facilities organization on integrated design and construction followed by intense project management to deliver high quality construction on-time and on-budget.  Highlights of his first year include delivering the stadium expansion project on-time and on-budget while expanding the project scope by more than $2.5 million, and saving the University over $412,000 annually by renegotiating contracts with builders.

Prior to joining FIU, Mr. Cal worked 11+ years for Assurant, Inc. and its predecessor company, American Bankers Insurance Group.  Serving first as the Senior Director for Operations in International Development, he was then selected as the Chief of Staff to the President & COO.  From 2002-2007, Mr. Cal was Senior Vice President, Corporate Resources, with responsibility for all facilities management, real estate strategy, lease management, construction, food services, procurement and travel.  As an Army officer from 1976-1996, Mr. Cal attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.  Serving in the Pentagon from 1992-1996, he served as the assistant to the Under Secretary of the Army, who was also the Chairman of the Panama Canal Commission, and Mr. Cal assisted the Chairman in developing the policy and strategy to transfer the Panama Canal to the government of Panama.

Community Involvement:

John and his wife, Helen, a native of Madrid, Spain have raised their five children here in Miami since 1996.  Their community activities have centered around their five children and their varied extracurricular interests.  Nerea and Elizabeth attended Coral Reef High School, went on to graduate from the United States Military Academy, and both currently serve in the U.S. Army.  Michael, a graduate of Christopher Columbus High School, currently attends Florida Atlantic University, majoring in Criminal Justice.  Stephen and Mark currently attend Christopher Columbus.  Stephen has been accepted at Drexel University where he intends to major in Fashion Design.  John and his family are active members of St. Richard’s Roman Catholic parish in Palmetto Bay.

Educational Achievements:

Mr. Cal holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point graduating in 1976.  As an Olmsted Scholar, he studied International Relations at Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain) from 1981-1983.  He also earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (MPA) at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government in 1992.