Luis Baltazar: From Metro to the National Guard  

Luis Baltazar watched in shock as the news reported on the wildfires sweeping through the Los Angeles area. Then a message from the Army arrived: volunteers were needed to join the National Guard and assist during the emergency. Without hesitation, he signed up.  

“They assigned me to the Eaton Fire,” says Luis, who is 34 years old. The next day, he packed his uniform and reported to the Rose Bowl, where tents had been set up in the parking lot for personnel working to control the blaze.  

This was his first mission with the National Guard, consisting of reserves that can be activated by the Governor or the President to respond to natural disasters, civil unrest or conflicts. Luis was one of more than 2,500 National Guard members deployed to assist with the fires.   

“I wanted to help because I didn’t like hearing about looters,” Luis explains. “There were people who tried to take advantage of those who have lost everything, and that was not right.”  

Just this Monday, LA authorities proposed AB 469, a law aimed at strengthening penalties against looting and impersonating emergency workers during disasters and recovery efforts.  

That was precisely Luis’s mission: protecting a Pasadena community adjacent to Altadena at checkpoints alongside the LA Sheriff’s Department and the California Highway Patrol.  

“My partner and I were responsible for checking IDs to verify that people actually lived on the street we were guarding,” Luis says. “I was on duty for two weeks, working 12-hour shifts. Each day, I checked between 80 and 100 IDs.”  

His goal was to prevent looting in the disaster zone, but he also had to manage the influx of onlookers. “When I arrived to Pasadena, everything was destroyed. It was a ghost town,” he said. “The smell of smoke lingered in the air, and I saw so many people crying. It was heartbreaking.”  

Amid the chaos, his ability to speak both English and Spanish proved invaluable in providing information to residents trying to return to their damaged homes. His other strength was his military training, which instilled in him discipline, responsibility and, above all, the importance of taking initiative.  

That same mindset led him to enlist in the military when he was 30—a decision he made with a deep sense of purpose. “This country has given so much to my family, and I wanted to give something back by protecting the community,” he said.  

He believes his age worked to his advantage, giving him the maturity to handle the intensity of military training, which often involves shouting and high-pressure situations. “When you enlist young, everything feels overwhelming,” he said. However, he admits that physical endurance was a challenge. “Imagine me running mile after mile next to an 18-year-old… but I trained hard and made it through.”  

Luis chose to specialize as a Humvee mechanic, not only to support his military career but also with a clear goal in mind: to continue advancing in his job at Metro.  

From Buses to Rail: A Career at Metro  

In addition to serving in the Army Reserve, Luis has been working at Metro since 2014. He started as a bus service assistant, responsible for checking oil levels, cleaning, washing and parking buses at Metro bus divisions.  

Over time, he enrolled in Metro’s Joint Apprenticeship Program (JAC), where he gained expertise in safety, rail equipment, tools, electrical concepts, and more. With his diploma in hand, he became a track inspector on the B Line two years ago.

“I inspect the rails to check for defects, cracks, or anything out of place. I make sure nothing interferes with train operations,” Luis explains. He adds that extreme heat can expand the rails, while cold temperatures can cause them to contract—both of which may lead to damage requiring welding or the replacement of rail fasteners.  

“My team and I either walk through the tunnels or drive a truck to inspect the tracks from Union Station to North Hollywood almost every day,” he said.  

Originally from Jalisco, Mexico, Luis is a devoted husband and father of two. Alongside his commitment to service, he takes great pride in his heritage—he’s a passionate fan of mariachi music and a good plate of Jalisco-style birria. Both provide flavors and sounds that keep him connected to his roots.  

That same pride fuels his dedication to his career. “It’s incredible that Metro offers a paid program like JAC and accommodates our schedules so we can also fulfill our military duties,” he says. “Metro has always given me opportunities to grow.”  

Luis’s work has a direct impact. Every time he inspects the tracks, he ensures that thousands of people can travel safely. To him, this is more than just a job—it’s a mission. Whether serving at Metro or in the National Guard, his goal is always the same: to make a difference.