Omar R.

About Omar R.

I am a senior energy operations leader with more than two decades of progressive leadership across gas transmission, engineering, system operations, integrity programs, capital project delivery, and district operations at SoCalGas and SDG & E. Throughout my career, I’ve led large, complex technical organizations responsible for the safe, reliable, and efficient operation of one of the nation’s largest natural gas systems—serving 22 million customers across the LA Basin, Inland Empire, Ventura, Kern, and San Diego regions.My leadership spans end‑to‑end transmission operations, compressor station performance, pipeline integrity programs, real‑time system management, and enterprise engineering governance. I have directed multimillion‑dollar capital and O&M portfolios, strengthened system resiliency, modernized control center operations, advanced PHMSA/CPUC compliance, and driven enterprise‑level improvements in risk management and process safety (PHA, MOC).Throughout my career, I’ve delivered measurable value by engineering operational strategies that enhance reliability, reduce system risk, and improve cost performance—including leading major segments of the Pipeline Safety Enhancement Project and achieving approximately $700M in program savings through scope optimization, MAOP/ILI alignment, and value engineering. Across all roles, I focus on operational excellence, organizational capability building, and affordability—balancing safety, modernization, and regulatory expectations with disciplined cost management and efficiency‑driven investments that benefit customers.I am passionate about developing high‑performing teams, modernizing gas system operations, and leading complex technical organizations through evolving industry, regulatory, and energy‑transition challenges.

Experience

1. Director - Gas Transmission Operations

   SoCalGas

   Jan 2021 — Present · Los Angeles, CA, US

   Lead end‑to‑end operations of the SoCalGas high‑pressure transmission system, overseeing pipelines, storage interconnects, and compressor stations supporting 22 million customers across one of the nation’s most complex gas markets. I drive operational strategy across the LA Basin, Inland Empire, Ventura, Kern, and San Diego regions, aligning field execution with Gas Control, System Planning, Integrity Management, and Emergency Operations to strengthen system reliability and resiliency. I advance integrity and risk‑reduction programs—including ILI, ECDA, hydrotesting, and MAOP validation—aligned with PHMSA and CPUC requirements and long‑term modernization priorities. I lead compressor station operations across key backbone facilities such as Blythe, Moreno, Needles, Newberry, Kelso, Ventura, and Wheeler Ridge, optimizing throughput, reliability, and emissions performance. I oversee critical response and system restoration efforts during outages, peak‑demand events, third‑party damages, and regional emergencies, while managing multimillion‑dollar capital and O&M portfolios to guide investment decisions, regulatory strategy, long‑range asset planning, and initiatives that directly support customer affordability through cost discipline, operational efficiency, and strategic risk‑based investments.

Education

• California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

  Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Mechanical Engineering