Representative Cortez was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas.  He has been a member of the US Air Force since 1999.  He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Texas- San Antonio in 2002, and his master's in Public Administration in 2007.  He is currently studying for his PhD in Education from the University of Texas in Austin.  Representative Cortez and his wife Leticia currently reside in San Antonio.