Charley Martinez
Director – King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management
Dr. Charles C. (Charley) Martinez is the Director and Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen C. Kleberg Endowed Chair of the King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management (KRIRM) and an Associate Professor in the Dick and Mary Lewis Kleberg College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. A native of Texas, Charley earned his B.S. in Agribusiness-Ranch Management from Texas A&M University-Kingsville (’14) and his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Texas A&M University (’19).
Before returning to his alma mater in 2026, Dr. Martinez served on the faculty of the University of Tennessee, where he earned tenure as an Associate Professor in Agricultural and Resource Economics. During his time at Tennessee, he served as Director of the UT Center of Farm Management and Associate Director of the R.E.M. Laboratory. His teaching, research, and Extension programs focused on farm and ranch financial management, livestock and meat market economics, agricultural risk management, experimental economics, and public policy.
Dr. Martinez’s research centers on improving decision-making and profitability across the livestock sector. His work has examined cattle and beef price discovery, livestock insurance adoption, beef processing capacity and supply chain resilience, beef × dairy market development, producer decision-making, farm finance, and agricultural policy. He has authored over 26 peer-reviewed journal articles and secured over $33 million in competitive funding from USDA agencies, state governments, commodity organizations, and industry partners to support applied research and outreach programs serving agricultural producers and agribusinesses.
As Director of KRIRM, Dr. Martinez is committed to advancing the Institute’s mission of developing future leaders for the ranching industry through graduate education, applied research, and meaningful engagement with ranch managers and industry stakeholders. His vision emphasizes the integration of economics, ranch management, and leadership development to address the complex challenges facing modern ranch businesses. Through partnerships with producers, industry leaders, and academic institutions, he works to strengthen the long-term sustainability, stewardship, and profitability of ranching operations while preserving the values that have defined the ranching profession for generations.
Charley and his wife, Vanessa, have two children, Henry and Remington.