J.B. Martin is currently serving as the Acting Director for the Pacific Islands Area. His permanent duty station is Temple, Texas, where he serves as the Deputy State Conservationist. Martin was born and raised in Crystal Springs, MS and attended Alcorn State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture Economics. He began his career as a Soil Conservationist in Marshalltown, IA and then served as District Conservationist in both West Burlington, IA and Madison, WI. He was then promoted to Area Conservationist in Flagstaff, AZ and then Deputy State Conservationist in Lakewood, CO. Martin served as the State Conservationist of North Carolina and he served as an Agronomist at Central National Technical Support Center in Fort Worth, TX. During his time in Fort Worth, he served as the Acting Director of the Southern Plains Climate Hub for eight months.