During his 30-year career with the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department, Ortega rose through the ranks to become Deputy Chief of Police. He served on the department's Executive Committee with executive authority to command and coordinate the operations of the bureaus to which he was assigned. At one point, he supervised the KCPD Drug Enforcement Unit.

From 2007 through to his joining the COMBAT staff in early 2009, Ortega worked as a National Security Specialist for GE Homeland Protection, Inc., a division of General Electric.

He earned a Master's of Public Affairs degree from Park University in Parkville, Missouri.