Ortiz has a B.A. in English literature from Inter-American University, and a M.A. in philosophy from World University. He is a retired teacher. His poems have been published or are forthcoming this in: Salt River Review, Yellow Medicine, Autumn Sky Poetry, Rust and Moth, Presence-Haiku, Shamrock, 3LightsGallery, The Smoking Poet, The Journal of Truth and Consequence, Ganymede, Collective Fallout, Breadcrumb Scabs, Mobius: The Journal of Social Change, and The Driftwood Review.