Navy Veteran, SWAT Specialist, Business Owner, and Former School Board Member Plans to Improve Education to Help Young Louisianans Prepare for the Future.
LAFAYETTE, LA – Dr. Erick Knezek (Republican) is a candidate for the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), District 7.
BESE District 7 encompasses an eight-parish area in the southwestern part of the state. The election will take place on October 14, 2023. The current member, Dr. Holly Boffy, cannot seek reelection due to term limits.
“I have had the privilege of serving my country and community my entire adult life. I am a veteran of the U.S. Navy, a SWAT team member, a former school board member, and a businessman who has created hundreds of jobs. As a business owner, I know that creating a successful workforce starts with our students. We need to empower them to develop the skills and qualifications to enter the workforce and compete, or to further their education on a nationally competitive level. With my entrepreneurial mindset, courage, and passion for service, I am uniquely positioned to identify and fix the shortcomings of Louisiana’s educational system. I am ready to invest in our next generation of leaders, just like I was invested in as a child, and that is why I am running,” said Dr. Knezek.
Born and raised in Louisiana, Dr. Knezek is the Founder and Board Director of Oceanetics, Inc., a large defense contracting firm that develops ocean-related engineering/infrastructure projects. He has created hundreds of jobs and generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue through these initiatives that promote American interests worldwide.
Dr. Knezek is a former naval officer and veteran of the U.S. Navy. He actively serves as a SWAT specialist and Search and Rescue Dive Team Commander with the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office, volunteering thousands of hours to protect his community. While in the Navy, he served his country as a Civil Engineer Corps officer, a Seabee, and a deep sea diver. In these roles, he was responsible for developing and implementing anti-terrorism Navy program policies and defense plans worldwide. As a volunteer with the SWAT team, he currently works with state and federal agencies to apprehend the most dangerous fugitives in addition to enforcing the law within Lafayette Parish. As the Search and Rescue Dive Team Commander, he assists in the search and recovery of missing persons and evidence. Due to his outstanding work ethic and leadership skills, Dr. Knezek was awarded the Deputy John Hardy “Hardest Worker” Award at the Acadiana Law Enforcement Training Academy.
In 2015, he was elected to represent District 8 on the Lafayette Parish School Board. He became a strong advocate for reform, working to build the first high school in 45 years, to reestablish community schools through the rezoning of school districts, and to address critical budgeting issues. Dr. Knezek also led the restructuring and enhancement of the School Resource Officer program, ensuring that every school in Lafayette Parish was protected by a POST-certified law enforcement officer. During his successful tenure, fellow members selected him to serve as Vice President and then President of the board.
A strong supporter of entrepreneurs and a fighter for educational advancements, Dr. Knezek has devoted countless hours to improving Lafayette’s economy and helping its youth. Throughout the years, he has served as a member of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, One Acadiana Chamber, and the 705 Young Leaders Club board.
If elected, Dr. Knezek plans to use his decades of experience to provide children with the skills and resources needed to compete and succeed on a global scale, to increase accountability for school performance, and to work to ensure that parents can send their kids to the best possible schools.
Dr. Knezek is a graduate of Lafayette High School. He later received his bachelor’s degree in ocean engineering from the United States Naval Academy, his master’s degree in ocean engineering from Texas A&M, and his doctorate in systems engineering with a specialty in civil/ocean engineering from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He is a licensed professional civil engineer and certified as a commercial diver and dive supervisor. He is also a graduate of Leadership Lafayette and Leadership Louisiana.
Dr. Knezek currently resides in Lafayette with his wife, Elena. Elena is a nationally renowned corporate defense litigator and owner of the Knezek Law Firm. The Knezeks have two adult children currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Army, and one daughter at home.
