About Us

Biography

Captain Russ Sanchez, a native of Clarksville, Texas, enlisted in the Navy in 1987 as a fire controlman. In February 1997, he was commissioned at Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida under the Seaman to Admiral program. In 2004, he graduated from Norfolk State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science. In 2008, he graduated from the Naval War College with a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies and completed the Naval Operational Planner Course.

Sanchez’s enlisted tours of duty include service aboard USS Connole (FF 1056), USS Aylwin (FF 1081), USS Gonzalez (DDG 66), and as an instructor at the Surface Warfare Officers School.

His sea duty officer assignments include strike officer, USS Ramage (DDG 61); engineering officer, USS Devastator (MCM 6); and weapons officer and combat systems officer, USS Monterey (CG 61).

In 2012, Sanchez reported as executive officer for USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79) and fleeted up to commanding officer, deploying twice in support of U.S. 6th Fleet and U.S. 5th Fleet tasking. Oscar Austin earned the Battle E in 2014 and 2016.

Ashore, he served as the director of doctrine division for the Naval Warfare Development Command (NWDC), maintaining the Navy’s doctrine, tactics, techniques and procedures and led the development of doctrinal solutions for emergent and complex warfighting challenges. Most recently, he served as executive assistant for NWDC, coordinating efforts across a staff of Sailors, civilians and contractors to develop, refine and finalize strategic plans.

He reported as commanding officer, Surface Combat Systems Training Command (SCSTC) AEGIS Training and Readiness Center (ATRC) in September 2019.