CDR Alfredo J. Sanchez

The officer who was in charge of the destroyer John S. McCain when it collided with the 30,000-ton, 600-foot-long oil tanker Alnic MC in 2017.

Cmdr. Alfredo J. Sanchez pleaded guilty to dereliction of duty for his role in the Aug. 21 collision off the coast of Singapore.

He had his punishment doled out Friday afternoon at a special court-martial in front of family members of the 10 sailors who died in the carnage.

BIOGRAPHY

Commander Alfredo J. Sanchez is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Puerto Rico in May 1997. Commander Sanchez was commissioned in May 1998 from Officer Candidate School, Pensacola, Florida. After attending Primary Flight School, his first sea duty assignment was as Third Division Officer, Deck Department onboard USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65). After attending the Surface Warfare Division Officer’s Course, Commander Sanchez completed his second division officer tour aboard USS BUNKER HILL (CG 52) as the Damage Control Assistant.

Following his division officer tours, Commander Sanchez was assigned to the Surface Officer Warfare School in Newport, Rhode Island where he served as an Instructor in the Division Officer course. After attending Department Head School in Newport, Rhode Island, Commander Sanchez was assigned as Chief Engineer onboard USS RENTZ (FFG 46) where he deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM PHILIPPINES. His second department head tour was as Chief Engineer onboard USS GETTYSBURG (CG 64) and deployed with the DWIGHT D EISENHOWER Strike Group to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM and the Horn of Africa in support of counter-piracy operations.

Following his department head tours, Commander Sanchez attended the Naval War College, and obtained a Master of Arts Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He later served as the Aide to the Commander Navy Air and Missile Defense Command, Dahlgren, VA. Commander Sanchez most recently completed a tour on the Joint Staff as the Egypt Desk Officer in the Strategy and Policy (J5) Middle East directorate. He reported as Executive Officer onboard USS JOHN S. McCAIN (DDG 56) on April 2015. His personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (5 awards) and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 awards) as well as various campaign and unit awards.