John Estrada | |
|---|---|
 Estrada in 2022 | |
| United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago | |
| In office April 19, 2016[1] – January 20, 2017 | |
| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | Margaret Diop(acting) |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Mondello |
| 15th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps | |
| In office June 26, 2003 – April 25, 2007 | |
| President | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Alford L. McMichael |
| Succeeded by | Carlton Kent |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1955-09-27)September 27, 1955 (age 70)[citation needed] |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Cote |
| Occupation | Marine, ambassador |
| Website | Embassy website |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch/service | United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1973–2007 |
| Rank | Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps |
| Battles/wars | Gulf War Operation Southern Watch Iraq War |
| Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal Bronze Star Medal Meritorious Service Medal (4) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Joint Service Achievement Medal Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal |
John Learie Estrada (born September 27, 1955[citation needed]) is the formerUnited States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago and a formerUnited States Marine who served as the 15thSergeant Major of the Marine Corps from 2003 to 2007.[2][3] Estrada stepped down from that post on April 25, 2007, turning over the billet to the next sergeant major,Carlton Kent. Estrada then retired from the military in June 2007, after over 33 years of service.[4][5] He has also worked as a senior manager forLockheed Martin Training Solutions from 2008 onward.
Estrada was nominated to be theUnited States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago in July 2013, was approved for the position on February 12, 2016,[6] and became the ambassador on March 17.[7]
Estrada was born inLaventille,Trinidad and Tobago[8] on September 27, 1955.[citation needed] He immigrated to the United States as a teenager and became a naturalized citizen in 1988.
Estrada enlisted in theUnited States Marine Corps on September 19, 1973, and attended recruit training atMarine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island inSouth Carolina. After completingF-4 aircraft maintenance schools atNaval Air Station Memphis, andMarine Corps Air Station Cherry Point,North Carolina,Private First Class Estrada was assigned toVMFA-451 atMarine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina in March 1974.
In December 1974,Lance Corporal Estrada was transferred toVMFA-232,1st Marine Aircraft Wing,Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni,Japan. He was meritoriously promoted tocorporal in March 1975. In February 1976,Sergeant Estrada served withVMFAT-101,Marine Corps Air Station Yuma,Arizona. In September 1977, he transferred toVMFA-314,Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, CA. Reassigned toVMFA-323 in December 1978, he deployed with the squadron in November 1979 for 7 months aboard the aircraft carrierUSSCoral Sea to the Western Pacific andPersian Gulf. In June 1980, Staff Sergeant Estrada transferred toVMFA-321,Marine Aircraft Group 41, Detachment "A" atAndrews Air Force Base,Maryland.
In August 1982,Staff Sergeant Estrada was ordered todrill instructor duty atMarine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, where he served with Kilo Company,3rd Recruit Training Battalion. He was meritoriously promoted togunnery sergeant in January 1984. In October, Estrada returned to Beaufort for duty withVMFA-251 as thenon-commissioned officer in charge of the Airframes Division. In November 1985, he was reassigned toVMFA-451 and deployed to theWestern Pacific from January to July 1986 under the Unit Deployment Program. From January to March 1987, Estrada attended aircraft maintenance schools atNaval Air Station Cecil Field andNaval Air Station Jacksonville,Florida, retraining as anFA-18 Hornet hydraulic/structural mechanic.
In October 1987, Estrada returned to drill instructor duty, this time at Parris Island. He served as series chiefdrill instructor with India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion and subsequently as standing operating procedures instructor and drill master at Drill Instructor School until his promotion to first sergeant in October 1990.
From December 1990 to March 1995, Estrada served as first sergeant for Intelligence Company, 3rd Surveillance Reconnaissance and Intelligence Group,Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan; Marine Security Force Company,Norfolk, Virginia; Electronics Maintenance Company,1st Maintenance Battalion,1st Force Service Support Group, Camp Pendleton; and Alpha Company,1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion,1st Marine Division,Camp Pendleton.
From March 1995 to May 1998, Estrada served as sergeant major for2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton; and deployed with the11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC) and15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC) to the Western Pacific and thePersian Gulf.
In May 1998, Estrada assumed the duties as sergeant major for Recruiting StationSacramento, California in the 12th Marine Corps District, Western Recruiting Region. From April 2000 to October 2001, Estrada was assigned as sergeant major,Marine Recruit Training Regiment, MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina.
From December 2001 to May 2003, Estrada served as the sergeant major,3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. During this assignment, he was forward deployed and participated inOperation Southern Watch andOperation Iraqi Freedom.
Estrada assumed his post as the 15thSergeant Major of the Marine Corps on June 26, 2003, succeedingAlford L. McMichael.[3][9] On April 25, 2007, Estrada stepped down from his post as Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, turning over the post toCarlton Kent.[10] Estrada was awarded theNavy Distinguished Service Medal for his service and retired from the Marine Corps in June 2007.[10] In 2010, he completed aBachelor of Science degree in business management at theUniversity of Phoenix.[11]
In July 2013, PresidentBarack Obama nominated Estrada to be the nextUnited States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, the country of Estrada's birth.[12] TheUnited States Senate did not act upon the nomination. Obama renominated Estrada on January 6, 2014.[13] Estrada was approved for the position on February 12, 2016[6] and became the ambassador on March 17, 2016.[14]
In November 2020, Estrada was named a volunteer member of theJoe Biden presidential transition Agency Review Team to support transition efforts related to theUnited States Department of Defense.[15]
Estrada formally endorsed U.S. SenatorBarack Obama forPresident of the United States during a rally at Battery Creek High School inBeaufort, South Carolina on January 24, 2008.[16] On August 28, 2008, Estrada spoke at theDemocratic National Convention, echoing his support for Obama, citing his "obligation... to protect the Marines, sailors and their families."[17]
In July 2010, U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Estrada to serve as a commissioner for theAmerican Battle Monuments Commission, the agency overseeing U.S. Armed Forces cemeteries and memorials overseas.[18] Estrada previously served as a committee member of theDefense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services,[19] a member of the Board of Directors forOperation Homefront, and on the executive committee for theUnited Service Organizations.
In the2024 United States presidential election, Estrada endorsedKamala Harris.[20]
Estrada's personal awards include:
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| 1st row | Navy Distinguished Service Medal | Bronze Star Medal | Meritorious Service Medal w/ 3award stars | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2nd row | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal | Joint Service Achievement Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal | Navy Presidential Unit Citation |
| 3rd row | Navy Unit Commendation w/ 2service stars | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 4 service stars | Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal w/ 10 service stars | Marine Corps Expeditionary Medal |
| 4th row | National Defense Service Medal w/ 2 service stars | Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal | Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 1 service star | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal |
| 5th row | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 5 service stars | Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon | Marine Corps Drill Instructor Ribbon w/ 2 service stars |
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps 2003–2007 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago 2016–2017 | Succeeded by |
