Commissioned in 2001 as an Air Support Control Officer, Colonel Sanders deployed with MASS-3 to Iraq in 2003 in support of OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM. He also served as the Air Support Element Officer-in-Charge for the 13th MEU, where he directed critical air support operations during a combat deployment to Al Anbar Province.
Selected as a Foreign Area Officer (FAO), Colonel Sanders pursued advanced studies at the Naval Postgraduate School, focusing on the geopolitics of Africa, and completed intensive language training in French. This culminated in a posting in Senegal supporting Marine Forces Africa security cooperation initiatives. However, even with these internationally focused roles, he continued to lead – serving as the Active Duty Officer-in-Charge with MASS-6, overseeing deployments to the Horn of Africa and disaster preparedness exercises.
Colonel Sanders continued to alternate between command and international assignments. He commanded Bravo Company, MASS-3, deploying to Afghanistan in support of OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM and later served as the Squadron Operations Officer and Executive Officer. Intermixed with these assignments, he leveraged his FAO expertise as the Africa & France Issues Officer at Headquarters-Marine Corps, developing policy and advising senior leaders. He further enhanced his international credentials by attending Brazil’s Naval Command and Staff College, the NATO Defense College, and by serving as the Deputy Chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation at the U.S. Embassy in Spain.
Currently serving as the Fires and Effects Coordinator for III Marine Expeditionary Force in Okinawa, Japan, Colonel Sanders is preparing to assume command of Marine Air Control Group 18 in June 2025.
Colonel Sanders is a qualified Tactical Air Director, Helicopter Director, Senior Air Director, and Weapons and Tactics Instructor. He has cultivated fluency in multiple languages and holds FAO designations for Africa, Western Europe, and Latin America. His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star in lieu of second award, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of third award, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with gold star in lieu of second award and the French National Defense Medal (Médaille de la Défense Nationale, échelon OR).
Colonel Sanders is married to the former Miss Laurie Cross of Indiana. They have three children: Mya, Baron, and Bastian.