CAPT Karrey Dewayne Sanders

Past Commanding Officer, USS Portland (LPD 27)

20 December 2020 Captain Karrey “DeWayne” Sanders hails from Northern California. He enlisted in the Navy in 1986 and completed tours onboard USS MIDWAY (CV 41), USS CAPE COD (AD 43), and Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado, California.  In 1994, he was selected for the Enlisted Commissioning Program and received his commission in 1997 after earning his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from San Diego State University. Additionally, Captain Sanders received a Master of Science in Software Engineering from National University and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. 

Tours as a commissioned officer include: USS CURTS (FFG 38) as the Anti-Submarine Warfare Officer; USS HIGGINS (DDG 76) as the Assistant Operations Officer; Tactical Training Group Pacific as an Instructor; USS RUSHMORE (LSD 47) as the 1st Lieutenant; USS TARAWA (LHA 1) as the 1st Lieutenant; United States Central Command as an Action Officer for Detainee Affairs; Naval War College as a student; Joint Functional Component Command for Space, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California as the Deputy Special Technical Operations Chief; Commander Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet as N40 Action Officer and N45 Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff; USS PEARL HARBOR (LSD 52) as Executive Officer/Fleet-up Commanding Officer; Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations for Expeditionary Strike Group THREE; Commanding Officer, USS RUSHMORE (LSD 47); OPNAV N95 Staff as a Requirements Officers; and slated for USS PORTLAND (LPD 27) as Commanding Officer. 
 
Captain Sanders has been awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, Navy Commendation Medal with three gold stars, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy Achievement Medal with three gold stars, and numerous other unit commendations, campaign ribbons and award