Phillip G. Sawyer

Sawyer was born in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1983, he graduated with a BS in Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy. Later, he received a master’s degree in Engineering Management[7] from Old Dominion University.

As a career submarine officer, he was a division officer aboard USS Bluefish, and an engineering officer aboard USS Florida. He also served as an executive officer of a Los Angeles-class submarine USS Salt Lake City. Later, he was assigned to command another Los Angeles-class submarine USS La Jolla at Submarine Squadron in Guam when Sawyer was appointed to senior officer present afloat.

On shore, he was appointed to branch chief in Joint Chiefs of Staff for anti-terrorism and force protection. He was also appointed to a deputy director for operations at COMPACFLT and executive assistant to the vice commander-in-chief for pacific fleet. Later, he served at the Bureau of Naval Personnel as a placement officer and assistant captain detailer. Sawyer was later appointed to Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center, Atlantic where he served as an instructor. He was later appointed to the office of United States Strategic Command as a Chief of staff for special activities and for submarine force Atlantic.[7]