SgtMaj Carlos Ruiz

Carlos A. Ruiz assumed his current post as the 20th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps on August 10, 2023. A native of Sonora, Mexico, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1993 and was assigned as a Supply Warehouse Clerk.

In May 1994, Sergeant Major Ruiz reported to Supply Company, 3d Supply Battalion in Okinawa, Japan. He later served at Marine Corps Logistics Base, Barstow, California, before being assigned to recruiting duty in Los Angeles. In January 2003, he deployed to Al Anbar Province, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In April 2004, Sergeant Major Ruiz reported to Drill Instructor School at MCRD San Diego, where he served as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and later as the School's Chief Instructor. He later completed two deployments to Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

His assignments as a Sergeant Major include 3d Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment; 1st Combat Engineer Battalion; Combat Logistics Regiment 17; and 4th Marine Logistics Group. In February 2021, he assumed the duties of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve Sergeant Major, and in May 2021, he became the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for both U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve and U.S. Marine Corps Forces South.

Sergeant Major Ruiz's personal awards include the Legion of Merit with gold star, the Bronze Star Medal with combat distinguishing device, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star, and the Combat Action Ribbon with one gold star. He has earned a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Management from the University of Arizona Global Campus.