John L. Estrada was the 15th Sergeant Major of the United States Marine Corps and after his retirement from the U.S. Marines, he served as the U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago. Estrada was born on September 27, 1955, in Laventille, Trinidad in the Caribbean nation of Trinidad and Tobago. At the age of 14, Estrada immigrated to the United States and in 1973 enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served as a F-4 Maintenance Mechanic and later retrained as a FA-18 Hydraulic/Structural Mechanic.

From 2001 to 2003, Estrada served as the Sergeant Major of the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing and deployed in Operation Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), and Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq).

In June 2003, Estrada became the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, the highest enlisted rank in the U.S. Marine Corps, and senior enlisted advisor to the Commandant of the Marine Corps. He served in this position until April 2007 and retired from the Marine Corps in June 2007 after 34 years of service.

His military awards include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

In 2016, then-U.S. President Barak Obama appointed Estrada as U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago. Prior to his appointment, he was a Senior Manager at Lockheed Martin Training Solutions.

His other accomplishments include serving as Commissioner on the American Battle Monuments Commission, which is also a Presidential-appointed position, Committee Member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, a member of the National Board of Directors for Operation Homefront, and on the Executive Committee for the United Services Organization. Ambassador Estrada holds a Bachelors in Business Management from the University Phoenix. On January 20, 2017, Estrada stepped down as U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago.

by Anthony E. Thomas