Cmdr. Christopher Sandmel is a native of Turner, Oregon, and 2005 graduate of Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Following this, he was commissioned an ensign through Officer Candidate School in 2005. He holds a Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Washington.
Sandmel’s expeditionary assignments include U.S. Naval Mobile Construction Battalion ELEVEN, where he served as a Platoon Commander, Company Commander, and Detail Assistant Officer in Charge, deploying to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and Guam.
Sandmel’s shore assignments include Assistant Resident Officer in Charge of Construction and Production Officer, Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base, Fort Worth; Assistant Public Works Officer, Naval Base Kitsap - Bangor, Keyport, and Naval Magazine Indian Island; Production Officer for Public Works Department Kitsap, supporting both Naval Base Kitsap and the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard; and Public Works Officer, U.S. Submarine Base New London.
Sandmel’s overseas assignments include Assistant Facilities Officer, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni; Deputy Resident Officer in Charge of Construction and later Facilities Engineering Division Director for Iwakuni, NAVFAC Far East; and an Individual Augmentee deployment as Facilities Engineering and Acquisition Director, Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.
He reported to NAVFAC Marianas as the Executive Officer in July 2023.
He is a qualified Seabee Combat Warfare Officer, registered Professional Engineer in the state of Washington, member of the Acquisition Professional Community, and DAWIA Level III certified. His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (six awards) and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.
Last Updated: 30 May 2024