Meet Carlos Sanchez
A Commitment to Service and Community
Carlos Sanchez is a proven leader, dedicated family man, and experienced in municipal operations. He and his wife of 15 years, Laura, a proud teacher at West Bay Elementary School, live with their three beautiful daughters, Sophia, Isabella, and Olivia.
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Record of Service and Leadership:
Military Veteran
Retired as a U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) after more than 23 years of service as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician, managing high-stakes operations and personnel. His service includes two combat deployments to Iraq and two combat deployments to Afghanistan, earning two Bronze Stars, the Air Force Combat Action Medal, and the Army Combat Action Badge among many joint service decorations.
Strategic Oversight
Served three years on the Inspector General Team in Europe, where he evaluated and inspected Air Force EOD units throughout the continent to ensure maximum operational readiness, safety, and compliance.
Municipal Experience
Currently serves as the Utilities Operations Manager for the City of Panama City, overseeing critical infrastructure including 90 team members in underground utilities, wastewater treatment, lift stations, and the environmental laboratory. He previously completed a Veterans Local Government Management Fellowship (VLGMF) with the city to deepen his expertise in city management.
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Legislative Experience
Served as a Defense Fellow for U.S. Senator John Boozman, where he championed critical veterans issues and navigated complex policy to support those who served. He later brought this advocacy to the Pentagon as a Deputy Legislative Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he helped advocate to Congress for the $858 billion FY2023 and $886 billion FY2024 national defense budgets, ensuring strategic national priorities were fully resourced.
Education & Credentials
Holds a Master’s in Public Administration from Troy University, a Graduate Certificate in Legislative Studies from the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University, and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).
