SANCHEZ-ROBERTO

A  LIFETIME  OF  SERVICE

Roberto “Bobby” Sanchez, Jr., was born on October 21, 1954, in San Pedro, California.  He began his quest for a career in law enforcement while a high school student by joining the Police Cadet program sponsored by the Los Angeles Police Department.  On November 10, 1972, following a family tradition as the son of a retired Marine Sergeant Major, he entered the Marine Corps.  Following recruit training at MCRD San Diego, he was assigned to the 1^st Marine Air Wing in Misawa, Japan.  Although his active duty service concluded in September 1974 when he returned to school, his quest for a career in law enforcement continued. 

After earning a college degree Bobby was hired in August 1981 as a Special Agent by the Naval Investigative Service (NIS), now known as the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).  While employed with NIS, Bobby completed tours in San Diego, Rota, Spain, and Los Angeles.  In October 1989 he transferred employment to the U.S. Customs Service Office of Internal Affairs and later moved to the U.S. Customs Office of Investigations in Los Angeles.  Subsequent assignments included Assistant Customs Attaché in London, England, and Program Manager with the Arms and Strategic Technology Investigations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Washington, DC.  In 1998 he was recipient of the Commissioner’s Award for Enforcement Action and in 1999 received the Secretary of Treasury Award for Outstanding Performance.  In 2003 he received the ICE Outstanding Service Award for his service in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Roberto Sanchez Jr. died on June 15, 2015, after a short battle with cancer and has been buried at Green Hills Memorial Park in Los Angeles County, California.

Submitted by CDR Roy A. Mosteller, USNR (Ret)