Sergeant Major Carlos J. Velázquez is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 3 December 2002. Upon completion of recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina, he attended Marine Combat Training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He then reported to Camp Johnson, North Carolina, where he completed the Supply Administration and Operations Specialist Course and earned his Military Occupational Specialty. Following training, he was assigned to Detachment 2, Beach Terminal Operations Company B, 4th Landing Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, at Naval Station Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico.
In 2004, Lance Corporal Velázquez attended the Heavy Equipment Operator Course at the Engineer Equipment Instruction School, Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, earning the additional MOS 1345. Following his promotion to Corporal, he completed the Marine Combat Water Survival Instructor Course at Camp Johnson, North Carolina.
Promoted to Sergeant in 2007, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, serving as the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Joint Air Cargo Operations Terminal at Kuwait International Airport. There, he led the arrival and departure airfield control group, coordinating the movement of personnel, human remains, and equipment in support of combat operations.
After returning from deployment in 2008, Sergeant Velázquez executed consecutive Active Duty Operational Support (ADOS) orders at Inspector-Instructor Staff, 3rd Longshoreman Platoon, 4th Landing Support Battalion, 4th Force Service Support Group, Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico, serving as Platoon Sergeant and Interim Supply Chief.
In 2009, Sergeant Velázquez was selected to serve as the Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Overseas Contingency Operations Detachment, G-4 Operations, Marine Forces Reserve, New Orleans, Louisiana. He was responsible for tracking, monitoring, and coordinating logistics requirements for deploying and redeploying Marine Reserve units. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant during this assignment.
In 2011, Staff Sergeant Velázquez volunteered as a Spanish interpreter and translator for the Counterintelligence/Human Intelligence Section, Intelligence Support Battalion, New Orleans, Louisiana. He provided linguistic and cultural support to the Collections and Analysis Courses in support of Intelligence Theater Security Cooperation Missions in Mexico and served as Senior Spanish Linguist advising on terminology, customs, and culture specific to the Mexican Marine Corps.
From 2011 to 2012, he completed multiple professional military education and specialized training courses, including the Legacy Model Source Management Train-the-Trainer Course, Methods of Instruction for Adults, the Joint Special Operations University at MacDill Air Force Base, the Foreign Advisor Course at the Marine Corps Security Cooperation Group in Virginia Beach, and the MAGTF Tactical Debriefing Course at the Navy and Marine Intelligence Training Center in Dam Neck, Virginia.
In 2013, Staff Sergeant Velázquez reported to the MARFORNORTH Theater Security Cooperation Detachment, where he served as the Senior Noncommissioned Officer in Charge, Logistics Chief, and Intelligence Section Team Leader and Instructor. He led embedded foreign advisory programs assisting host nation militaries in Mexico and The Bahamas in developing counterinsurgency and intelligence capabilities. He was responsible for the discipline, welfare, and professional development of more than 25 Marines and Sailors and coordinated all logistics and airlift requirements for personnel and equipment.
In 2014, he was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and selected as the USNORTHCOM/NORAD Senior Noncommissioned Officer in Charge of the Year. He received the Joint Service Commendation Medal the following year for exceptional leadership and contributions to joint operations.
After completing five consecutive years of deployment and theater security cooperation missions, Gunnery Sergeant Velázquez concluded his assignment with MARFORNORTH in September 2019. In November 2019, he accepted Active Duty Operational Support orders as the Gunnery Sergeant for Headquarters Company, Marine Raider Support Group, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
He was promoted to First Sergeant on 1 June 2020 and reported to Bulk Fuel Company B (-), 6th Engineer Support Battalion, 4th Marine Logistics Group, Wilmington, Delaware, in July 2023.
Sergeant Major Velázquez currently serves as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 234. He works as a commercial diver and PADI Scuba Diving Instructor. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Puerto Rico – Mayagüez Campus and is a graduate of the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service as an Unexploded Ordnance Technician.