Sergeant Major Louis J. Cardenas, from Tucson, Arizona, enlisted in the Marine Corps in September 2004. He completed recruit training at MCRD San Diego, followed by Marine Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, California. He specialized in electronic communications at the Marine Corps Communication Electronics School in 29 Palms, California, earning the MOS of Ground Communications Organizational Repairman (2844). Sergeant Major Cardenas served with the 9th Communication Battalion at Camp Pendleton, deploying twice in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was promoted to Corporal in 2007 and Sergeant in 2009, after which he served as a Telephone Installer with Headquarters and Support Battalion, MCB Camp Pendleton and completed the Marine Corps Martial Arts Instructor Course at SOI-West. In 2010, Sergeant Major Cardenas was selected for recruiting duty, graduating from Recruiters School in October 2010 and served in Recruiting Station Des Moines as a canvassing recruiter. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant in 2012 and later served as SNCOIC of Recruiting Substation Ottumwa, Iowa. Continuing his MOS progression, Sergeant Major Cardenas completed Advanced Electronics Course (AEC) in 2014. He was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in 2017 and served in various leadership roles, including Senior Enlisted Advisor and Organics Chief in maintenance, aviation, and logistics units.
Sergeant Major Cardenas was frocked to First Sergeant in January 2021, serving in leadership roles within 1st Maintenance Battalion and Combat Logistics Battalion 5. He deployed to Australia in 2022 with Marine Rotational Force-Darwin. In 2023, he was selected for the US Army Sergeants Major Academy in El Paso, TX. He was frocked to Sergeant Major in June 2024 and assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 23 in Fort Lewis, WA. Sergeant Major Cardenas has an Associates Degree in General Studies and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from American Public University. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with gold star in lieu of second award and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three gold stars.