the Western Pacific from January to July 1986 under the Unit Deployment Program. From January to March 1987, Estrada attended aircraft maintenance schools at Naval Air Station Cecil Field and Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, retraining as an FA-18 Hornet hydraulic/structural mechanic. In October 1987, Estrada returned to drill instructor duty, this time at Parris Island. He served as series chief drill instructor with India Company, 3rd Recruit Training Battalion and subsequently as standing operating procedures instructor and drill master at Drill Instructor School until his promotion to first sergeant in October 1990. From December 1990 to March 1995, Estrada served as first sergeant for Intelligence Company, 3rd Surveillance Reconnaissance and Intelligence Group, Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan; Marine Security Force Company, Norfolk, Virginia; Electronics Maintenance Company, 1st Maintenance Battalion, 1st Force Service Support Group, Camp Pendleton; and Alpha Company, 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton. From March 1995 to May 1998, Estrada served as sergeant major for 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton; and deployed with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC) and 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC) to the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf. In May 1998, Estrada assumed the duties as sergeant major for Recruiting Station Sacramento, California in the 12th Marine Corps District, Western Recruiting Region. From April 2000 to October 2001, Estrada was assigned as sergeant major, Marine Recruit Training Regiment, MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina. From December 2001 to May 2003, Estrada served as the sergeant major, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing. During this assignment, he was forward deployed and participated in Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Estrada assumed his post as the 15th Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps on June 26, 2003, succeeding Alford L. McMichael. On April 25, 2007, Estrada stepped down from his post as Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, turning over the post to Carlton Kent. Estrada was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal for his service and retired from the Marine Corps in June 2007. Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago In July 2013, President Barack Obama nominated Estrada to be the next United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, the country of Estrada's birth. The United States Senate did not act upon the nomination. Obama renominated Estrada on January 6, 2014. Estrada was approved for the position on February 12, 2016 and became the ambassador on March