3rd Marine Aircraft Wing

Sergeant Major Denise Ruiz was born in Flint, Michigan December 23, 1972.  Private Ruiz attended recruit training aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island and graduated as the Company honor graduate August 14, 1992.  Private First Class Ruiz attended Basic Food Service School in Camp Johnson, North Carolina.  Private First Class Ruiz was assigned to Headquarters Battalion, Tustin, California in January 1993 and remained until June 1997 during which she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.

Sergeant Ruiz was then reassigned to Combat Service Support Detachment, Iwakuni, Japan.  Sergeant Ruiz served as the Headquarters training Staff Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge and conducted training exercises with the squadron to include Helicopter Support Team Training for external lifts and on/off load exercises aboard amphibious shipping.  Sergeant Ruiz also trained with the Military Police Special Response Team and rescue diving with the Search and Rescue Team.  In July 1998, Sergeant Ruiz reported to Drill Instructor School, Parris Island, South Carolina.  Upon graduating Drill Instructor School, Sergeant Ruiz attended Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival Course where she again graduated as the Honor Graduate.  Sergeant Ruiz reported to 4th Recruit Training Battalion, Company P, as a Drill Instructor and shortly thereafter was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant.  During Staff Sergeant Ruiz’s tour on Parris Island, she graduated 13 platoons as a Drill Instructor, Senior Drill Instructor, and Chief Drill Instructor.  Staff Sergeant Ruiz then transferred to Weapons and Field Training Battalion.

In June of 2002, Staff Sergeant Ruiz reported to Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division, Camp Pendleton, California and served as the Headquarters Company Gunnery Sergeant.  In October 2002, Staff Sergeant Ruiz was chosen to report to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, California to attend Drill Instructor School for a pilot program intended to implement females into the West Coast Recruit Depot.  Upon graduation in December 2002, she reported to EWTGPAC, Coronado, California to attend the Marine Corps Instructor of Water Survival Course for a second time.  Upon graduation, Staff Sergeant Ruiz was assigned to Support Battalion, Recruit Training Regiment as a swim instructor and Basic Life Saving Instructor Trainer and was selected as the Military Female of the Year for 2003. 

In January 2004, Staff Sergeant Ruiz was then transferred back to Headquarters Battalion, 1st Marine Division and deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Company Gunnery Sergeant and subsequently promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in August 2004.  Gunnery Sergeant Ruiz was then assigned to report to 14th Marine Regiment, Fort Worth, Texas in November 2005.  During her tour, Gunnery Sergeant Ruiz served the billets of Battery Gunnery Sergeant, First Sergeant and I&I Sergeant Major.  In August 2008, Gunnery Sergeant Ruiz was promoted to the rank of First Sergeant.

Gunnery Sergeant Ruiz was assigned to Combat Logistics Battalion 2, Combat Logistics Regiment 25, Camp Lejeune as the Headquarters First Sergeant and once more deployed to Operation Iraq Freedom.  In June 2009, First Sergeant Ruiz transferred to Support Company, CLR-17, Camp Pendleton, California and served both as a Company First Sergeant and Regimental Sergeant Major.

First Sergeant Ruiz transferred to 1st Maintenance Battalion, Camp Pendleton, California in October 2010 as served as both a First Sergeant and Sergeant Major.  Then in July 2012, First Sergeant Ruiz was transferred to Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group where she was promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major.
Sergeant Major Ruiz’s personal awards include (4) Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals and (5) Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals.