Former, Commander SEVENTH Fleet
A career submarine officer, Vice Adm. Phil Sawyer served in both fast attack submarines (SSNs) and ballistic missile submarines (SSBNs). He commanded USS LAJOLLA out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Submarine Squadron 15 in Guam. His flag officer tours included Vice Commander at Navy Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) Center; Commander, Task Force 74/54 & Commander, Submarine Group 7 in Yokosuka, Japan; Commander Submarine Forces Pacific; Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet; and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Plans, Policy and Strategy (N3N5).
Sawyer is a 1983 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering. He received a master’s degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University. He retired from the U.S. Navy in September 2021. In January 2022, he began working for the Naval Postgraduate School as the Undersea Warfare (USW) Chair and Professor of the Practice.
How Do We Deter, Fight, and Win in the Indo-Pacific?
Thursday, February 12, 2026
10:00 AM - 11:15 AM PT