Researching Scott Sanders

Sanders has won acclaim for his skill as a personal essayist. A contributing editor for Orion magazine, he has won the John Burroughs Natural History Essay Award, the Indiana Authors Award, and the Mark Twain Award, among other honors. A frequent public lecturer, Sanders also conducts writing workshops across the United States, including recent ones in Alaska, Vermont, Massachusetts, Oregon, and New Mexico. He received the Lannan Literary Award in 1995 for his non-fiction writing, and has received the Frederic Bachman Lieber Award for Distinguished Teaching, the highest teaching award given at Indiana University. In 2012 he was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Sanders was a judge for the 2016 Permafrost Book Prize in Nonfiction for Permafrost: Literary Journal.

Sanders was a distinguished professor of English at Indiana University, where he taught from 1971 until his retirement in 2009. During his career, he has spent sabbatical years as a writer-in-residence at Phillips Exeter Academy, and as a Visiting Professor at University of Oregon, MIT, and Beloit College. He is married with two children, Eva and Jesse, both of whom he addresses in letters included in The Force of Spirit.

He and his wife, Ruth, a biochemist, live in Bloomington, Indiana, in the watershed of the White River.

In his MLB career, Sanders compiled a 34-45 record and a 4.86 ERA. He appeared in 235 games, with 88 starts. In innings pitched, he recorded 632 strikeouts. In his one season in NPB, Sanders had a 3-5 record and a 4.36 ERA. In 24 games, including 11 starts, he pitched innings with 70 strikeouts.

He also produced the 2016 Broadway revival of The Color Purple which went on to win the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album. He won his Emmy and first Tony Award for his work as a producer on Elaine Stritch at Liberty. His musical comedy adaptation of the film Tootsie is to premiere on Broadway in the Spring of 2019. He is also known for his impresario role at Radio City Music Hall and for his work on numerous globally televised live events, including the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show starring Michael Jackson at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA.

In 1986, Sanders returned to VAW-120 as a flight instructor and served as the squadron’s flight standardization officer, E-2C model manager and commander, Naval Air Forces Atlantic E-2C evaluator. He transitioned from active duty in July 1987 and affiliated in the Naval Reserve in a flight status with VAW-78.

Sanders held numerous billets at VAW-78 before assuming command of the squadron in November 1997. During his tenure as executive officer and commanding officer, VAW-78 earned the Battle E for excellence (twice), the F. Trubee Davison Award as the top tactical Navy Reserve Squadron, and a Chief of Naval Operations Meritorious Unit Commendation.

In 1990, Sanders was selected as the Navy Reserve Junior Officer of the Year. Additionally, he held a concurrent billet supporting NATO Reserve Forces from 1992-1998. He was the elected chairman of the commission on NATO’s Standardization and Training of Reserves Forces from 1997-1998.Sanders was then selected to be commanding officer of Tactical Air Control Squadron 2186 in 1999. He was selected to subsequent command tours at Carrier Group 0486 and U.S. 2nd Fleet Joint Force Air Component Commander 0186. He held follow-on assignments at Joint Forces Command, Standing Joint Forces Headquarters – Core Element supporting active-reserve integration and then at U.S. 2nd Fleet focusing on maritime ballistic missile defense.

After selection to flag rank in 2007, Sanders was assigned as vice commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. In August 2009 he assumed command of Combined Task Force 151, where over his tenure he commanded 4,400 sailors on 19 ships from seven nations, in a coalition counter-piracy force operating off the coast of Somalia. He served in this at-sea command tour until January 2010.He is currently serving as the deputy commander for U.S. 2nd Fleet.Sanders personal decorations include the Legion of Merit (3), Meritorious Service Medal (3), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

In 2007, he was inducted into the Sahuaro High School Alumni (Cougar Foundation) Hall of Fame.

In his civilian career, Sanders has worked for Wyle, Inc.’s Aerospace Group since 1987.

August 2011 Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead announced Sanders will be assigned as Reserve Deputy Director for Joint Force Development, J7, Joint Staff, Suffolk, Virginia. He retired from the U.S. Navy on 1 October 2013.