Richard W. Sanders received a B.S. degree in Applied Science from the U. S. Coast Guard Academy in 1987. He earned his M.S. (Chemistry, 1995) and Ph.D. (Chemistry, 2002) from the University of Connecticut. Captain Sanders has been a member of the Coast Guard Academy faculty since 1995. Since 1997 he has served as a member of the Permanent Commissioned Teaching Staff.

Captain Sanders teaches Organic Chemistry, General Chemistry, and additional upper-division chemistry courses in the Marine and Environmental Sciences major. Research interests include synthesis and application of laser-absorbing dyes and undergraduate chemical education. He has served as the Associate Dean, Department of Science Chair, and as the Program Coordinator of Cadet Coastal Sail Training Programs.

Captain Sanders is active in diversity and outreach initiatives and currently serves as the advisor to the Coast Guard Academy Scuba Club.

Education

• Ph.D., Chemistry, University of Connecticut
• MS, Chemistry, University of Connecticut
• BS, Applied Science, U.S. Coast Guard Academy

Courses Taught

• General Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Inorganic Chemistry
• Coast Guard History

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Teaching Electrochemistry in the General Chemistry Laboratory through Corrosion Exercises, Richard W. Sanders, Gregory L. Crettol, Joseph D. Brown, Patrick T. Plummer, Tara M. Schendorf, Alex Oliphant, Susan B. Swithenbank, Robert F. Ferrante, and Joshua P. Gray, Journal of Chemical Education 2018 95 (5), 842-846 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.7b00416
• Sanders, R.W., Initial Corrosion Assessment of the Tanker Coimbra, Prepared for the FOSC/CG Sector Long Island Sound, July 14, 2017
• Delgado, J.P., et. al., Deep-Sea Research Part II (2017), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2017.05.013

Honors

• Coast Guard Meritorious Service Medal

Professional Memberships

• American Chemical Society
• National Association of Corrosion Engineers
• Association of Naval Service Officers
• American Academy of Underwater Sciences