Sergeant Major Cruz enlisted in the Marine Corps on 20 April 1998 and reported to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego. Subsequently, he attended the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton and earned the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of 0311 and Marine Corps Security Forces (MCSF) School, earning the MOS of 8152. He was then assigned to MCSF Company, London, England until June 2000 where he served as Sentry, Corporal and Sergeant of the Guard, Squad Leader, Close Quarter Battle Instructor, and Section Leader.
In July 2000 he was promoted to Corporal and reported to Small Craft Company, 2d Marine Division, Camp Lejeune. During his tenure there, he obtained the MOS's of 0312 and 0314 and served as Coxswain, Boat Captain, Section Leader, and Platoon Sergeant. He was promoted to Sergeant in October 2002 and shortly after received orders to Range Management Branch, G3, Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico where he served as a Range Inspector and Fire Desk NCOIC from 2003 to 2006.
In January 2006, Sergeant Cruz reported to 2d Battalion, 3d Marines (2/3), MCB Kaneohe Bay. During his tour with 2/3, he deployed twice in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM and served as Mortar Section Leader, Rifle and Weapons Platoon Sergeant, Company Gunnery Sergeant, and Rifle Platoon Commander. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant in December 2006 while in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Cruz was the Honor Graduate from both the Infantry Unit Leaders Course in Camp Pendleton class 4-07 and the SNCOA Advanced Course in Camp Pendleton class 2-09. He was selected from the below zone to Gunnery Sergeant and promoted in May 2009.
Gunnery Sergeant Cruz attended Marine Security Guard (MSG) School class 4-09 and earned the MOS of 8156 and was assigned to the American Embassy in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo as Detachment Commander. In July 2010, he assumed command of MSG Detachment Beijing, China. Gunnery Sergeant Cruz was selected as the 2011 Detachment Commander of the Year out of 152 Detachment Commanders worldwide. Subsequently, he was selected as the Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) Marine Security Guard of the Year Runner-up and recognized at the CMC Combined Awards Ceremony in Quantico. Additionally, his detachment was the MSG Detachment of the Year in 2011.
Gunnery Sergeant Cruz reported to 3d Battalion, 1st Marines (3/1), Camp Pendleton in August 2012. During his tour with 3/1, he served as a Combined Anti-armor Team Platoon Sergeant and as Company First Sergeant for Company I and Weapons Company. He was promoted to First Sergeant in September 2013 and reported to 3d Assault Amphibian Battalion (Tracks) where he served as the Company First Sergeant for Company E and Company B. During his tenure in Tracks, he deployed to Okinawa, Japan in support of the Unit Deployment Program. In November 2015, First Sergeant Cruz was transferred to 3d Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, Camp Pendleton where he served as the Battery First Sergeant for Battery A and H&S Battery as well as Battalion Sergeant Major.
From February 2017 to April 2018 First Sergeant Cruz served with Task Force Spartan as the Senior Enlisted Advisor to an O6 Commander in support of Operation INHERENT RESOLVE aboard Al Taqaddum, Iraq. He was promoted to his current rank in August 2018 and assigned to Recruiting Station Richmond, VA. In August 2021, he was transferred to Marine Aircraft Group-41 Detachment Alpha, 4th Marine Aircraft Wing where he served the Site Support Sergeant Major until February 2023. Sergeant Major Cruz is currently serving as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for Marine Corps Embassy Security Group.
Sergeant Major Cruz holds an Associates of Arts in General Studies from the American Military University (AMU), with honors; a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management from AMU, Summa Cum Laude; and a Master of Arts in Executive Leadership from Liberty University, with high distinction. His personal awards include the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award, the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with two gold stars in lieu of third award and the Valor “V” Device for heroic achievement in combat, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with one gold star in lieu of second award, and the Combat Action Ribbon.