He enlisted in the Florida National Guard on 2 July 1930 and attended the Marion Military Institute.

[1][2] Sternberg enlisted in the Regular Army on 2 July 1933 and was subsequently appointed to the United States Military Academy.

From 1953 to 1954, Sternberg was deployed to Korea, commanding the 5th Regimental Combat Team and serving at the 8th Army headquarters.

[4] From January 1964 to March 1996 he served as a J-1 Manpower and Personnel Directorate, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam.

He died on 2 January 2004 at Tripler Army Medical Center, Hawaii and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery.