He also served as an executive officer of a Los Angeles-class submarine USS Salt Lake City (SSN-716).

He was also appointed deputy director for operations at COMPACFLT and executive assistant to the vice commander-in-chief for Pacific Fleet.

Later, he served at the Bureau of Naval Personnel as a placement officer and assistant captain detailer.

Sawyer was later appointed to Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center, Atlantic, where he served as an instructor.

He was later appointed to the office of United States Strategic Command as chief of staff for special activities and for submarine force Atlantic.