Samuel Paparo

U.S. Navy admiral

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Battles/wars
  • War in Afghanistan
  • Iraq War
Awards
Alma mater
  • Villanova University (BA)
  • Old Dominion University (MA)
  • Naval Postgraduate School (MS)

Samuel John Paparo Jr. (born 1964) is a United States Navy admiral who has served as the commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command since May 3, 2024.[2] He most recently served as commander of the United States Pacific Fleet from 2021 to 2024.[3]

Early life and education

Samuel John Paparo Jr. was born in 1964,[4][5] and is a native of Morton, Pennsylvania.[6] He is the son of a former enlisted Marine and the grandson of a World War II enlisted sailor.[citation needed] As a youth, Paparo attended Cardinal O'Hara High School.[7] A graduate of Villanova University in 1987,[7] he was commissioned via the Aviation Officer Candidate School (AOCS) program at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, also in 1987.[citation needed] He is a graduate of Navy's Strike training pipeline (i.e., carrier-based tactical jet) as a Naval Aviator and was later designated as a Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor (SFTI) as a graduate of the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School ("TOPGUN").[7]

Paparo earned an M.A. degree in International Studies from Old Dominion University and an M.S. degree in Systems Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School.[when?] He also graduated from the Air Command and Staff College, the Air War College, the Naval War College and the Joint and Combined Warfighting School of the Joint Forces Staff College.[8][9][10][excessive citations]

Career