Speakers
Rear Admiral Paul J. Verrastro
Director of Logistics, U.S. European Command
Rear Adm. Verrastro graduated from the State University of New York at Albany with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and was commissioned in May 1986 through the Officer Candidate School program in Newport, Rhode Island. He holds a Master of Science degree with distinction in Contract and Acquisition Management from the Naval Postgraduate School, as well as a Master of Arts degree with highest distinction in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College. He also completed the Executive Development Program at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business.
Verrastro’s sea duty assignments include tours on USS New Jersey (BB 62), Supply Officer on USS Chandler (DDG 996) and Supply Officer on USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). In 2005, he was the recipient of the USS John C Stennis, "Straight Furrow" Leadership Award.
Ashore, he has served as a Supply Corps Officer Detailer, Navy Personnel Command, Washington, DC; program manager for Fleet Requirements, Naval Regional Contracting Center, Naples, Italy; director, F/A-18 Integrated Weapons Support Team, Naval Inventory Control Point, Philadelphia; deputy for Supply Policy, Training and Assessments, Commander, Naval Air Forces, San Diego; NATO and coalition affairs country program director, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Arlington, VA; director, Aviation Operations at NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support, Philadelphia; and Commanding Officer, NAVSUP Fleet Logistics Center Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Rear Admiral Verrastro reported as the Director of Logistics, U.S. European Command, Stuttgart, Germany in July 2016. His previous Flag assignments include Commander, NAVSUP Weapon Systems Support and Director of Logistics Programs & Business Operations Division in the Office of Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N41).
As Director of Logistics (J4), he coordinates logistics, health readiness, engineering, and humanitarian support for U.S. forces assigned to the United States European Command Theater of operations. Verrastro is a qualified Joint Service Officer and a member of the Acquisition Professional Community. He has earned supply warfare qualifications in aviation and surface warfare. His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Legion of Merit Medals, and three Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, two Navy Achievement Medals and various campaign and unit awards.