GEN Gustave Perna

GEN Perna commissioned as an Army Infantry Officer following graduation from Valley Forge Military Academy in 1981.

He made enduring contributions to the United States and the Department of Defense (DoD) while serving more than 40 years, 13 years as a General Officer. His career encompassed leadership at every level and he distinguished himself as a true Soldier, Leader, and Diplomat, which was instrumental in providing global, decisive action readiness in support of U.S., DoD, and Coalition forces engaged in nearly two decades of conflict and during a period of unprecedented high operational tempo, global engagements, and substantial force modernization.

GEN Perna’s most notable commands were as the Director of United States Forces Iraq J-4, Commanding General of the Joint Munitions Command, the Deputy Chief of Staff of Operations and Logistics G3/4, Army Materiel Command (AMC), and Army Deputy Chief of Staff G-4, AMC.

GEN Perna's illustrious career included serving as the 19th Commanding General, AMC from 30 September 2016 to 30 June 2020. AMC is considered the most diverse of the four Army Commands and serves as the Army’s and Joint Force’s premier provider of materiel readiness – technology, acquisition support, materiel development, logistics power projection, and sustainment – for the total force, across the full spectrum of joint military operations. He led over 97,000 Soldiers and Department of the Army employees and over 90,000 contractors located around the world supporting combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria along with permanent presence in Europe, South Korea, Japan and all active Army installations. This team of Soldiers, DA Civilians and contractors enabled the delivery of Materiel Readiness by synchronizing and intergrading the capabilities of eleven Major Subordinate Commands (MSC).

He culminated his career as the Chief Operating Officer of the Operation Warp Speed for the United States of America and its COVID effort until February 2021. In this position, GEN Perna applied his logistics leadership expertise as he oversaw the logistics in the United States federal government’s COVID vaccination efforts in support of the COVID vaccine development and distribution for all the people of the United States.

GEN Perna’s awards include the Distinguished Service Medal (4OLC), the Defense Superior Service Medal (1OLC), the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Stare Medal (1OLC), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (4OLC)

GEN Perna retired from the Army in July 2021.