Samuel Perez, Jr.

Samuel Perez, Jr. is a Rear Admiral in the United States Navy. He currently serves as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Plans, Programs, and Operations at Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, Department of States from December 10, 2012.

He most recently served as Director of Navy Irregular Warfare Office (NIWO) at N3/N5, Office of Chief of Naval Operations (later served as Acting Assistant Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Plans and Strategy (N3/N5B)). Prior to that, He had various command and staff assignment experiences such as a commander of the Carrier Strike Group 1 or Special Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities (N8).

Early life
Rear Admiral Samuel Perez, Jr., a native of El Paso, Texas, graduated from the United States Naval Academy on May 28, 1980.

Career
At sea, Perez served as electrical officer and main propulsion assistant aboard the USS Paul F. Foster (DD-964), operations officer aboard USS Knox (FF-1052) and USS Bunker Hill (CG-52). His three at sea commands include command of USS Reclaimer (ARS-42), command of USS Vincennes (CG-49) and command of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. While in command of DESRON 15, Perez deployed DESRON 15 ships on long range surveillance and tracking missions in the Sea of Japan, completed multiple deployments with the Kitty Hawk Strike Group, coordinated and participated in over 10 combined joint operations in the Pacific area of responsibility and participated in numerous anti-submarine technology and tactics development exercises.

Ashore, he served as the program integrator for the Navy Theater Wide Theater Ballistic Missile Defense program at the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), as Future Ships branch head in the N76 Division of the Chief of Naval Operations, on the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the assistant deputy director for Regional Operations and executive assistant to the Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In the Navy Central Command (NAVCENT) area of operations he served as both the NAVCENT chief of staff and deputy commander, 5th Fleet. Perez served as the deputy director, Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATFS). During his tour at JIATFS, he deployed to Haiti and participated in Operation Unified Response as the commander, Joint Task Force Port Opening.

Perez earned a master’s degree in Strategic Planning at the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, California He completed a one-year federal executive fellowship tour at the Strategic Studies Program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and served as a senior fellow with the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group.

On 26 October 2010, Rear Admiral Samuel Perez, Jr., relieved Rear Admiral Ted "Twig" Branch as commander, Carrier Strike Group 1. On 19 November 2011, Rear Admiral Samuel Perez, Jr., was relieved by Rear Adm. Thomas K. Shannon as commander, Carrier Strike Group 1.

Awards
