Paul Spedero Jr.

Paul C. Spedero Jr. (born 1968) is a United States Navy rear admiral and naval aviator who has served as the vice director for operations of the Joint Staff since June 2023. He most recently served as the commander of Carrier Strike Group 8 from May 31, 2022 to June 1, 2023. He most recently served as commander of the Joint Enabling Capabilities Command from July 9, 2021 to May 23, 2022, and prior to that as director for fleet integrated readiness and analysis on the staff of the United States Fleet Forces Command.

Spedero's command tours include serving as commanding officer of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) from November 2015 to August 2018, commanding officer of USS Peleliu (LHA-5) from December 2013 to its decommissioning in April 2015 and commander of the “Sidewinders” of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA)-86. He was promoted to his present rank on September 1, 2019.

A native of Springfield, Massachusetts, Spedero earned his commission from the NROTC program in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1990 with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering, and was designated a naval aviator in 1992. He earned an M.A. degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, an M.S. degree in Engineering Management from Old Dominion University, and a degree in French from the Defense Language Institute.

In February 2023, he was nominated for promotion to rear admiral.