Gustave F. Perna

Gustave F. Perna is a United States Army four-star general who serves as the chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed. As chief operating officer, he serves as co-leader and oversees the logistics in the United States federal government's search for a vaccine to the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S. Senate confirmed his nomination as chief operating officer on July 2, 2020, and he assumed the office shortly after.Perna previously served as the 19th commanding general of United States Army Materiel Command from September 30, 2016 to July 2, 2020. He also served for two years as the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff, G-4, overseeing policies and procedures used by all United States Army logistic personnel throughout the world. Prior to joining the Army staff he served for two years as Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/4, United States Army Materiel Command. Perna's command assignments include: 1) Commander, Joint Munitions Command and Joint Munitions and Lethality Lifecycle Management Command, responsible for the lifecycle management of $40 billion of conventional ammunition 2) Commander, Defense Supply Center Philadelphia, Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), responsible for the procurement of more than $14.5 billion worth of food, clothing, textiles, medicines, medical supplies, construction and equipment items for America's Warfighters and other customers worldwide 3) Commander, 4th Sustainment Brigade, where he deployed the brigade to combat operations during OIF 05-07 4) Commander, 64th Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado, where he deployed the battalion to combat operations during OIF I; 5) Deputy Commanding Officer, 64th Corps Support Group, 13th Corps Support Command (COSCOM), Fort Hood, Texas 6) Commander, B Company, 143rd Ordnance Battalion, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland Perna's nomination for promotion to commanding general of the United States Army Materiel Command (AMC) was confirmed by the United States Senate on September 15, 2016. He assumed command on September 30, 2016. In March 2020, his deputy Lieutenant General Edward M. Daly was confirmed as his successor at AMC. In May 2020, Perna was named Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the White House's Operation Warp Speed effort to quickly develop a COVID-19 vaccine. In June 2020, he was nominated to continue serving as an Army general in the position of COO, and was confirmed the next month by the Senate.