Gustave F. Perna

Gustave F. Perna
Perna in 2016
Born (1960-04-15) April 15, 1960 (age 64)[1]
Rockaway, New Jersey[1]
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years of service1981–2021
RankGeneral
CommandsUnited States Army Materiel Command
Joint Munitions Command
Defense Supply Center Philadelphia
4th Sustainment Brigade
64th Forward Support Battalion
Battles / warsIraq War
AwardsDefense Distinguished Service Medal
Army Distinguished Service Medal (4)
Defense Superior Service Medal (2)
Legion of Merit
Bronze Star Medal (2)

Gustave F. Perna (born April 15, 1960)[1] is a retired United States Army four-star general who last served as the chief operating officer of the federal COVID-19 response for vaccine and therapeutics. He previously served as the chief operating officer of Operation Warp Speed from July 2020 until the operation's duties and responsibilities were transferred to the White House COVID-19 Response Team in February 2021. As chief operating officer of COVID-19 response, he oversaw the logistics in the United States federal government's distribution of the vaccine to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] The Senate confirmed his nomination as chief operating officer on July 2, 2020,[3][4] and he assumed the office shortly after.[5]

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.[6]

Perna retired from the Army on July 2, 2021 after over 40 years of service.[7]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference NJHoF was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Rempfer, Kyle (May 19, 2020). "Army 4-star will co-lead Manhattan Project-style effort to create and distribute COVID-19 vaccine". ArmyTimes. Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  3. ^ "PN1972 — Gen. Gustave F. Perna — Army". Congress.gov. Retrieved 2020-06-13.
  4. ^ "Department of Defense Statement on Gen. Gustave Perna's Confirmation". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Retrieved 2020-07-03.
  5. ^ Thacker, Paul (July 7, 2020). "The Sketchy Past of Trump's Coronavirus Vaccine Czar". The Daily Beast. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  6. ^ "General Gustave F. Perna: Commanding General" (PDF). U.S. Army Materiel Command. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-12-01. Retrieved 27 May 2018. Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  7. ^ Riley Griffin; Josh Wingrove (2021-06-29). "Perna Retiring From Covid Task Force as U.S. Response Shifts". Bloomberg News.