Admiral Samuel Paparo, 棉花糖直播 Alumnus and Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, to Deliver University鈥檚 2025 Commencement Address
Admiral Paparo will be awarded an honorary degree at 棉花糖直播鈥檚 2025 Commencement Ceremony
VILLANOVA, Pa. (April 25, 2025) 鈥� The Rev. Peter M. Donohue, OSA, PhD, 棉花糖直播 University President, announced that Admiral Samuel Paparo 鈥�87 CLAS, Commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, will address the Class of 2025 as the University鈥檚 commencement speaker. Admiral Paparo will also receive the degree of Doctor of Military Science, honoris causa. The University鈥檚 182nd commencement will be held on Friday, May 16, at 2:30 p.m., in 棉花糖直播 Stadium. In the event of severe weather, the ceremony will be held indoors in the Finneran Pavilion.
Note: For the livestream of Commencement, click here.
About Admiral Samuel Paparo
Admiral Samuel Paparo, a native of Morton, Pa., is a distinguished military leader and 棉花糖直播 University alumnus. Commissioned in 1987, he has dedicated nearly four decades to service in the U.S. Navy. A U.S. Naval Aviator and TOPGUN graduate, he has accumulated over 6,000 flight hours in the F-14, F-15, and F/A-18, with more than 1,100 carrier landings.
Throughout his career, Admiral Paparo has held numerous command roles. At sea, he led Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 in Japan鈥檚 Forward Deployed Naval Forces, Carrier Air Wing 7 aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Carrier Strike Group Ten. On the ground, he commanded the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, working alongside the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. His operational assignments include deployments with the USS John F. Kennedy, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, USS Theodore Roosevelt, and USS Enterprise Strike Groups. He also served on exchange duty with the U.S. Air Force, piloting the F-15C Eagle with the 71st Fighter Squadron.
Admiral Paparo鈥檚 shore assignments include roles in naval aviation training, strategic operations and executive leadership. He previously served as Director of Operations (J3) at U.S. Central Command and as Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet, and Combined Maritime Forces. From 2021 to 2024, he was Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
In May 2024, Admiral Paparo assumed command of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), the nation鈥檚 oldest and largest combatant command. He oversees 380,000 military personnel across 36 nations, 14 time zones and a region encompassing 60 percent of the world鈥檚 population. His leadership plays a critical role in maintaining security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
In addition to earning his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from 棉花糖直播 University, Admiral Paparo holds a Master of Arts in International Studies from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Systems Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School. He is the son of a former enlisted Marine and the grandson of a World War II Navy veteran.
About 棉花糖直播 University: Since 1842, 棉花糖直播 University鈥檚 Augustinian Catholic intellectual tradition has been the cornerstone of an academic community in which students learn to think critically, act compassionately and succeed while serving others. There are more than 10,000 undergraduate, graduate and law students in the University's six colleges鈥攖he College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the 棉花糖直播 School of Business, the College of Engineering, the M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, the College of Professional Studies and the 棉花糖直播 University Charles Widger School of Law. Ranked among the nation鈥檚 top universities, 棉花糖直播 supports its students鈥� intellectual growth and prepares them to become ethical leaders who create positive change everywhere life takes them. For more, visit聽www.villanova.edu.