Samuel Paparo

Samuel John Paparo Jr. is a U.S. Navy admiral who assumed command of the United States Indo-Pacific Command in 2024. The command oversees American military operations across the Asia-Pacific region, coordinating with allied and partner nations on a range of security matters.

As the senior U.S. military commander in the Indo-Pacific, Paparo shapes doctrine and acquisition priorities for drone and autonomous systems in the theatre most likely to define the next era of maritime warfare. His command is a key audience and driver for emerging autonomous capabilities being tracked in this field.