Scott Pappano currently serves as the Principal Deputy Administrator of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). Mr. Pappano has dedicated nearly 35 years of service to the United States Navy as a submarine officer and acquisition leader, including at the rank of Vice Admiral before retiring in May 2025. Throughout his career, Mr. Pappano not only commanded at sea, but shaped the future of undersea warfare and strategic deterrence for generations to come.
Pappano served onboard five submarines, including command of USS Buffalo (SSN 715) while forward deployed in Guam. Assignments ashore included submarine tactics development, Navy nuclear power training, defense international security policy, and Navy programming. After selection as an acquisition professional, Pappano served as Major Program Manager for the Strategic and Attack Submarine Program Office (PMS 392).
As a flag officer, Mr. Pappano served in some of the Navy’s most critical leadership roles, including Director of the Comprehensive Test Facility, Commander of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center, Program Executive Officer for Strategic Submarines, and Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition).
Throughout his distinguished naval career, Pappano served on teams that have been awarded the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, and five Navy “E” Ribbons.
A native of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Mr. Pappano graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1989 with his Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering and later earned his Master of Science in Nuclear Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
He and his wife, Kathryn (née Haley) of Needham, Massachusetts, reside in Virginia and have two grown children.