Rear Admiral Dennis Velez is a native of Adjuntas, Puerto Rico. He is a 1992 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in Aerospace Engineering and earned a master’s degree in Information Technology Management from Touro University. He also earned a Certificate in Public Policy from Harvard University.
A career Surface Warfare Officer, he has deployed on ships to every combatant command theater of operation and commanded ships in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets. He completed tours aboard USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Carr (FFG 52), USS Gettysburg (CG 64), and USS Donald Cook (DDG 75). He served on afloat staffs with Commander, U.S. 2ND Fleet, and Striking Fleet Atlantic aboard USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20) and as the Deputy Commander for Destroyer Squadron Fifteen in Japan. He was the Commanding Officer of USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) and USS San Jacinto (CG 56).
Ashore, Velez served as an Officer in Charge of Western Hemisphere Group Caribbean Area Coordinator; surface placement branch head, head of junior surface warfare distribution, assistant Captain detailer and deputy director for Surface Warfare Distribution at Naval Personnel Command; Joint Staff Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate as chief, North East Asia Division and assistant director for Political-Military Affairs, Asia. He was the senior military assistant to the 76th Secretary of the Navy.
As flag officer, Velez served as Commander, Navy Recruiting Command; Commander, Carrier Strike Group Ten, George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group; Director of Plans and Policy, J5; Chief of Staff of U.S. Cyber Command; and Acting Deputy Commander, U.S. Cyber Command. Velez assumed the role of Deputy Chief, Central Security Service on 13 March, 2026.
Velez is a recipient of the Navy League’s John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership and was inducted into the Puerto Rico Military Hall of Fame in 2021. He is particularly proud of his appointment as Honorary Chief Petty Officer and the privilege of serving alongside the exceptional men and women he has led throughout his career at sea and ashore around the world.