CURRENT POSITION: Rear Admiral Velez is the Deputy Chief, Central Security Service, National Security Agency, Fort George Meade, Maryland. He assists the Chief, Central Security Service, who also serves as the Commander, U.S. Cyber Command, and Director, National Security Agency, with operational control of signals intelligence missions conducted by all military services and the Coast Guard, comprising more than 13,000 personnel.
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND: A career Surface Warfare Officer, RADM Velez 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, RADM Velez served as 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 a flag officer, RADM 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, U.S. Cyber Command; followed by Acting Deputy Commander, U.S. Cyber Command. RADM 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.
RADM Velez is particularly proud of his appointment as an 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.
EDUCATION: A 1992 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in Aerospace Engineering, RADM Velez also earned a master's degree in Information Technology Management from Touro University and a Certificate in Public Policy from Harvard University.
PERSONAL: RADM Velez is a native of Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, and a proud husband and father of three children.