Admiral Joe Lopez’s 39 year naval career culminated in tours as Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Commander-in-Chief Allied Forces, Southern Europe. Additionally, he served as Commander of all U.S. and Allied Bosnia Peace Keeping Forces, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Resources, Warfare Requirements and Assessments, Commander of the U.S. Navy Sixth Fleet, Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, and Director of Current Operations for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Earlier career highlights include Commanding Officer, River Assault Division 153, Mekong Delta, Vietnam and service in the destroyer navy including Commanding Officer of USS Stump and Commander, Destroyer Squadron 32.
Admiral Lopez was awarded numerous medals and honors, including two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, two Navy Distinguished Service Medals, three Legion of Merits, the Bronze Star (Combat V), three Navy Commendation Medals (Combat V) and the Combat Action Medal. He is the the fifteenth member of the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School Hall of Fame. Notably, he is just one of two flag officers in the history of the U.S. Navy to achieve four-star rank after direct commission from enlisted service.
Since his transition from the United States Navy, Admiral Lopez has directed several organizations and served on a number of public and private boards. He served as Chief Operating Officer for Brown and Root Services, Senior Vice President of Kellogg, Brown, and Root, President of Information Management Corporation, and Chief Executive Officer of Technology and Supply Management, LLC.
Admiral Lopez’s board memberships have included the Board of Visitors of the National Defense University, EADS North America, CNA Corporation, Armed Forces Benefit Association, West Virginia University Board of Governors, Imagine West Virginia, Arizona State University Flag Advisory Council, Reserve Oil and Gas Company, and Board of Trustees of the National Youth Science Foundation.
Admiral Lopez has received numerous honors from his home state of West Virginia, including designation by the Governor as a “Distinguished West Virginian”. He was also named West Virginian of the Year by West Virginian Capital newspapers. Additionally, the Interstate 64 Bridge spanning the Kanawha River at Chelyan, West Virginia was named in his honor by the State Legislature.
Admiral Lopez is an alumnus of Potomac State College, West Virginia Institute of Technology and the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. He holds a BA (Cum Laude) in International Relations and an MS in Management. He has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities from West Virginia Institute of Technology and an Honorary Degree in Information Technology from Potomac State College of West Virginia.
Admiral Lopez resides in Great Falls, Virginia.