Admiral John Aquilino, Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

Admiral John Aquilino

Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command

John Christopher Aquino was born in 1961 in Huntington, New York. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in physics. He subsequently entered flight training, earning his wings. He is a graduate or has completed other education programs offered to him by the U.S. military, including the Harvard Kennedy School’s Executive Education Program in National and International Studies.

His assignments include being part of numerous fighter squadrons flying the Tomcat and Hornet. He commanded the Red Rippers of VF-1, Carrier Air Wing 2, and Carrier Strike Group George H.W. Bush Strike Group. He has made several extended deployments in support of Operations Deny Flight, Deliberate Force, Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.

He has served at the Pentagon in the Office of the Legislative Affairs for the Secretary of Defense, and as director of strategy and policy, U.S. Joint Forces Command, among many others. He commanded the U.S. Pacific Fleet. He has been commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command since April 30, 2021.

Aquilino has accumulated more than 5,100 mishap-free flight hours and over 1,500 carrier arrested landings.

In the News…

Admiral John Aquilino, U.S. Commander of the Indo-Pacific, recently spoke in Hawaii about rising tensions with China and what lies ahead.

The admiral said, “I do see the current strategic environment as really dangerous, the most dangerous time I have seen in 38 years. This is based on, A, the largest military buildup that we’re seeing in history, both conventional and nuclear.“ 

He continued, “The unprovoked illegitimate war in the Ukraine, 63 missile launches out of the DPRK, unprecedented, the most in history, to include a potential nuclear capability and a desire to have nuclear capability. And then you add one additional piece, and that is a no-limits policy articulated by the leaders of Russia and the PRC.” 

He said there are “two incompatible visions for the future… free and open and a legacy of liberty, or you look at an authoritarian, closed, opaque, and a tradition of tyranny. That’s the choices that have—that nations might have to make in the future.” 

Admiral Aquilino added, “We have a sense of urgency in everything we do.


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