VFMC Welcomes General (Ret.) Gustave F. Perna to Board of Trustees

Valley Forge Military College (VFMC) announced the appointment of General (Ret.) Gustave F. Perna to the Board of Trustees. A 1981 Graduate of VFMC, General Perna, a retired four-star General in the United States Army, brings nearly four decades of transformational military leadership and strategic oversight to the College’s governance.

General Perna’s military career is defined by mission-first leadership, integrity, and a lifelong commitment to service. As the former Commander of the U.S. Army Materiel Command and co-leader of Operation Warp Speed, he led some of the most complex logistics and supply chain operations in American history, impacting millions across the nation.

“General Perna embodies the leadership, discipline, and purpose that we instill in every cadet at Valley Forge,” said Col. Stuart B. Helgeson, USMC (Ret), President of Valley Forge Military College. “As an alumnus and lifelong leader, his return to support the College at the board level is both an honor and a testament to the enduring strength of Valley Forge Military College. His insight will be invaluable as we expand our mission and prepare the next generation of leaders.”

In addition to his military accomplishments, General Perna is an experienced board director, serving on a range of public and private boards in the defense, healthcare, and manufacturing sectors. His appointment to the VFMC Board reflects a renewed commitment to connecting current and future cadets with leaders of national and global impact.

A native of New Jersey, General Perna graduated from Valley Forge Military College in 1981, where he earned an Associate in Business Administration as part of the Army’s Early Commissioning Program (ECP). He remains the highest-ranking ECP cadet in the program’s history. 

He later earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Maryland and a Master of Science in Logistics Management from the Florida Institute of Technology. General Perna resides with his wife, Susan, and is the proud father and grandfather of a growing family.

Valley Forge Military College welcomes General Perna home and looks forward to his continued leadership in shaping the future of the institution.