A 1981 Graduate of VFMC, General (Ret.) Gustave F. 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.

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.