Frank Pandolfe

Frank Craig Pandolfe was born in 1958 in Scituate, Massachusetts. He graduated from Scituate High School in 1976, where he was a track athlete. His foundational military education began at the United States Naval Academy, from which he graduated in 1980. Following his naval academy studies, he furthered his academic pursuits, earning both a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy (MALD) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. His doctoral research specialized in public international law and national security affairs. Frank Pandolfe’s extensive naval career spanned 37 years, during which he held various command and leadership positions. Notably, he commanded the USS Mitscher (DDG-57) from 1999 to 2001, a period in which the ship was awarded the Battle Efficiency Award three times. He also served in the War in Afghanistan. His career included roles such as Commander of the United States Sixth Fleet from October 2011 to October 2013 and leadership of Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO. In higher government service, he held positions in the Offices of the Chief of Naval Operations, the Joint Staff, and the White House. He also served as Military Aide to the Vice President of the United States, Director for Surface Warfare (N-96) on the Navy Staff, Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy (J-5) on the Joint Staff, and ultimately as Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, prior to his retirement in September 2017. Post-military, he transitioned into the private sector, applying his strategic experience to the defense technology industry. In January 2023, he joined Leidos as Vice President and Strategic Account Executive for the Navy & Marine Corps. His responsibilities in this role include strengthening relationships with the Department of the Navy and identifying opportunities for growth within the enterprise. Prior to Leidos, he served as President, International Operations for Owl Cyber Defense and Acuity International LLC, based in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.