![]() Although that may immediately bring to mind then-Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzō’s efforts to change Japan’s pacifist constitution, his government’s efforts to improve Japan’s defense procurement process and defense industry’s competitiveness were also vitally important. For most of the 2010s, Tokyo has worked to lay the groundwork for the revitalization of its navy, a key component of its “dynamic defense” strategy. Its force structure and personnel strength, until recently, have been nearly identical to what they were two decades ago.īut for all the stillness above the waterline, there has been stirring below it. By comparison, the MSDF has seemed trapped in time. More worrisome still for Tokyo, China has added a host of warships with entirely new capabilities, including aircraft carriers that can launch fixed-wing aircraft and an array of amphibious vessels. But over the last decade, the MSDF has seen its position eclipsed by that of China’s navy, which has grown to twice its strength in terms of submarines and oceangoing surface combatants, like destroyers and frigates. Its fleet is larger than those of traditional European powers like France and the United Kingdom combined. 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces, Manama, Bahrain.Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF), as it is officially known, is one of the world’s most powerful navies. His most recent assignment was commander, U.S. Fleet Forces Command, and executive assistant to the 31st Chief of Naval Operations. He was Programming Division (OPNAV N80), Strategy and Resource and Requirements Review Board branch head.Įxecutive staff tours include service as executive assistant to Commander, U.S. Shore assignments include the staff of Commander, Naval Air Forces, as F/A-18 training, readiness and requirements officer. Air Force flying the F-15C Eagle with the 71st Fighter Squadron, deploying multiple times to Saudi Arabia and Keflavik, Iceland. He served also on exchange duty with the U.S. Central Command, Tampa, Florida Battle Director at the Combined Air and Space Operations Center, Al Udeid, Qatar and Commanding Officer of Provincial Reconstruction Team, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan with the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade. ![]() In joint operational service, he was Director of Operations (J3) at U.S. Eisenhower Strike Groups and VFA-15, flying the F/A-18 Hornet with USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Enterprise Strike Groups. Other operational assignments at sea include Fighter Squadron (VF) 14, flying the F-14 Tomcat with USS John F. Eisenhower Strike Group and Commander, Carrier Strike Group 10. Operational command tours at sea include Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 in the Forward Deployed Naval Forces, Yokosuka, Japan, deploying in Kitty Hawk Strike Group VFA 106, NAS Oceana, Va Commander, Carrier Air Wing 7, embarked in Dwight D. Naval Aviator, he is a TOPGUN graduate and has flown over 6,000 hours in the F-14, F-15 and F/A-18 and 1,100 carrier landings. He has earned a Master of Arts in International Studies from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Systems Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School.Ī U.S. He is the son of a former enlisted Marine and the grandson of a World War II enlisted Sailor. Sam Paparo, a native of Morton, Pennsylvania graduated from Villanova University and was commissioned in 1987.
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