Retired Vice Adm. Scott Pappano has been confirmed as principal deputy administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration. According to Congress records, legislators voted 51-47 to appoint Pappano.
He also confirmed his new position in a LinkedIn post Thursday.
Who Is Scott Pappano?
President Donald Trump nominated Pappano to be principal deputy administrator for NNSA in February.
Pappano is a seasoned military leader who most recently served as principal military deputy assistant secretary of the Navy for research, development and acquisition. He also held leadership positions at the Special Operations Forces Mobility Program Office and the Strategic and Attack Submarine Program Office, his bio on the Navy’s website revealed.
At sea, he served aboard USS City of Corpus Christi, USS Albuquerque, USS Michigan and USS Ohio. He also commanded the USS Buffalo while deployed to Guam.
Pappano retired from military service after three decades.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in marine engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and a master’s degree in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Related Articles
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order approving a proposed deal that would keep video-sharing platform TikTok operational in the U.S. while protecting national security. Engage with U.S. military leaders and top industry experts at the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 GovCon International and Global Defense Summit as they tackle global defense challenges, from supply chain risks to sanctions and international regulations. Save your spot now for this Oct. 16 event to gain critical insights and connect with key decision-makers! ‘Qualified Divestiture’ of TikTok’s US Operations In a fact sheet published Thursday, the White House said TikTok’s U.S. operations would
The General Services Administration and xAI have signed an agreement to make the latter’s Grok frontier artificial intelligence models available to federal agencies through March 2027. GSA said Thursday the partnership with xAI is part of the agency’s OneGov initiative, which aims to simplify the procurement of AI tools to help accelerate federal AI adoption. The new deal is reportedly the lowest price yet for an AI offering through the partnership. “Widespread access to advanced AI models is essential to building the efficient, accountable government that taxpayers deserve—and to fulfilling President Trump’s promise that America will win the global AI
Kristi Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, has publicly endorsed a letter delivered by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth proposing the establishment of a civilian service secretary for the U.S. Coast Guard. Join the Potomac Officers Club’s 2025 Homeland Security Summit on Nov. 12 to hear a keynote from Sec. Noem addressing the GovCon community. Leadership Role Meant to Boost Maritime Security Operations The DHS said Thursday that the Coast Guard operates as both a military branch and a federal law enforcement agency, yet lacks a dedicated civilian official to guide policy and strategic direction. Appointing a service secretary could