CDR Joshua R. Virgadamo

Commanding Officer, USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53)

23 June 2025 Commander Josh Virgadamo is a native of Newport, RI. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a degree in Biology and earned Master’s degrees in Military Studies from Marine Corps University Command & Staff College, and National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University Eisenhower School. He commissioned through Officer Candidate School in 2006.

Afloat, Commander Virgadamo served division officer tours as Ordnance Officer in USS FITZGERALD (DDG 62) and Navigator in USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC 19), department head tours as Weapons Officer in USS MASON (DDG 87) and Combat Systems Officer in USS NORMANDY (CG 60), and Executive Officer in USS HOWARD (DDG 83).

Ashore, he served as Executive Assistant to the Director, Operations and Plans, Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N31); Maintenance Officer, Beachmaster Unit TWO; and Aegis & BMD Requirements Officer, Surface Warfare Division, Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV N96). Commander Virgadamo also volunteered as an Individual Augmentee, serving as Battalion Electronic Warfare Officer within the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82d Airborne Division in Tallil, Iraq.