Admiral John Aquilino
Commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
John Christopher Aquino was born in 1961 in Huntington, New York. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a degree in physics. He subsequently entered flight training, earning his wings. He is a graduate or has completed other education programs offered to him by the U.S. military, including the Harvard Kennedy School’s Executive Education Program in National and International Studies.
His assignments include being part of numerous fighter squadrons flying the Tomcat and Hornet. He commanded the Red Rippers of VF-1, Carrier Air Wing 2, and Carrier Strike Group George H.W. Bush Strike Group. He has made several extended deployments in support of Operations Deny Flight, Deliberate Force, Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.
He has served at the Pentagon in the Office of the Legislative Affairs for the Secretary of Defense, and as director of strategy and policy, U.S. Joint Forces Command, among many others. He commanded the U.S. Pacific Fleet. He has been commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command since April 30, 2021.
Aquilino has accumulated more than 5,100 mishap-free flight hours and over 1,500 carrier arrested landings.
In the News…
The United States is capable of assisting and defending Taiwan in the event of a military crisis, the commander of all U.S. forces in the Pacific said last week.
“There is a narrative that we see often in the media that talks about the U.S. and the West in decline,” Admiral John Aquilino, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, stated during an appearance at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado, when asked to describe America’s ability to defend Taiwan.
“I think that I’d start with that that narrative is certainly being pushed by our adversaries. I want to be very clear: we have the best military on the planet,” he said. “We are here to continue to operate to ensure peace and prosperity through the region, and we have to be in a position to ensure that status quo remains as it applies to Taiwan.”
Admiral Aquilino said Beijing’s heavy-handed actions in Hong Kong since last year have heightened his concern over China’s intentions toward Taiwan, which the Communist Party of China regards as a renegade province that must, at some point, become reunified with the mainland.
