DOD: Gen. Gustave Perna’s Confirmation as Chief Operating Officer of Operation Warp Speed

Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark T. Esper issued the following statement:

“Today, I’m proud to announce the U.S. Senate has officially confirmed General Gustave F. Perna as Chief Operating Officer of Operation Warp Speed (OWS). With experience as Commander of the Army’s Materiel Command (AMC), General Perna is exceptionally well qualified to help lead this historic operation to accelerate the development, manufacturing, and distribution of COVID-19 medical countermeasures. I have every confidence General Perna will carry out the duties of this mission with proficiency and professionalism, and the Department of Defense is committed to ensuring he has the resources, authority, and support he needs throughout this process.”

May 2020

Army general to co-lead Operation Warp Speed for COVID-19 vaccine

By David Vergun, Defense.gov

President Donald J. Trump announced on Friday that Army Gen. Gustave F. Perna, the commander of Army Materiel Command, will co-lead an effort, dubbed Operation Warp Speed, to find a vaccine for COVID-19 by January 2021.

Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper said the Defense Department is very excited and committed to partnering with the Department of Health and Human Services, across the government, and in the private sector to accomplish the mission. “Winning matters, and we will deliver by the end of this year a vaccine at scale to treat the American people and our partners abroad,” he said.

The goal is to produce about 300 million vaccines by January, said Jonathan Rath Hoffman, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs, at a Pentagon press briefing on Friday.