Lieutenant Peppe recently completed the Submarine Officer Advanced Course in Groton, Connecticut, and now serves on board the USS LaJolla (SSN-701) as engineer officer. Prior to this, he was a student at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he earned a master’s degree in operations research. His graduate thesis was awarded the Chief of Naval Operations Award for Excellence in Operations Research and the Military Operations Society Graduate Research Award. Previous tours include duty on board the USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN-619) and the USS Groton (SSN-694). Lieutenant Peppe received his undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota and was commissioned via the Officer Candidate School in 1978.