Rear Admiral Romano is assigned as commander and chief executive officer, Navy Exchange Service Command (NEXCOM), Virginia Beach, Va. NEXCOM, a non-appropriated organization employing 14,000 associates worldwide, provides management oversight for 105 Navy Exchanges, 43 Navy Lodges, 160 Navy Ship’s Stores, 37 Military Sealift Command Ship’s Stores, Navy’s Retail Uniform Program Management Office, worldwide telecommunications services afloat and ashore, and the Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility. Average annual revenue are $3 billion providing an estimated $450 million savings to Sailors and their families and $50 million in profit contribution to Navy’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation quality of life programs.

Romano was commissioned through Officer Candidate School in November 1980 after receiving his Bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va. He earned a Master’s degree in Logistics from National University. He also completed Air War College, Joint Forces Staff College and Dartmouth Executive Program.

His initial sea tour was as the disbursing and wardroom officer, aboard USS Coronado (AGF 11), a forward deployed flagship for commander, Middle East Force in Bahrain. He reported to USS John A. Moore (FFG-19) as supply officer in August 1984, completing a Western Pacific deployment. Subsequent sea tours included service as supply officer aboard USS Princeton (CG-59) during Operations Desert Shield and Storm, supply officer aboard USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) during Operation Desert Fox and assistant chief of staff for logistics, U.S. 7th Fleet aboard USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan.

Ashore, Romano served as supply and fiscal officer, Naval Communications Unit, Washington; Supply Management Inspection officer, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, San Diego; Supply Management Division head, Navy Supply Corps School, Athens, Ga.; special assistant to the comptroller, budget chief, Information Technology and chief of Navy Readiness, Defense Logistics Agency, Fort Belvoir, Va.; director of Navy Food Service and assistant commander for Logistics Information and Innovation, Naval Supply Systems Command, Mechanicsburg, Pa.; and chief, Strategy Division, Joint Staff.

His decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (2), Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (3), Navy Commendation Medal (4), Navy Achievement Medal. He is a qualified Surface Warfare Supply Corps Officer and Naval Aviation Supply Officer and a member of the Navy Acquisition Professional Community.

Romano’s previous assignment was as the director of Logistics and Security Assistance, Headquarters United States European Command, Stuttgart-Vaihingen, Germany.