Rear Adm. (select) Pecha received his bachelor’s degree in 1983 from the University of San Francisco and a medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine in 1988. He completed residency training in Internal Medicine at Naval Hospital San Diego, where he served as chief of residents. In 1991, he was assigned to Naval Hospital Naples Italy where he worked as a staff internist and department head, then as director of Medical Services.

He entered civilian practice in 1994 and re-affiliated with the Navy Reserve the following year. Since then, his assignments have included Naval Reserve Hospital Oakland, Fleet Hospital Nine; Naval Reserve Hospital Bremerton; and, Operation Health Support Unit Camp Pendleton, 1st Battalion 14th Marines, and the 4th Marine Division. He has served as a training officer, administrative officer, assistant officer-in-charge, officer-in-charge, Battalion Surgeon, and Division Surgeon. He recently completed a tour as the commanding officer of 4th Medical Battalion, headquartered in San Diego, and is now assigned as the force surgeon for U.S. Marine Force Reserve in New Orleans.

He was recalled to active duty in 2002 and assigned as senior medical officer, Branch Medical Clinic, Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. In 2006, he was again recalled, this time with 1st Battalion 14th Marines. He deployed with the Battalion to Anbar Province in Iraq as the surgeon for Task Force Military Police, a major subordinate command of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

Pecha graduated in 2004 "with distinction" from the Naval War College distance education program. He earned the Fleet Marine Force Officer Warfare Qualification in 2006. In 2010, he completed Phase II of Joint Professional Military Education at the Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk.

His personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (2 awards), Navy Unit Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, and various campaign and service medals.

In his civilian practice, Pecha works as a hospitalist and medical director at a California State Hospital for persons with intellectual disabilities. He has been board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine since 1991, and was elected to fellowship in the American College of Physicians in 1998.