Rear Adm. John T. Palmer is a native of Lexington, Kentucky, Palmer and a graduate of The Citadel with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.  He is also a graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School with a Master of Science in Systems Management (Acquisition and Contract Management) and the Columbia University Graduate School of Business Senior Executive Program.

He served as commander of Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Land & Maritime overseeing the end-to-end integration of the land and maritime supply chains delivering repair parts to all military services. He directed the efforts of more than 2,500 associates at 37 locations worldwide, to include three DLA depot level repairable detachments and four detachments supporting U.S. Naval Shipyards. DLA Land and Maritime’s core functions include purchasing materiel, monitoring inventory levels, maintaining technical data, and assuring quality conformance of approximately two million spare and repair parts utilized by more than 19,000 military units and federal and civilian agencies. In 2018, DLA Land and Maritime procured $5.7 billion in parts. His previous flag officer tour was at U.S. Pacific Fleet as director of Logistics, Fleet Supply and Ordnance.

Palmer is proud to have served nearly nine years at sea in various operational assignments including supply officer, USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75); principal assistant for logistics, USS George Washington (CVN 73); supply officer, USS Boone (FFG 28); and material division officer and aviation support division officer, USS Guam (LPH 9). 

His other command assignments include commanding officer, Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center San Diego; commander, Defense Distribution Mapping Activity (DDMA); and commander, Defense Distribution Depot Richmond, Virginia (DDRV).

Other duty ashore includes tours at NAVSUP Headquarters, Navy Personnel Command, Naval Air Systems Command, DLA Aviation (formerly Defense Supply Center Richmond), and Navy Supply Corps School.

Palmer’s qualifications include Naval Aviation Supply Officer, Surface Warfare Supply Corps Officer, Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA) Level III (Contracting), joint qualified officer and membership in the Defense Acquisition Corps.  He is a Certified Professional Contracts Manager (CPCM) by the National Contract Management Association.  He is entitled to wear various other personal, unit and service awards including the Legion of Merit and Combat Action Ribbon.

Last Updated: 8 February 2022