A native of Miami, Florida, Lieutenant Commander Peña enlisted in the United States Navy in 2005 and was rated as a Yeoman. Serving consecutive Forward Deployed Naval Forces tours aboard Commander, Fleet Activities, Sasebo, Japan and Commander, U.S. SEVENTH Fleet staff embarked on USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC 19) in Yokosuka, Japan, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration in 2010 and was selected to attend Officer Candidate School. LCDR Peña earned his commission in 2012.
Afloat, Lieutenant Commander Peña completed his division officer tours aboard the destroyer USS MUSTIN (DDG 89) as the Damage Control Assistant and Gunnery Officer from 2012-2014 and as Officer-in-Charge of Surface Warfare Detachment FOUR embarked on Littoral Combat Ships USS FORT WORTH (LCS 3) and USS CORONADO (LCS 4) from 2014-2016. Lieutenant Commander Peña’s Department Head tours included serving as the Weapons Officer and then fleeting up as the Combat Systems Officer and assuming the role as Acting Executive Officer aboard the destroyer USS SPRUANCE (DDG 111) from January 2021 to September 2023. During his sea tours he made three deployments and executed six Forward Deployed patrols in the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility.
Ashore, Lieutenant Commander Peña served as Director of Training at Center for Surface Combat Systems Detachment West from 2016-2019 and instructed the Gunnery Officer, Communications Officer, and Network Security Officer courses. He also earned his Master of Science degree in Management and completed the Naval War College Non-resident Program for Joint Professional Military Education Phase I.
Lieutenant Commander Peña assumed his current assignment as Executive Officer at AEGIS Technical Representative in Moorestown, New Jersey in November 2023.
Lieutenant Commander’s personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with 4 Gold Stars) and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (with 3 Gold Stars) as well as multiple unit and service awards.