Vice Admiral Samuel Paparo

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command

Vice Adm. Sam Paparo, a native of Morton, Pennsylvania graduated from Villanova University and was commissioned in 1987.  He is the son of a former enlisted Marine and the grandson of a World War 2 enlisted Sailor. He has earned a Master of Arts in International Studies from Old Dominion University and a Master of Science in Systems Analysis from the Naval Postgraduate School.  He is also a graduate of the Air Command and Staff College, the Air War College, the Naval War College and the Joint and Combined Warfighting School.  A U.S. Naval Aviator, he is a Topgun graduate and has flown over 6,000 hours in the F-14, F-15 and F/A-18 and 1,100 carrier landings.

Operational command tours at sea include Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 195 in the Forward Deployed Naval Forces, Yokosuka, Japan, deploying in Kitty Hawk Strike Group; Commander, Carrier Air Wing 7, embarked in Dwight D. Eisenhower Strike Group and Commander, Carrier Strike Group Ten.  On the ground, he commanded Provincial Reconstruction Team, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan with the 3rd Brigade, 10th Mountain Division and the 173rd Airborne Brigade.  Other operational assignments at sea include Fighter Squadron (VF) 14, flying the F-14 Tomcat with USS John F. Kennedy and USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Strike Groups and VFA-15, flying the F/A-18 Hornet with USS Theodore Roosevelt and USS Enterprise Strike Groups.  He served also on exchange duty with the U.S. Air Force flying the F-15C Eagle with the 71st Fighter Squadron. In joint operational service, he was battle director at the Combined Air and Space Operations Center, Al Udeid, Qatar.

His shore assignments include the staff of Commander, Naval Air Forces, as F/A-18 training, readiness and requirements officer.  He served as commanding officer of VFA-106.  He was Programming Division (OPNAV N80) branch head, Strategy and Resource and Requirements Review Board branch.  He also had duty as a Navy corporate fellow in Corporate Strategy at Lockheed Martin.  Executive staff tours include service as executive assistant to Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces, command and executive assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations.

Paparo’s most recent assignment was Director of Operations, J3, U.S. Central Command from April 2018 to July 2020.  He assumed command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. 5th Fleet/Combined Maritime Forces on August 19, 2020.

Commodore Ed Ahlgren OBE

United Kingdom Maritime Component Commander and Deputy Commander Combined Maritime Forces

Commodore Edward Ahlgren was born in Manchester in 1971 and educated at Rossall School, Fleetwood before entering Britannia Royal Naval College, Dartmouth as a Midshipman in 1990. Following initial submarine training, he joined HMS UNICORN, the Royal Navy’s last diesel-electric submarine, for two years swiftly followed by Navigator’s course and appointment to HMS RENOWN and thereafter, HMS REPULSE as the Communications Officer. He participated in three deterrent patrols, which included the final Polaris deterrent patrol, and the subsequent decommissioning of the last Resolution class submarine.

Submarine Advanced Warfare Course soon followed in 1997 whereupon he served in HMS TURBULENT and HMS TRIUMPH as the Operations Officer. During this time, he was also proud to command HMS EXPLORER, a P2000 Patrol Boat and the Yorkshire Universities Royal Naval Unit based in Hull in 2000.

In 2002, Commodore Ahlgren successfully completed the Submarine Command Course (Perisher) that resulted in his appointment as Executive Officer of HMS TRENCHANT for three years prior to his service on the staff of Flag Officer Sea Training as the Staff Warfare Officer (Operations/Navigation). Promoted Commander in May 2007, he commanded HMS TIRELESS for 2 years that included a diverse and busy six-month operational tour in the role of Staff Operations Officer to the Maritime Component in Bahrain. On return to the UK, he assumed command of HMS TORBAY in June 2009 deploying East of Suez and spending over 250 days at sea in his final year of command. This period also marked his service in 6 of the 7 Trafalgar class submarines he had the privilege to deploy on.

Thereafter, he was assigned to the Ministry of Defence in Nuclear Capabilities followed by an appointment to the Maritime Battlestaff as Operations Officer in 2013, which included a very successful CTF 150 Counter Terrorist deployment to Bahrain in 2014. Promoted Captain in 2015, he served as the Defence Attaché in Cairo, Egypt followed by a return to the SM Service in the role of Captain Faslane Flotilla, which completed in May 2019. Selected for command of a combined UK-French CTF 150 staff, he deployed to Bahrain for the third time in August 2019 to lead the CMF counter terrorist Combined Task Force 150 who were successful in seizing narcotics to the value of £2.5m in their four-month tenure. Promoted to Commodore in January 2020, he joined the Maritime Operations Centre in Northwood in his current role of Deputy Commander Operations.

Commodore Ahlgren is an alumnus of the Advanced Command and Staff Course (MA in Defence Studies, King’s College London), the UK/US Rising Leaders’ programme and is also a graduate of the Higher Command and Staff Course.

Captain Mubarak Ali Yousuf Al Sabah

He started his military career with Kuwait Navy in 2001 by joining Britannia Royal Naval College Dartmouth. A few years after graduation he joined Kuwait Coast Guard in 2004. Upon his extraordinary performance and professionalism he assumed several command posts. He commanded several ships (Sabahi Class). Then he went to an operational post and was appointed Chief of Maritime Operations and in 2009. In 2015 he was appointed Flotilla Commander responsible for more than one hundred surface assets commissioned to execute Maritime Security Operations in Kuwait’s TTW and EEZ.

He is a member of the Royal College of Defense Studies and holds a Master of Arts (MA), in International Security & Strategy from King’s College London. He is a 2011 graduate of Mubarak Al Abdullah Joint Command and Staff College, a 2014 graduate of Australian College of Kuwait with an electronic engineering degree and holds an Honorary Doctorate in Maritime Science from The University of Plymouth.

Captain Al Sabah is a combat-tested leader who has earned frontline experience through Operation Iraqi Freedom and numerous joint maritime exercises throughout the Middle East, United Kingdom and United States of America.  His leadership during these exercises has earned him the trust and respect of naval and military leaders from across the international community.

His command, staff appointments, education and experience have broadened his strategic perspective. His strategic perspective have led him to organizing international conferences, media events and high-level strategic engagements to enhance regional, national and international security. Most notable, is his keen ability to anticipate emerging opportunities and security threats in the Middle East region at levels normally expected of diplomats, naval or military leaders senior to him in rank.

In February 2019, Captain Mubarak Ali Al Sabah assumed duties as Commander of Combined Task Force 152 responsible for coordinating and enhancing regional maritime security and cooperation in the Arabian Gulf. He led the largest sustained Joint Patrol in in CTF 152 recent history with over 60 Naval and Coast Guard vessels from contributing nations of Combined Maritime Forces.

In September 2019, Captain Mubarak Ali Al Sabah assumed duties as “Assistant to Commander CMF for Regional Integration”.  He is currently a senior official of Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior, promoting Public Diplomacy, Foreign Policy and International Relations.

Commander Morgan Roberts

Chief of Staff Combined Maritime Forces (COS CMF)

Commander Morgan Roberts is a native of Norfolk, Virginia and is a 2000 graduate of The Citadel (The Military College of South Carolina). He holds a Master of Arts in International Relations from the University of Oklahoma. 

His sea tours consisted of serving as the Auxiliary Officer and Electrical Officer aboard USS JOHN S MCCAIN (DDG 56), the Navigator and Assistant Operations Officer aboard USS SPRUANCE (DD 963), and the Chief Engineer aboard USS COLE (DDG 67). He then served as the Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of MCM Crew Leader, embarking five different Avenger Class hulls with three deployments to Bahrain. He was Executive Officer then Commanding Officer of USS JASON DUNHAM (DDG 109) completing a record setting sustainment phase and being the first DDG to undock early during the ship’s first overhaul.

CDR Roberts’ shore duty consisted of him serving as the Exercise Planner and Executive Officer for EUCOM’s Interagency Partnering Directorate, and as flag aide to Commander Naval Network and Space Operations Command (NNSOC).

CDR Roberts reported to Combined Maritime Forces in July of 2020 and is currently serving as Chief of Staff.

His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (two awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), the Joint Service Achievement Medal,  the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), and three Battle “E” awards, among a variety of unit and campaign awards.

Command Master Chief Lucas M. Pullen

Senior Enlisted Leader Combined Maritime Forces (SELCMF)

Master Chief Pullen was born in Ardmore, OK and raised in Davis, OK. He enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in August of 1998. Following basic training at Cape May, NJ, he was assigned to Small Boat Station South Padre Island, TX were he completed “On the Job Training” for and was advance to Boatswain’s Mate Third Class. As an operator, Master Chief Pullen has been directly involved in maritime law enforcement to include fisheries, counter-narcotics, and counter-migrant operations, as well as search and rescue, and maritime security operations. Additionally, Master Chief Pullen has held command cadre assignments as the Executive Petty Officer of Station Yankeetown, FL, and USCGC PELICAN (WPB-87327) homeported in Abbeville, LA. He also held command of Station Oxford, MD as the Officer in Charge as well as commanding two 87’ (26.5m) patrol boats, USCGC COHO (WPB-87321) and USCGC KINGFISHER (WPB-87322) homeported in Panama City, FL.

Master Chief Pullen’s ashore assignment include: Station South Padre Island, TX, Training Center Yorktown, VA as a coxswain instructor, Station Yankeetown, FL, and Station Oxford, MD. Additionally, Master Chief Pullen was assigned as the Command Master Chief for Coast Guard Sector Guam from July 2018 through August 2019.

Master Chief’s afloat assignments include: USCGC GALVESTON ISLAND (WPB-1349) Apra Harbor, Guam, USCGC PELICAN (WPB-87327), Abbeville, LA, USCGC COHO (WPB-87321), and USCGC KINGFISHER (WPB-87322) both homeported in Panama City, FL.

Master Chief Pullen’s awards and decorations include three Coast Guard Commendation Medals, four Coast Guard Achievement Medals, the Commandant’s Letter of Commendation, Navy Flag Letter of Commendation, Overseas Service Ribbon, the Army Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (with numeral 5), the permanent Cutterman’s Insignia, Boat Forces Insignia (Advanced), Coxswain Insignia, and Officer in Charge Insignias for afloat and ashore commands along with various other awards and decorations.

Master Chief Pullen was selected for and assumed the duties as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for Combined Maritime Forces, Bahrain in September of 2019; a joint military assignment working with senior leaders from 33 partner nations focused on one of the most strategically significant maritime areas in the world which includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Somali Basin, Northern Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Indian Ocean.

Master Chief Pullen is a graduate of the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy, Coast Guard Chief’s Academy, class 170, the Coast Guard’s Senior Enlisted Leadership Course, Class 58, and the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy, Class 68. Master Chief Pullen holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management from American Military University, and a Master’s Degree in Leadership Studies from the University of Texas at El Paso.