Captain Joseph J. Furco is a native of Key West, Florida and was raised in Deerfield, Illinois, graduating with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a Spanish minor from the United States Naval Academy in 1999. He was designated a Naval Aviator in June 2001. He holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from Naval Postgraduate School and is a graduate of the Navy Nuclear Power Program.

At sea, Furco served with Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 147 and VFA-105. He commanded the “Pukin’ Dogs” of VFA-143. On these operational tours, he supported Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, and Freedom’s Sentinel as well as a Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment. Furco was the Executive Officer of PCU John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), and most recently, he commanded USS MESA VERDE (LPD 19). He is scheduled to assume command of USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) in September 2025.

Ashore, Furco served as an F/A-18E/F instructor pilot with VFA-122; appropriations liaison with ASN (FM&C)/OPNAV N82 Appropriations Matters office (FMBE); action officer with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, J-6 C4/Cyber; and executive assistant to Deputy Commander, US Fleet Forces.

Furco has accumulated over 3,000 flight hours in the F/A-18 and has logged over 700 carrier arrested landings. His awards include the 2008 CSFWP Admiral Wesley L. McDonald Leadership Award and a Public Service Award from the United States Attorney’s Office for outstanding law enforcement service in 2012. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, 
Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, and various other personal, unit, and campaign awards.