Rear Admiral Joseph “Digger” DiGuardo (U.S. Navy) (Ret.)

Last Name: Diguardo

First Name: Joe

Middle Name: “Digger”

Rank: Rear Admiral

Service/Department: U.S. Navy

ACNSL Offices and Committees: National Security Council

Medals and Honors: The Distinguished Service Medal, The Bronze Star, 4 Legions of Merit, the Defense  Superior Service Medal, the 3 Meritorious Service Medals, the Combat Action Ribbon and  was appointed an Honorary Chief Petty Officer

Last or Significant Assignment: Commanding Admiral of all Navy Special Operations  and Navy Expeditionary Forces

Joe “Digger” DiGuardo spent 36 years in the United  States Navy as a Special Operation Officer, Explosive  Ordnance Disposal Officer, Deep Sea Diving Officer,  Naval Parachutist and Small Combat Craft Officer as  well as Surface Warfare Officer. He led at all levels of  Navy Special Operations, executing 8 combat  deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as well as multiple  more around the globe. He retired in December 2022 as  the Commanding Admiral of all Navy Special Operations  and Navy Expeditionary Forces totaling more than  20,000 Sailors and Marines and a budget of $2.1B  annually. His leadership spanned complex, high-risk  operations, including special operations to Counter  Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD), Counter Terrorism, Navy Expeditionary Operations  and Fleet support worldwide. Digger has over three decades of distinguished service in  national security, counterterrorism, and counter-proliferation. He received, among other  awards, The Distinguished Service Medal, The Bronze Star, 4 Legions of Merit, the Defense  Superior Service Medal, the 3 Meritorious Service Medals, the Combat Action Ribbon and  was appointed an Honorary Chief Petty Officer. 

Currently, Digger is the principal of DiggerWorks Consulting, where he advises clients on  defense and national strategy, security, and operations. He also serves as a Fellow at the  American College of National Security Leaders, responding to questions directly from the National Security Council (NSC) and chairs the Undersea Warfare Department at the Naval  Postgraduate School. He is a senior director for countering terrorism and weapons of mass destruction for the Nevada Nuclear Security Sites, under the National Nuclear Security  Agency and is an advisor to several defense industry boards of directors. 

He is a Native of Fallston Maryland and currently lives in Annapolis with his wife, Chris and  daughters Maggie, Lucy and Olivia.