KEYSER, W.Va. — For everything Admiral Joe Lopez has accomplished in his impressive career with the U.S. Navy, he still believes his first lessons in how to overcome failures, how to become resilient, and how to lead were inspired by his two years spent at WVU Potomac State College.
“I wasn’t the best student. I was a disappointment to myself my first semester at Potomac State,” he said. “I actually got an F in mathematics, and I was so hard on myself. But I overcame all of that to graduate Cum Laude.”
Lopez is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at the 123rd commencement exercises for Potomac State College on May 9.
Lopez’s 39-year naval career culminated in tours as commander-in-chief of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and commander-in-chief Allied Forces, Southern Europe. Additionally, he served as commander of all U.S. and Allied Bosnia Peace Keeping Forces, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Resources, Warfare Requirements and Assessments, commander of the U.S. Navy Sixth Fleet, senior military assistant to the secretary of defense and director of current operations for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Lopez was awarded numerous medals and honors, including two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, two Navy Distinguished Service Medals, three Legion of Merits, the Bronze Star (Combat V), three Navy Commendation Medals (Combat V) and the Combat Action Medal.
He is the 15th member of the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School Hall of Fame. Notably, he is just one of two flag officers in the history of the U.S. Navy to achieve four-star rank after direct commission from enlisted service.
With all the accomplishments and highlights on his professional resume, he hopes to instill in the PSC Class of 2026 a sense of direction based on his years of experience and hard-earned wisdom. He said he intends to speak less about his military accomplishments and more on each individual’s need to “find a purpose” and why it’s crucial to “live a life of service.”
“I want these graduates to know that we still live in an extraordinary country that offers them opportunity not equaled in other parts of the world,” he said. “Each young person today has the inherent right to succeed in whatever endeavor he or she chooses. I want them to know that failure will happen, but great people have stumbled and risen from stumbling.”
Lopez said he would like to impress upon the new graduates the importance of education and the one way presents himself or herself in the world.
Since his transition from the Navy, Lopez has directed several organizations and served on a number of public and private boards. He served as chief operating officer for Brown and Root Services, senior vice president of Kellogg, Brown and Root, president of Information Management Corporation and chief executive officer of Technology and Supply Management LLC.
Lopez has received numerous honors from his home state of West Virginia, including designation by the governor as a “Distinguished West Virginian.” He was also named West Virginian of the Year by West Virginian Capital newspapers. Additionally, the Interstate 64 bridge spanning the Kanawha River at Chelyan was named in his honor by the state Legislature.
Even though he is now retired and lives in Great Falls, Virginia, Lopez said he still considers himself both a Catamount and a Mountaineer.
“I still have my college lettermen’s jacket. I should donate it to Potomac State to be displayed somewhere because I never wore it to be honest and it looks brand new,” he said. “My brother and I continue to have season tickets to games in Morgantown, and I follow sports here at Potomac State avidly.”