Mr. Ruocco serves as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategic, Space, and Intelligence Portfolio Management (SSIPM). He is responsible for acquisition shaping, analysis, and oversight of warfighter capability portfolios across the Department of Defense associated with nuclear weapons systems; nuclear command, control, and communications; space; missile defense; and command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance domains.

Previously, he served as Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Defense for Platform and Weapon Portfolio Management and was responsible for assessing and analyzing major platforms and weapons capability portfolios across the Department, covering all cyber, electronic warfare, aircraft, ship, submarine, ground vehicle and weapons & munitions programs. Additionally, he served as Director for Air Platforms and Weapons and was responsible for portfolio and acquisition management, policy, and investments in all Department of Defense (DoD) aircraft-related missions and capabilities.

Mr. Ruocco was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in September 2018 as Director, Air Vehicle Engineering Department at Naval Air Systems Command. He served as technical authority and organizational leader for all engineering, technical policy, and strategy matters; and was accountable for aircraft structures, aero performance, flight controls, flying qualities, mechanical subsystems, and materials engineering. During this time, he also served as Director for the Air Systems Group and the System Acquisition Group at the Naval Air Warfare Center, Aircraft Division and led a workforce of engineers and logisticians responsible for the development, testing, production and sustainment of all Naval Aviation systems and related programs.

Mr. Ruocco was the Assistant Program Executive Officer for Engineering and Chief Engineer for the F-35 Joint Program Office from April 2016 to September 2018. Additionally, he served two previous tours with F- 35 from April 2006 to February 2014 as Lead Engineer for aircraft carrier-compatible F-35C, Lead Systems Engineer, and Chief Engineer for Sustainment. In 2010, Mr. Ruocco led the Technical Baseline Review that reset and restructured the $55B F-35 development program.
Between Joint Strike Fighter assignments, Mr. Ruocco was on the staff of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, where he oversaw a broad portfolio of weapon systems and served as advisor to program managers, program executive officers and the Service Acquisition Executive.

His other assignments include Air Vehicle and Production Team Lead for the E-2D program from October 2003 to April 2006, Flight Test Project Lead for E-2D testing, and several years performing in-service engineering duties in support of all Naval Air Forces from March 1995 to May 2003. He served as the Engineering Department Head at the Mediterranean Repair Activity in Naples, Italy and at the Pacific Repair Activity in Okinawa, Japan. Additionally, he was an F/A-18 aircraft structures engineer and subject matter expert for corrosion prevention at Naval Aviation Depot, North Island.

Mr. Ruocco holds a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and a master’s degree in National Resource Strategy from the National Defense University. Additionally, he graduated from Aviation Maintenance Officer School and the Federal Executive Institute and holds certificates from the University of Virginia and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is a member of the Acquisition Professional Community with Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act certifications in Program Management and Systems Engineering. Mr. Ruocco has received numerous Command-level recognitions and awards, as well as being a three-time recipient of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Civilian Service Medal.