Commander James Scianna is a native of Connecticut. He graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Meteorology and was commissioned in May 2004. He also obtained a Master of Business Administration from the University of Maryland Global Campus in June 2009 and a dual Master’s Degree in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography from the Naval Postgraduate School in December 2013.

Afloat, CDR Scianna served on USS John Paul Jones as the First Lieutenant and earned his Surface Warfare Officer qualification during a 2005 Western Pacific deployment. He was also assigned to the aircraft carriers USS Ronald Reagan and USS George Washington, where he served as OA division officer for RIMPAC 2014 and Southern Seas 2015 and served as the Hull Swap Coordinator for the Navy’s three carrier swap initiative.

CDR Scianna was redesignated to Special Duty Officer (Oceanography) in December 2005, and reported to the Naval Maritime Forecast Center, Norfolk, VA where he served as Command Duty Officer, Ship Router, and Assistant Operations Officer. He has also served as the Operations Officer at the National/Naval Ice Center, Suitland, MD and Oceanographic Survey Ship and Littoral Battlespace Sensing Unmanned Undersea Vehicle Requirements Officer on the staff of the Oceanographer of the Navy. In December 2017, he reported to Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Sicily where he served as Executive Officer. Most recently he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, J35, to serve as a writer for the Secretary of Defense Orders Book.

CDR Scianna assumed his current position as Commanding Officer, Strike Group Oceanography Team San Diego in April 2022. CDR Scianna’s personal awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with five awards, Joint Service Achievement Medal, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two awards.

CDR Scianna is married to his wife Janine and they have three children together (Tessa, Anthony, and Christian).

Last Updated: 15 June 2022