Mr. Persico serves as the Assistant Deputy General Counsel (Contractor Responsibility) of the Department of the Air Force, and Director, Department of the Air Force’s Acquisition Integrity Program at the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. In this role, he provides leadership and direction for the implementation of criminal, civil and administrative remedies in response to fraud, misconduct and poor performance affecting Department of the Air Force contracts, grants, awards and other transactions.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Persico served as an Air Force Judge Advocate, including assignments as a Special Assistant United States Attorney, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate and Officer-in-Charge of the Pentagon Legal Assistance Office. Following his departure from active duty, Mr. Persico served as a reserve Judge Advocate for more than seven years as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee and unit Reserve Coordinator. From November 2005 until June 2010 he worked for the U.S. Army Legal Services Agency, Contract and Fiscal Law Division’s Procurement Fraud Branch, assigned to address fraud and poor performance related to contacts in Iraq, Kuwait and Afghanistan. Between June 2011 and November 2020, Mr. Persico served with the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction as Senior Counsel for Investigations, providing legal counsel to investigators and auditors regarding financial fraud and money laundering matters, counter-corruption, and addressing fraud identified in contracts awarded in support of contingency operations in Afghanistan.

Mr. Persico is a member of the state bars of New Jersey and the District of Columbia and is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Federal Claims. .

EDUCATION

1994 Bachelor of Science, International Studies, University of Scranton, PA

1999 Juris Doctor, The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, Washington D.C. 2004 Squadron Officer’s School, Maxwell AFB, AL

2010 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence

2024 Air Force Leadership Enterprise Seminar, University of North Carolina, Kenan-Flagler Business School, NC

CIVILIAN POSITIONS

1. November 2005 – June 2011, Attorney Advisor, U.S. Army Legal Services Agency, Contract and Fiscal Law Division, Procurement Fraud Branch, Arlington, VA 2. April 2010 – June 2010, Department of the Army, Office of the Chief of Legislative Liaison, Army Congressional Fellowship Program, Washington, D.C.

3. June 2011 – November 2020, Senior Counsel for Investigations, Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction, Arlington, VA

4. November 2020 – Present, Assistant Deputy General Counsel (Contractor Responsibility and Conflict Resolution) and Director, Acquisition Integrity Program, Department of the Air Force, Arlington, VA

ASSIGNMENTS

1. July 2000 – August 2002, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate (Chief of Operational and Readiness Law), 43d Airlift Wing, Pope AFB, NC

2. August 2002 – September 2003, Officer-in-Charge, Joint Service Pentagon Legal Assistance Office, Air Force Legal Services Agency, Civil Law Division, Arlington, VA

3. August 2003 – September 2005, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate and Special Assistant United States Attorney, 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, Ft. George G. Meade, MD

4. September 2005 – January 2013, Individual Mobilization Augmentee and Reserve Coordinator, 70th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, Ft. George G. Meade, MD

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

Air Force Commendation Medal (3)

Army Commander’s Medal for Civilian Service Counsel of the Inspector Generals on Integrity and Efficiency, Special Act Award for Excellence, Suspension and Debarment Team, 2014

Counsel of the Inspector Generals on Integrity and Efficiency, Award for Excellence in Investigation, Afghan Contact Fraud and Kickback Scheme Investigation Team, 2019

Counsel of the Inspector Generals on Integrity and Efficiency, Investigation Award for Excellence, Afghan Investigation Team, 2020 PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS Association of Certified Fraud Examiners

Current as of June 26, 2024