COLUMBUS, Ohio –
U.S. Navy Capt. Dinis Pimentel joined the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime leadership team as chief of staff this month following the departure of Air Force Col. Samuel Payne for his new assignment at DLA headquarters.
In his latest role, Pimentel will serve as a principal advisor to Land and Maritime’s commander and deputy commander on operations and readiness matters for the 2,500-strong organization.
Pimentel hails from Hudson, Massachusetts, and is a 1992 graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute. His previous assignments include positions with the Navy Reserve NATO Deployable Joint Task Force Support Group, U.S. Forces – Iraq J35P Force Protection, Undersea Warfare Operations detachments and the Navy Reserve Undersea Rescue Headquarters among others.
Notably, he participated in the search and rescue efforts for Argentine submarine ARA San Juan while deputy commander of CTG 46 in the country with operational control of eight at-sea search and rescue ships. ARA San Juan went missing during a routine patrol Nov. 15, 2017, touching off an international search involving more than 30 aircraft and ships and 13 countries scouring an area the size of Spain. The remains of the submarine were located a year later.
Pimentel has deployed in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn serving in roles that included deputy commander of biometric operations in Iraq for III Corps and 18th Airborne Corps and deputy of biometrics for U.S. Division – North.
In Pimentel’s most recent assignment, he served as the commanding officer for Navy Reserve, Commander Naval Forces Japan Headquarters.
He holds a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering and is a fully qualified joint officer.