press room

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rear Admiral (SEAL) Pete Vasely, USN to Deliver Keynote Address
at Navy SEAL Museum Fort Pierce on Memorial Day

Fort Pierce, Fla. – April 15, 2025 – The Navy SEAL Museum in Fort Pierce is proud to announce that Rear Admiral (SEAL) Pete Vasely, USN (Retired) will deliver the keynote address at this year’s Memorial Day Ceremony. The annual event, taking place on Monday, May 26th, will honor those who have given their lives in defense of the United States.

Rear Admiral Vasely brings a distinguished and storied career in Naval Special Warfare to the forefront of this solemn occasion. His leadership, operational expertise, and dedication to mission success have exemplified the very best of the SEAL community. As keynote speaker, RADM Vasely will offer a powerful message of remembrance, resilience, and reverence for the fallen.

“We are deeply honored to welcome Rear Admiral Pete Vasely as our keynote speaker for this year’s Memorial Day service,” said Ken Corona, Executive Director of the National Navy SEAL Museum. “His exceptional service and enduring commitment to our country and its warriors make him an extraordinary representative of the SEAL legacy. His words are sure to move and inspire those who join us to reflect on the profound cost of freedom.”

The Memorial Day Ceremony will be held outdoors at the Museum’s Memorial Wall, a sacred space where names of fallen SEALs and their predecessors are etched in stone, beginning in World War II. In addition to the keynote address, the program will include the addition of names of the fallen to the Memorial Wall, the playing of Taps, the incorporation of sand to the Living Beach, and special tribute to Gold Star families in attendance.

A Flag Retirement Ceremony will be held at 8:00 AM in advance of the official service. Admission to the Memorial Day Ceremony is free of charge and open to the public. Guests are encouraged to arrive early for the 9:00 AM service to ensure seating and participation in this meaningful tribute. The Museum will be open from 9:00 AM to 12:00 noon with complimentary admission.

For more information about the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Navy SEAL Museum, please visit navysealmuseum.org/memorialday or contact the Museum by phone (772) 595-5845.

About Rear Admiral (Ret) Peter G. Vasely
Rear Admiral (RADM) Pete Vasely retired from the United States Navy in August 2024 after 34 years of active service, most recently serving as Deputy Director, Joint Training for the Joint Staff.

He was a career Naval Special Warfare (SEAL) Officer, and his assignments included a full spectrum of duties within Naval Special Warfare, joint operations, and defense intelligence communities. He commanded Naval Special Warfare Tactical Development Squadron TWO and Naval Special Warfare Group TWO in Virginia Beach, and United States Forces, Afghanistan–Forward in Kabul.

His key Joint and staff assignments include Deputy Commander at Naval Special Warfare Development Group; Director of Operations at Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC); Deputy Commanding General–Operations, United States Forces– Afghanistan (USFOR-A); Deputy Director for Operations, Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA); and Deputy Director, Joint Training (J7) for the Joint Staff.

He currently serves on the Navy SEAL Foundation Board of Advisors and Special Operations Warrior Foundation Board of Directors.

A native of Coronado, California, Vasely was commissioned in 1990 from the United States Naval Academy where he received his Bachelor of Science in General Engineering. He holds a Master of Science in Joint Warfighting and Strategic Studies from the Joint Advanced Warfighting School in Norfolk, VA.

He lives with his wife of 25 years, Deanne, in Virginia Beach and has two kids, Josh and Charlotte.

About Navy SEAL Museum Fort Pierce
The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum Fort Pierce is dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of Navy SEALs and their predecessors. Built on the original training grounds of the first Navy combat divers, Navy SEAL Museum Fort Pierce opened its doors on Veterans Day in 1985.

From humble beginnings, the Museum has experienced tremendous growth, achieving national stature in 2007. Continuing a legacy of preservation and inspiration, Navy SEAL Museum San Diego opened in October of 2025.

The Museum remains committed to the promotion of public education by providing the opportunity to explore Naval Special Warfare history through interactive exhibits, while honoring the fallen at the SEAL Memorial, and caring for Naval Special Warfare families through its various charitable outreach initiatives.

For more information, visit NavySEALMuseum.org.