CAPT Pianetta graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 2002 with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Systems Engineering. Following commissioning he joined the Naval Nuclear Power Program and completed the submarine training pipeline.

CAPT Pianetta served on his first submarine, USS KEY WEST (SSN 722) from February 2004 to December 2006, falling in love with the community and earning his submarine gold dolphins. His other operational assignments include: a department head tour aboard the USS NEVADA (SSBN 733) GOLD as the Navigator/Operations Officer from February 2010 to February 2013, where he returned the ship to strategic service following a lengthy shipyard availability, completed three strategic deterrent patrols, and led his department to earning the COMSUBRON – 17 Red and Green “N” for Navigation; an executive officer tour aboard the USS SEAWOLF (SSN 21) from January 2016 to August 2017 completing significant repairs in a major maintenance period and surging to support as XO for a deployed unit.

CAPT Pianetta took command of the USS SANTA FE (SSN 763) in December of 2020 while in drydock Portsmouth, NH, completed a major overhaul, returned the submarine to operations, executed a change of homeport to San Diego via the Panama Canal, executed a full training cycle, and culminated his command with a deployment to the Western Pacific theater. He departed command in February 2024.

CAPT Pianetta’s non-operational assignments include: Policy Action Officer in USSTRATCOM J5 in Omaha, NE with a focus on the ballistic missile defense systems from December 2006 to June 2009 where he also obtained a Master of Science in Economics from University of Nebraska at Omaha; Deputy Branch Chief for Modeling and Simulation at Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (JFCC-ISR) in Washington DC from March 2013 to December 2015; Force Training Officer at Commander Submarine Forces Atlantic Fleet (COMSUBLANT) from August 2017 to December 2019; and is currently serving as the Deputy Commander Submarine Squadron FIFTEEN (CSS-15) since 2024.

CAPT Pianetta’s individual awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (2 awards), Joint Achievement Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal (2 awards).
In his spare time CAPT Pianetta is an exercise enthusiast, hiker, reader, movie buff, amateur photographer (very amateur), and budding chef (not even close).
 

Last Updated: 12 June 2026