View Online

Early on December 7, 1941, citizens and servicemembers alike in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, faced terror as Japanese planes rained fire on the island in a stunning surprise attack. The assault quickly plunged the United States into a world-changing war. Each year, The National WWII Museum commemorates those who lost their lives on that fateful December day.

During this year’s commemorative ceremony, we are honored to welcome G.R. “Rocky” Gillette, a leading figure in the Museum’s partnership with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA). The Acting Director of Partnerships and Innovation Grants and Cooperative Agreements Officer for the DPAA, Gillette will present “Accounting for Our Missing Heroes,” discussing the DPAA’s efforts to locate and identify military personnel who lost their lives in service to our country. The DPAA’s mission is to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel from past conflicts to their families and the nation.

The National WWII Museum’s Commemorative Days, presented by Bank of America, are free and open to the public and held in-person and livestreamed. Registration for the event is preferred, but not required.

G. R. “Rocky” Gillette is the Acting Director for the Partnerships and Innovation (PI) Directorate with DPAA. Prior to his appointment in 2021, he was the Deputy to the Acting Director since the PI Directorate was created in 2015. He was appointed the Agency’s interim Grants and Cooperative Agreements Officer in 2020. He is responsible for overseeing public-private partnerships and other relationships with non-governmental organizations to advance the Defense Department’s accounting mission. He provides direction and guidance for a team of professionals in the strategic management of DPAA's partnerships with foreign and domestic academic institutions, non-profits, and for-profit companies. These partners support DPAA in virtually all aspects of its operations, including historical research and analysis, scientific and forensic operations, and field archaeology. Recently, Gillette stood up the Innovation and Development team for DPAA. Prior to his current position, he was the Deputy General Counsel for DPAA and provided advice and guidance on a broad array of legal and policy issues involving DPAA operations and missions. In 2010, he was activated and assigned to be the Senior Military Advisor for Iraq, PolMil Office, Near East Asia Bureau, at the State Department. In 2011, he was placed on a one-year special detail to serve as the Director of the Iraq Transition Planning Cell. He retired from the US Army Reserves in 2010. His active-duty assignments in the Army include serving Operational Law assignments and tours as a prosecutor and an appellate attorney. He also has extensive business experience in the private sector.