Rear Adm. David Manero is a native of Highland Park, New Jersey. A 1988 graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering, he was designated a naval aviator in July 1989 and is now a foreign area officer (FAO). He is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School Class 112, holds a Master of Public Policy in International Affairs and Security from Harvard University, and a Master of Strategic Studies (with distinction) from the United States Air War College. While assigned to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light (HSL) 43, HSL-45 and Commander Carrier Group (CCG) 1, Manero made numerous operational deployments to the Middle East, Asia and South and Central America embarked on USS Paul P. Foster (DDG-964), USS Jarrett (FFG-33), USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and USS DeWert (FFG-45).
Other assignments include: legislative fellow and acting military legislative. Assistant for the Senate Minority Leader; U.S. European Command as chief, Security Cooperation Programs (ECJ5-SCP) and Chief, European Division (ECJ5-E); U.S. Naval Attaché (ALUSNA) Moscow; and his most recent tour dual-hatted as chief of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations International Engagement and Integration/FAO Community Policy Branches (N521/522). Manero is currently assigned as Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché (SDO/DATT) Moscow, Russia.