Norwich University names Danielle Pelczarski as chief of staff

NORTHFIELD, Vt. — Norwich University announced that Danielle Pelczarski, deputy commandant of the California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo, California, has been named senior vice president and chief of staff, effective March 2022.

Pelczarski replaces Dave Whaley, who assisted in creating the position over 18 months ago while serving simultaneously as secretary to the Board of Trustees and senior philanthropic adviser to the development office, full-time positions he will retain upon Pelczarski’s arrival.

“I am ecstatic to welcome Danielle Pelczarski to the Norwich family,” Anarumo said. “She has mastered a broad range of skills as a Naval officer, in higher education, and in the private sector as a marketing executive. I look forward to working with her to elevate our great university to our next level of excellence.”

New Norwich University Chief of Staff Danielle Pelczarski brings 30 years of military experience as a Navy Expeditionary Supply Corps officer from the U.S. Navy Reserve.

Pelczarski brings 30 years of military experience as a Navy Expeditionary Supply Corps officer from the U.S. Navy Reserve. As a former U.S. Navy Reserve captain, her experience encompasses supply chain management, base operating support, expeditionary logistics, fuels management, disbursement, and inventory control. Most recently, in the private sector, she was the co-founder and chief operating officer for LOCALMOTV Inc., an e-commerce startup connecting locally minded shoppers with local independent merchants.

Pelczarski’s experiences include leadership in small, medium, and large companies, collaborating to drive process improvement and key performance indicators; interpret trends; assess financial impact; lead process mapping and improvement; manage sizable budgets; and champion high-functioning professional teams domestically and internationally.

Managing brands

She also has three decades of corporate executive-level experience in brand management and corporate communications, leveraging brands including British Petroleum, Pepsi, Frito Lay, Gatorade, Delta Air Lines, Nike, Speedo, Coors, Apple, Microsoft and FedEx.

Pelczarski’s education encompasses several degrees from the Joint Forces Staff College, Navy Postgraduate School, Villanova University, the University of Notre Dame, Mendoza College of Business, Miami University of Ohio, and Hiram College.

In service to her nation, Pelczarski deployed overseas in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom, and Aqea Al Qaeda East Africa. Her military awards and decorations include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (6), U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2), U.S.Navy and U.S. Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3), and the U.S. Navy Expeditionary Supply Corps Officer Warfare and Ashore Command pins.

In accepting this appointment, Pelczarski stated, “I want to thank President Anarumo, the Board of Trustees, Senior Leadership and all who have put your trust in me to bring me into the Norwich University fold. Indeed, I am thoroughly honored and excited to start my new mission in March, 2022. I feel like my entire career – civilian, military, and most recently academic – has been a journey that has led me directly to Norwich University. I am humbled to be given the opportunity to be a part of the innovative and committed team that honors Norwich’s deep history while preparing its outstanding students to be leaders of the future.”

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About Norwich University
Norwich University is a diversified academic institution that educates traditional-age students and adults in a Corps of Cadets and as civilians. Norwich offers a broad selection of traditional and distance-learning programs culminating in Baccalaureate and Graduate Degrees. Norwich University was founded in 1819 by Captain Alden Partridge of the U.S. Army and is the oldest private military college in the United States. Norwich is one of our nation's six senior military colleges and the birthplace of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). www.norwich.edu