Raised in Enfield, Conn., Rear Admiral LaRoche entered the Naval Academy Preparatory School in August 1978 and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1983, earning a Bachelor of Science in Political Science. He is a qualified surface warfare officer.

Navy Reserve Command assignments included: United States European Command, Headquarters, U.S. Armed Forces, Europe Detachment 0193 supporting the J3 Operations Directorate; Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 8 where he was mobilized to United States Central Command (CENTCOM) as commander Task Group 56.5; Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit 206 where he was mobilized to the United Arab Emirates; and Inshore Boat Unit 23. At sea he served in the USS Barney (DDG 6) as anti-submarine warfare officer and in the USS Patterson (FF 1061) as weapons officer.

Staff assignments included: Director of Knowledge Management at 2nd Fleet; Executive Officer for Naval Control and Protection of Shipping, CENTCOM Detachment; OPNAV N85 Expeditionary Warfare; and recently, Deputy Commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic.  From September 2010 - September 2012 he served as Deputy Commander, Military Sealift Command on a two-year recall to an Active Duty Command.  .

He is a graduate of the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College, Joint Forces Staff College, and is Joint Qualification Officer Level 3 qualified.  In 1996 he earned a Master of Science in Computer Science from the New Jersey Institute of Technology with a concentration in software engineering.

RADM LaRoche presently serves as Deputy Commander, Navy Installations.   In his civilian career he works for the Northrop Grumman Corporation, Defense Systems Division, serving as Director of Programs.  Personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.

(Current as of Aug 2015)