COL Perata commissioned into the United States Army through the Reserve Officer Training Corps in 2000 as a Distinguished Military Graduate. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA in 2000. She is Inpatient Obstetrics-Board Certified (RN-BC) through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.
In 2010, COL Perata graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of California at San Francisco and earned her certification as a Perinatal Clinical Nurse Specialist. In June 2021, COL Perata graduated from the National War College with a Master of Science in National Security Strategy.
COL Perata’s military education includes Army and AMEDD Brigade Pre-Command Courses, the Senior Officer Legal Orientation Course, the Joint Medical Executive Skills Institute Capstone Course – MHS, National War College, Medical Strategic Leadership Course, AMEDD Executive Skills Course, AMEDD TDA Pre-Command Course, Basic Healthcare Administration Course, AMEDD Iron Majors Week, Command and General Staff College, Executive Nurse Leader Course, Department of the Army Action Officer Force Integration Course, the Obstetric/Gynecologic Nursing Course, Captains Career Course, Basic Officer Leader Course, and Airborne School.
COL Perata’s military assignments include Assistant Deputy for Health Affairs, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs) from 2024 to 2025; Commander/Director, Keller Army Community Hospital, West Point, NY from 2022 to 2024; Regional Nurse Executive, Medical Readiness Command, East, Fort Belvoir, VA from 2021 to 2022; Commander, Public Health Agency, Kaiserslautern, Germany from 2018 to 2020; Executive Officer, Regional Health Command, Europe, Sembach, Germany from 2016 to 2018; Chief, Maternal Child Ward, Evans Hospital, Fort Carson, CO from 2014 to 2016; Chief, Strategic Engagements, OTSG, Falls Church, VA from 2013 to 2014; Executive Officer, Women’s Health Task Force and Service Line, OTSG, Fort Belvoir, VA from 2012 to 2013; Clinical Nurse Specialist, and Chief, OB/GYN Psychiatric Nurse, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, VA between 2007 and 2012; OB/GYN Nurse, Heidelberg Hospital, Germany from 2007 to 2009; and OB/GYN Nurse, Labor and Delivery Nurse, and Oncology Nurse between 2000 and 2005.
COL Perata’s awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with four oak leaf clusters; Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters; Army Achievement Medal; Army Superior Unit Award with two oak leaf clusters; National Defense Service Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal; Army Service Ribbon; and the Overseas Service Ribbon, third award. COL Perata has been awarded the Army Staff Identification Badge and Parachutist Badge. COL Perata is a proud member of the Order of Military Medical Merit.