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First Name: Mark

Last Name: Fitzgerald

Birthplace: Winchester, MA, USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Navy (present)

Rating:

Middle Name: P.



Date of Birth: 1951



Rank or Rate: Admiral

Years Served: 1973-2010
Mark P. Fitzgerald

   
Engagements:
•  Gulf War (1990 - 1991)

Biography:

Mark P. Fitzgerald

Admiral, U.S. Navy

Mark P. Fitzgerald was born in 1951 in Winchester, MA, and graduated from Northeastern University, where he was a member of the Army ROTC program, in June 1973. He was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1975.

Fitzgerald flew the A-7E Corsair II with now retired Rear Admiral Bert Johnston during sea assignments in VA-195 (1976-79), Carrier Air Wing 17 (1982-84), and VA-105 (1985-88) embarked in USS Kitty Hawk, America, and Forrestal. He commanded the VA-46 "Clansmen" (1990-91) in USS John F. Kennedy, deploying with four days' notice for Operation Desert Shield. He led the first Navy strike on Baghdad during the opening hour of Operation Desert Storm.

During his career, Fitzgerald was assigned as Deputy Commander, Joint Air Force Component Commander for Provide Promise Yugoslav Operations and Assistant Commander for Deny Flight NATO operations (1993). He assumed command of Carrier Air Wing 14 (1994-95) while deployed to the Persian Gulf in USS Carl Vinson supporting Operation Southern Watch. Admiral Fitzgerald's shore tours include VA-174 Landing Signal Officer (1979-82), Naval Maritime Intelligence Center, SPEAR (1991-92), and Executive Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (1996-98).

Selected for flag rank in September 1998, Fitzgerald's first flag assignment was Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and commanded Joint Task Force Determined Response in Aden, Yemen (2000). Assuming command of Carrier Group Eight (2001), he deployed with Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001-2002). He served as Director, Air Warfare and then as Director, Naval Warfare (2003-2004). He then assumed the position of Commander, Second Fleet/Commander, Striking Fleet Atlantic in October 2004.

On 30 November 2007, Fitzgerald was promoted to the four-star rank of Admiral and began his assignment as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (COMUSNAVEUR) from 2007-2009. His last tour was as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa (COMUSNAVAF); and Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples (COMJFC Naples), from 2009-10.

Admiral Fitzgerald retired from the Navy in October 2010.

Medals and Awards

Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2 Awards)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (4 Awards)
Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat "Valor" Device (2 Awards)
Bronze Star Medal (2 Awards)
Air Medal

Badges

Naval Aviator Insignia

Admiral Fitzgerald logged over 4800 flight hours and made over 1100 carrier-arrested landings from the decks of thirteen aircraft carriers.

Education

He holds a Master's Degree in Aeronautical Systems Engineering from the University of West Florida (1975) and attended the Naval War College, Newport, RI (1983-84).



Honoree ID: 516   Created by: MHOH

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