Margaret D. Klein

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Margaret D. Klein
Born-1957
Captain Klein
Place of birth	Weymouth, Massachusetts
Allegiance	US Navy
Years of service	1981-Present
Rank	Captain
Battles/wars	Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards	Legion of Merit (two awards) Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (three awards) Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards) Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal

Captain Margaret D. Klein became the 82nd Commandant of Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy in December 2006 and is responsible for the military and professional development of the Brigade of Midshipmen. She is the first woman to ever hold this position and is second in command at the Naval Academy. Captain Klein has been nominated for appointment to the rank of rear admiral (lower half) as announced on 1 April 2008; ^[1] she will become operations officer, Naval Network Warfare Command in Norfolk, Virginia.^[2]

[edit] Biography

Captain Klein was born in Weymouth, Massachusetts, commissioned in 1981 and designated a Naval Flight Officer in 1983. She is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, with a Bachelor of Science and a 1999 graduate of the University of Southern Maine with a Masters of Education.

After her winging in 1983, she reported to the "Ironmen" of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron THREE in Barbers Point, Hawaii. There she qualified as Mission Commander and Airborne Communications Officer in the EC-130Q. In 1987, she reported to the Staff of Commander, Naval Air Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet working enlisted personnel readiness. In 1988, Captain Klein transferred to the Naval Military Personnel Command, where she served as Aviation Initial Assignments Officer and VQ Detailer.

In 1991, Captain Klein checked back in with the Ironmen for her department head tour, flying the E-6A as the squadron moved from Hawaii to Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City. From Oklahoma, she was selected to serve in the White House Military Office in the Presidential Contingency Plans Directorate. She then screened for aviation command. Captain Klein was selected as a Brookings Legislative Fellow in 1997 and served on the staff of Senator Olympia Snowe briefing defense issues.

In 1999, Captain Klein returned to the Ironmen for a third tour to serve as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer. The Ironmen won the Battle E and the Maintenance Excellence Award during her command tour. After leaving squadron command, Captain Klein served aboard USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group Staff as the N6. During her tour on the Carrier Group FIVE staff, the Battle Group participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Captain Klein returned to Oklahoma to serve as Deputy, then Wing Commander of Task Force 124 and Strategic Communications Wing ONE. Upon completion of major command, she was assigned to the staff of Commander, Carrier Strike Group EIGHT where she served as the Chief of Staff for the Eisenhower Strike Group until her selection as the 82nd Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Captain Klein’s personal awards include the Legion of Merit (two awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards) and the Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal.