Mark P. Fitzgerald

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Mark P. Fitzgerald

Admiral Mark P. Fitzgerald
Place of birth	Winchester, Massachusetts
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1973 -
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	U.S. Naval Forces Europe Allied Joint Force Command Naples Director, Navy Staff U.S.Second Fleet
Battles/wars	Operation Desert Storm
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2) Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) Distinguished Flying Cross (with Combat V) (2) Bronze Star (2) Air Medal

Admiral Mark P. Fitzgerald, USN is the current Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples. He previously served as Director, Navy Staff from December 2006 to November 2007 and Commander, U.S. 2nd Fleet from 2004 until December 2006. He assumed his current assignment on November 30, 2007.

He was born in Winchester, Massachusetts, and graduated from Northeastern University, Boston in June 1973. He was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1975.

Admiral 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 Kitty Hawk, America, and Forrestal. He commanded the VA-46 "Clansmen” (1990-1991) in 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, Admiral 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 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). He holds a Masters Degree in Aeronautical Systems Engineering from the University of West Florida (1975) and attended the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. (1983-84).

Selected for flag rank in September 1998, Admiral 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.

[edit] Awards and decorations

Admiral Fitzgerald’s awards include:

	Navy Distinguished Service Medal (with award star)
	Defense Superior Service Medal
	Legion of Merit (with 3 award stars)
	Distinguished Flying Cross (with Combat V and award star)
	Bronze Star (with award star)
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster)
	Meritorious Service Medal (with award star)
	Air Medal (with Combat V and 32 strike/flight awards)
	Navy Commendation Medal (with Combat V and award star)
	Navy Achievement Medal (with award star)