Edward G. Winters, III

Edward G. Winters, III
Edward G. Winters, III
Born	1956 (age 67–68); Hanover, New Hampshire
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1980–2013
Rank	Rear admiral
Commands	DEVGRU; Naval Special Warfare Command
Battles / wars	Operation Joint Forge; Operation Enduring Freedom; Operation Iraqi Freedom
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal; Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit; Bronze Star Medal
Website	http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/bio.asp?bioID=482

Edward G. Winters III (born 1956) is a retired United States Navy Rear Admiral who commanded the Naval Special Warfare Command from Sept. 2008 to June 2011. He also previously served as commanding officer of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group from 2003 to 2005.

Military career

Ed Winters graduated from the University of West Florida with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1979 and subsequently attended Officer Candidate School in 1980. Winters then reported to Basic Underwater Demolition/Sea, Air, Land (SEAL) training at Coronado, California, and graduated from BUD/S class 112 in May 1981. Winter's first assignment was to Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) 22 / SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2 at Little Creek, Virginia. In December 1983, Winters transferred to SEAL Team Six (DEVGRU) at Dam Neck, Virginia, and served till April 1989, during which time he planned, rehearsed and/or operated during classified operations including the Achille Lauro hijacking. Winters was assigned to U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in 1989 as the Joint Special Operations Command's liaison and action officer till 1991, when he was assigned as executive officer of SEAL Team Four. He later went on to receive a Master of Science degree in National Security Affairs from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1995. Winters served another tour with DEVGRU from February 1995 to March 1998 as operations officer until taking command of SEAL Team 4 from March 1998 till March 2000. Captain Winters then reported to Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in 2001 at Fort Bragg as the deputy operations officer and completed multiple deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. From 2003 until 2005, Winters commanded the Naval Special Warfare Development Group. From April 2007 to June 2008 Winters deployed to Iraq as commander of the Iraqi National Counterterrorism Force Transition Team. Between September 2008 and June 30, 2011, Winters served as the commanding officer of the Naval Special Warfare Command. From 2012 to 2013 he served as Director of Operations, United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM). He retired from active duty on 31 Aug 2013 after 33 years of service.

This article contains material from the United States Federal Government and is in the public domain.

Awards and decorations

U.S. military decorations
	Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards)
	Legion of Merit
	Defense Meritorious Service Medal with three 5/16 inch stars
	Meritorious Service Medal
	Joint Service Commendation
	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
	Navy Achievement Medal
	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
	Navy Unit Commendation
	Navy Expeditionary Medal
U.S. Service (Campaign) Medals and Service and Training Ribbons
	National Defense Service Medal
	Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
	Humanitarian Service Medal
	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
	NATO Medal for Former Yugoslavia
	Navy Rifle Marksmanship Badge
	Navy Pistol Marksmanship Badge