Mark P. Fitzgerald

Mark P. Fitzgerald
Mark P. Fitzgerald
	Admiral Mark P. Fitzgerald
Born	1951 (age 72–73); Winchester, Massachusetts
Allegiance	United States of America
Service / branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1973–2010
Rank	Admiral
Commands	U.S. Naval Forces Europe – U.S. Naval Forces Africa; Allied Joint Force Command Naples; Director, Navy Staff; U.S.Second Fleet
Battles / wars	Operation Desert Storm
Awards	Defense Distinguished Service Medal; 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

Mark P. Fitzgerald (born 1951) is a retired United States Navy admiral. He is the former Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe – Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa 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 the duties of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples on November 30, 2007 and assumed the additional duties as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa on March 26, 2009.

He was born in Winchester, Massachusetts, 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.

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) in response to the terrorist attack on the guided-missile destroyer USS Cole. Assuming command of Carrier Group Eight (2001), he led the 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, U.S. Second Fleet/Commander, Striking Fleet Atlantic in October 2004.

Admiral Fitzgerald was relieved as commander of USNAVEUR, USNAVAF & JFC Naples by Admiral Samuel J. Locklear on October 6, 2010.

Awards and decorations

Admiral Fitzgerald’s personal awards include:

	Defense Distinguished Service Medal
	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)