ADM Mark P. Fitzgerald, USN (ret.)
Admiral Mark Fitzgerald currently consults with numerous defense and commercial maritime and aviation contractors. He is Chairman of the Board of the Association of Naval Aviators and Vice Chairman of the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. He was commissioned in the U.S. Navy in 1973, designated a naval aviator in October 1975 and retired from active duty on 1 December 2010.
From November 2007 to October 2010, he was Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples, with operational responsibility for NATO missions in the Balkans, Iraq and the Mediterranean. He was also Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe/Africa, responsible for providing overall command, operational control, and coordination of U.S. Naval forces in the European and African Command area of responsibility.
He has commanded the US Second Fleet, the Theodore Roosevelt Strike Group during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001-2002), Carrier Air Wing 14 and Attack Squadron 46 during Operation Desert Storm. He was Deputy Commander of the US Fifth Fleet, Naval Forces Central Command. He has served on the Navy Staff as Director Navy Staff, Director of Naval Warfare, and Director of Air Warfare.
Fitzgerald flew the A-7E Corsair II during numerous sea assignments and 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). Fitzgerald’s shore tours include Naval Maritime Intelligence Center, SPEAR (1991-92), and executive assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (1996-98).
Admiral Fitzgerald was born in Winchester, Mass., and graduated from Northeastern University, Boston (BSEE) in June 1973. He holds a Master’s degree in Aeronautical Systems Engineering from the University of West Florida and attended the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. Fitzgerald’s awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Navy Distinguished Service Medals (3 awards), Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (4 awards), Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat V (2 awards), Bronze Star (2 Awards), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2 awards), Air Medals, and numerous individual, Campaign and Unit awards as well as numerous foreign awards. He has logged over 4800 flight hours and has over 1100 carrier arrested landings from the decks of 13 aircraft carriers.
