Carol M. Pottenger
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral
Carol M. Pottenger is currently the deputy chief of staff Capability and Development at NATO Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Norfolk, Virginia
.
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as engineering division officer and completed a Mediterranean deployment. Subsequent sea tours included assignment as operations officer aboard USS Yellowstone (AD-41)
and executive officer aboard USS Kiska (AE-35). Pottenger assumed command of USS Shasta (AE-33)
in 1996, completing several deployments in support of commander 5th Fleet and commander 7th Fleet. She took command of USS Bridge (AOE-10) in 2001, and during an extended deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, re-supplied 10 battle groups, amphibious groups and dozens of coalition ships; receiving the Battle E and the 2002 Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy.
Shore tours have included assignment to commander, Service Group 2 as staff communications officer; assignment to the United States Naval Academy
as the 25th company officer; commanding officer of two Navy Operational Support Centers in Mare Island
, and San Diego, California
. She also served as COMNAVSURFRESFOR deputy chief of staff for Manpower, institutionalizing manpower and personnel best practices across a force of 65,000 Reservists.
During several tours in the Pentagon
, Pottenger served as executive assistant for director, Surface Warfare
(OPNAV N86); executive assistant to deputy chief of naval operations (Resources, Requirements & Assessments) (OPNAV N8); executive assistant to vice chief of naval operations. Upon selection to flag rank she served as deputy chief of Navy Reserve for one year.
In November 2005 Pottenger established a new Navy command, creating a type commander for over 40 combat logistics and special mission ships. She served for one year as the first commander, Military Sealift Fleet Support Command. In November 2006, Pottenger became the first female admiral to command a strike group when she assumed command of Amphibious Force 7th Fleet/ESG 7
at White Beach, Okinawa, aboard USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49)
. In September 2008, Pottenger became the third commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
which had a strength of 40,000 sailors.
.
Distinguished Service Medal
, Legion of Merit
(6 awards), Meritorious Service Medal
(3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation
, Navy "E" Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal
(2 awards), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
, Humanitarian Service Medal
, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal
, and Pistol Marksmanship Medal
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
Carol M. Pottenger is currently the deputy chief of staff Capability and Development at NATO Headquarters Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
.
Biography
Vice Adm. Pottenger is a native of Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She graduated in 1977 from Purdue UniversityPurdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
.
Naval career
Vice Adm. Pottenger earned her commission in 1977 through Naval ROTC. One of the first women selected for sea duty, Pottenger reported aboard USS Yosemite (AD-19)USS Yosemite (AD-19)
USS Yosemite was a destroyer tender which served with the United States Navy during World War II through to the 1990s.The third USN ship to bear the name, Yosemite was laid down on 19 January 1942 by the Tampa Shipbuilding Company at Tampa, Florida; launched on 16 May 1943; sponsored by Mrs....
as engineering division officer and completed a Mediterranean deployment. Subsequent sea tours included assignment as operations officer aboard USS Yellowstone (AD-41)
USS Yellowstone (AD-41)
The third USS Yellowstone was the lead ship of the Yellowstone class of destroyer tenders in the United States Navy. These ships are also considered as flight II of the class of tenders built in the 1960s...
and executive officer aboard USS Kiska (AE-35). Pottenger assumed command of USS Shasta (AE-33)
USS Shasta (AE-33)
USS Shasta was a Kilauea-class replenishment ammunition ship of the United States Navy. She was named after Mount Shasta, a volcano in the Cascade Range in northern California, USA....
in 1996, completing several deployments in support of commander 5th Fleet and commander 7th Fleet. She took command of USS Bridge (AOE-10) in 2001, and during an extended deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, re-supplied 10 battle groups, amphibious groups and dozens of coalition ships; receiving the Battle E and the 2002 Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy.
Shore tours have included assignment to commander, Service Group 2 as staff communications officer; assignment to the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
as the 25th company officer; commanding officer of two Navy Operational Support Centers in Mare Island
Mare Island
Mare Island is a peninsula in the United States alongside the city of Vallejo, California, about northeast of San Francisco. The Napa River forms its eastern side as it enters the Carquinez Strait juncture with the east side of San Pablo Bay. Mare Island is considered a peninsula because no full...
, and San Diego, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. She also served as COMNAVSURFRESFOR deputy chief of staff for Manpower, institutionalizing manpower and personnel best practices across a force of 65,000 Reservists.
During several tours in the Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
, Pottenger served as executive assistant for director, Surface Warfare
Surface warfare
Modern naval warfare is divided into three operational areas: surface warfare, air warfare and submarine warfare. Each area comprises specialized platforms and strategies used to exploit tactical advantages unique and inherent to that area....
(OPNAV N86); executive assistant to deputy chief of naval operations (Resources, Requirements & Assessments) (OPNAV N8); executive assistant to vice chief of naval operations. Upon selection to flag rank she served as deputy chief of Navy Reserve for one year.
In November 2005 Pottenger established a new Navy command, creating a type commander for over 40 combat logistics and special mission ships. She served for one year as the first commander, Military Sealift Fleet Support Command. In November 2006, Pottenger became the first female admiral to command a strike group when she assumed command of Amphibious Force 7th Fleet/ESG 7
Task Force 76
Expeditionary Strike Group SEVEN/Task Force 76 is a United States Navy task force. It is at one and the same time operationally a Task Force of the United States Seventh Fleet and administratively, the USN's only permanently forward-deployed Expeditionary Strike Group...
at White Beach, Okinawa, aboard USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49)
USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49)
USS Harpers Ferry is the lead ship of her class of landing ship dock of the United States Navy. This warship was named for the town of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, which, because of the Federal arsenal there, was an important location during the Civil War. , Harpers Ferry is commanded by...
. In September 2008, Pottenger became the third commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
Navy Expeditionary Combat Command
The Navy Expeditionary Combat Command serves as the single functional command to centrally manage current and future readiness, resources, manning, training and equipping of the United States Navy's 40,000 expeditionary forces who are currently serving in every theater of operation. The NECC was...
which had a strength of 40,000 sailors.
Education
In May 2007, Pottenger received a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Sciences Honoris Causa from Purdue UniversityPurdue University
Purdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
.
Awards and decorations
Her personal awards include the:Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
, Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
(6 awards), Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
(3 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 awards), Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation
Meritorious Unit Commendation
The Meritorious Unit Commendation is a mid-level unit award of the United States military which is awarded to any military command which displays exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service, heroic deeds, or valorous actions....
, Navy "E" Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal
National Defense Service Medal
The National Defense Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States military originally commissioned by President Dwight D. Eisenhower...
(2 awards), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
The Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal is a military award of the United States military, which was first created in 1961 by Executive Order of President John Kennedy...
, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal
The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal is a United States armed forces military award created by George W. Bush on March 12, 2003 by Executive Order 13289. It recognizes those military service members who have deployed overseas in direct service to the War on Terror from September 11,...
, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
The Global War on Terrorism Service Medal is a military award of the United States military which was created by Executive Order 13289 of President George W. Bush on March 12, 2003...
, Humanitarian Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal
The Humanitarian Service Medal is a military service medal of the United States armed forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under...
, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon, Navy Recruiting Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal
Armed Forces Reserve Medal
The Armed Forces Reserve Medal is a military award of the United States Armed Forces that has existed since 1950. The medal recognizes service performed by the Reserve and National Guard forces of the United States of America....
, and Pistol Marksmanship Medal
Marksmanship Medal
The Marksmanship Medal is a decoration of the United States Navy and the Coast Guard and is the highest award one may receive for weapons qualification...