Carol M. Pottenger
| Carol M. Pottenger | |
|---|---|
Pottenger in 2010
|
|
| Born | 1955 (age 61–62) |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy
|
| Years of service | 1977–2013 |
| Rank | Vice admiral |
| Commands held |
Navy Expeditionary Combat Command Amphibious Force 7th Fleet/Expeditionary Strike Group Seven Military Sealift Fleet Support Command USS Bridge (AOE-10) USS Shasta (AE-33) |
| Battles/wars |
Global War on Terrorism |
| Awards |
Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (6) Meritorious Service Medal (3) Order of St. George (Bulgaria) |
Global War on Terrorism
Carol M. Pottenger (born 1955) is a retired United States Navy flag officer. She was among the first women to be assigned to serve at sea in 1978, the first female Admiral to command a major combat organization, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet/Expeditionary Strike Group Seven, encompassing the amphibious forces assigned to the western Pacific; and the first female Admiral to lead a combatant force "type command", Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, charged with the manning, training and equipping of over 40,000 expeditionary sailors in preparation for combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as global security assistance operations. Her final naval post was with NATO as deputy chief of staff for capability and development at Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, Norfolk, Virginia, the first female officer to hold this position.
Admiral Pottenger retired from the Navy in 2013, works as a consultant and serves on various advisory and non-profit boards.
Pottenger was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She attended Purdue University, where she participated in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history in 1977 and received her commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. During her career, Pottenger has participated in executive development programs at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, National Defense University, and the Naval Postgraduate School. In honor of her career of distinguished accomplishments, Purdue University awarded her a Doctor of Philosophy in social sciences (honoris causa) in 2007.
Following her commissioning in 1977, Carol Pottenger was one of the first women selected for sea duty. Pottenger reported aboard USS Yosemite (AD-19) 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 to the western Pacific, Arabian Sea, and the Persian Gulf in support of the United States Fifth Fleet and United States Seventh Fleet commanders. She took command of USS Bridge (AOE-10) in 2001, and during an extended deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, provided at-sea logistics support to ten aircraft carrier battle groups, amphibious groups and dozens of coalition ships. As a result of her inspired leadership, USS Bridge was awarded the Battle E and the 2002 Arleigh Burke Fleet Trophy.
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