Carol Mutter

Carol A. Mutter
Mutter at the U.S. Marine Barracks in February 2014
Born	(1945-12-17) December 17, 1945 (age 71) Greeley, Colorado, U.S.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Marine Corps
Years of service	1967–1999
Rank	Lieutenant general
Commands held	3rd Force Service Support Group, III MEF Marine Corps Systems Command at Marine Corps Base Quantico
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (w/ 1 service star) National Defense Service Medal (w/ 1 service star) Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon (w/ 4 service stars)
Spouse(s)	James Mutter (husband)
Other work	National Advisory Council of the Alliance for National Defense, National Academy of Sciences Committee on American Youth Population and Military Recruiting, National President of the Women Marines Association, Neah Power

Carol A. Mutter (born December 17, 1945) is a former United States Marine Corps lieutenant general. She is the first woman in the history of the U.S. Armed Forces to be appointed to a three-star grade. She retired from the Marine Corps on January 1, 1999. Her last active duty assignment was as Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower and Reserve Affairs (DC/S, M&RA) at Marine Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Mutter was born on December 17, 1945 in Greeley, Colorado. In 1967 she was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps upon graduation from the University of Northern Colorado. In addition to holding a B.A. degree in Mathematics Education and an honorary doctorate from the University of Northern Colorado, General Mutter has an M.A. degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island and both an M.S. and an honorary doctorate degree from Salve Regina University, also in Newport.

After completing the Woman Officer Basic Course in 1967 at Marine Corps Base Quantico, she was assigned to data processing installations at Quantico, Virginia and at Camp Pendleton, California. In 1971, she returned to Quantico as a platoon commander and instructor for women officer candidates and basic course lieutenants; she departed this tour as a Captain.

During 1973-1984, she progressed to the rank of lieutenant colonel while serving as Project Officer for Marine Air Command and Control Systems at Marine Corps Tactical Systems Support Activity at Camp Pendleton, CA; Financial Management Officer at the Development Center, Quantico, Virginia; Assistant Chief of Staff, Comptroller, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan; and Deputy Comptroller at Headquarters, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia. In 1985, capitalizing on her expertise in both data processing and financial management, she was assigned as the Deputy Program Manager, and subsequently Program Manager, for the development of new Marine Corps automated pay and personnel systems for active duty, retired, and reserve Marines.