Mark P. Fitzgerald

Who is Mark P. Fitzgerald?

Mark P. Fitzgerald 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, Carrier Air Wing 17, and VA-105 embarked in Kitty Hawk, America, and Forrestal. He commanded the VA-46 "Clansmen” 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.