Mark E. Ferguson III

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Mark E. Ferguson III
File:Ferguson2014.jpg
Admiral Mark E. Ferguson III, USN
Born (1956-10-30) October 30, 1956 (age 67)
Allegiance  United States of America
Service/branch  United States Navy
Years of service 1978–present
Rank US Navy O10 infobox.svg Admiral
Commands held U.S. Naval Forces Europe
U.S. Naval Forces Africa
Allied Joint Force Command Naples
Vice Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Personnel
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Manpower, Personnel, Training & Education)
Chief of Legislative Affairs and Assistant Commander for Distribution, Navy Personnel Command
Assistant Surface Captain Assignment Officer and Surface Nuclear Assignment Officer, Bureau of Navy Personnel
Special Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe
Liaison Officer and Director of the Senate Liaison Office, Office of Legislative Affairs
Awards Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Defense Superior Service Medal
Legion of Merit (3)
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (3)

Mark E. Ferguson III (born October 30, 1956) is a United States Navy admiral who is currently serving as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe which he concurrently serves as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Africa and Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples. Admiral Ferguson previously served as the 37th Vice Chief of Naval Operations from August 22, 2011 to July 1, 2014. Prior to that, he served as the 55th Chief of Naval Personnel (CNP) and concurrently served as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Manpower, Personnel, Training & Education). Prior to that, he served as Chief of Legislative Affairs and Assistant Commander for Distribution, Navy Personnel Command. He assumed his current assignment on July 22, 2014.

Career

Ferguson received his commission, with distinction, from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1978.

Ferguson has served at sea on board the USS South Carolina, the USS Fife, the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower as Reactor Officer, and as commanding officer on the USS Benfold and Commodore of Destroyer Squadron Eighteen.

Ashore, Ferguson has served at the Navy Personnel Command (as Flag Officer), the Bureau of Navy Personnel, the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe, and in the Office of Legislative Affairs (two tours).

From April 16, 2008 until August 22, 2011 Ferguson served as the Navy's 55th Chief of Naval Personnel, serving concurrently as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Manpower, Personnel, Training & Education).

Criticisms

In the article "Retention Through Redemption" in Harvard Business Review and subsequent book "It´s Your Ship" by Captain D. Michael Abrashoff, Ferguson was described in a very unflattering way as commanding officer of USS Benfold (including "much of the crew was not disappointed to see him go"[1] and "they literally cheered when my predecessor left the ship for the last time"[2]). Although Ferguson's name was not explicitly mentioned in Abrashoff's publications, there was only one preceding captain for USS Benfold at the time; as such it implied that the person was Ferguson.

Awards and decorations

Surface Warfare Officer Insignia.png
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Gold star
Bronze oak leaf cluster
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Bronze star
Afsouth-logo.png
Surface Warfare Officer Pin
Navy Distinguished Service Medal w/ 2 award stars Defense Superior Service Medal Legion of Merit w/ 2 award stars
Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal w/ 2 award stars Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ 1 award star
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal Joint Meritorious Unit Award w/ 1 oak leaf cluster Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 1 service star
Navy E Ribbon Navy Expeditionary Medal National Defense Service Medal w/ 2 service stars
Southwest Asia Service Medal w/ 2 campaign stars Global War on Terrorism Service Medal Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 4 service stars
Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon NATO Medal for Yugoslavia service Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)
Allied Joint Force Command Naples

Education

References

  1. It's Your Ship, Special 10th Anniversary Edition, Hachette Book Group, New York, 2002
  2. Abrashoff, Mike. "Retention Through Redemption", Harvard Business Review, Boston, February 2001. Retrieved on 24 November 2015.

External links

Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons

Military offices
Preceded by Vice Chief of Naval Operations
2011–2014
Succeeded by
Michelle J. Howard