Nora W. Tyson
Encyclopedia
Rear Admiral Nora Wingfield Tyson, USN, currently in command of Carrier Strike Group Two
, is the first female commander of a U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group
.
, Nora Wingfield Tyson attended St. Mary's Episcopal School, graduating in 1975. Later, Tyson graduated from Vanderbilt University
in 1979, majoring in English. Later that year, she attended Officer Candidate School
and was commissioned in December 1979. In 1995, Tyson earned her Master of Arts
in National Security and Strategic Affairs from the U.S. Naval War College.
in both Naval Air Station Patuxent River
and Tinker Air Force Base
, one of which as a commanding officer. Ashore, she served as Airborne Communications Officer Course Instructor and Officer-In-Charge at Naval Air Maintenance Training Detachment 1079, NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.
Other shore duty assignments included serving as a political-military planner and assistant in the Asia-Pacific Division of the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate for the Joint Chiefs of Staff
, the Director of Staff for the Commander of Naval Forces Europe
, and an Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations
.
Sea duty for Tyson included serving as a navigator aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the operations officer on the training aircraft carrier . Later, Captain Tyson commanded the amphibious assault ship during a time when the ship provided support for Hurricane Katrina
relief, as well as undertaking two deployments to the Persian Gulf
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In September 2007, Tyson was promoted to Rear Admiral and took command of Task Force 73
.
On July 29, 2010, Admiral Tyson assumed command of Carrier Strike Group Two
, with the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as its flagship, becoming the first woman to command a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier task group. During the ceremony, she stated, "As far as the trailblazing piece, I understand I am the first woman on the job...but I'm a professional just like my fellow officers are, and my fellow strike group commanders."
Carrier Strike Group Two completed its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX)
and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) predeployment underway training cycle and subsequently departed Norfolk Naval Base on its 2011 overseas deployment under the command of Admiral Tyson on 11 May 2011. The carrier strike group will be operating with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea
and the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan (OEF-A)
.
In a 1 August 2011 ceremony on the George Bush, Tyson was promoted to two-star admiral. Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush administered the oath of office to Tyson via videolink from Kennebunkport, Maine
.
, with her husband Wayne and enjoys playing golf.
Carrier Strike Group Two
Carrier Strike Group Two, abbreviated CSG-2 or CARSTRKGRU 2, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned the United States Fleet Forces Command. U.S...
, is the first female commander of a U.S. Navy Carrier Strike Group
Carrier Strike Group
A carrier strike group is an operational formation of the United States Navy. It is composed of roughly 7,500 personnel, an aircraft carrier, at least one cruiser, a destroyer squadron of at least two destroyers and/or frigates, and a carrier air wing of 65 to 70 aircraft...
.
Education
A native of Memphis, TennesseeMemphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Nora Wingfield Tyson attended St. Mary's Episcopal School, graduating in 1975. Later, Tyson graduated from Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private research university located in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. Founded in 1873, the university is named for shipping and rail magnate "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, who provided Vanderbilt its initial $1 million endowment despite having never been to the...
in 1979, majoring in English. Later that year, she attended Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School (U.S. Navy)
The United States Navy's Officer Candidate School, currently located at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, provides training to become a commissioned officer. Attendance is one possible way for civilian college graduates with no military experience to earn a commission as a U.S. Navy officer...
and was commissioned in December 1979. In 1995, Tyson earned her Master of Arts
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in National Security and Strategic Affairs from the U.S. Naval War College.
Naval career
After a tour in Washington D.C, Tyson became a naval flight officer in 1983. She then served three tours in Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Four (VQ-4)TACAMO
TACAMO is a U.S. military term meaning "Take Charge and Move Out". TACAMO refers to a system of survivable communications links designed to be used in nuclear war to maintain communications between the decision makers and the triad of strategic nuclear weapon delivery systems...
in both Naval Air Station Patuxent River
Naval Air Station Patuxent River
"Pax River" redirects here. For the river, see Patuxent River.Naval Air Station Patuxent River , also known as NAS Pax River, is a United States Naval Air Station located in St. Mary's County, Maryland on the Chesapeake Bay near the mouth of the Patuxent River. It is home to the U.S...
and Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base is a major U.S. Air Force base, with tenant U.S. Navy and other Department of Defense missions, located in the southeast Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area, directly south of the suburb of Midwest City, Oklahoma.-Overview:...
, one of which as a commanding officer. Ashore, she served as Airborne Communications Officer Course Instructor and Officer-In-Charge at Naval Air Maintenance Training Detachment 1079, NAS Patuxent River, Maryland.
Other shore duty assignments included serving as a political-military planner and assistant in the Asia-Pacific Division of the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate for the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
, the Director of Staff for the Commander of Naval Forces Europe
United States Naval Forces Europe
United States Naval Forces Europe is the United States Navy component of the United States European Command and provides forces for United States African Command....
, and an Executive Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
.
Sea duty for Tyson included serving as a navigator aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the operations officer on the training aircraft carrier . Later, Captain Tyson commanded the amphibious assault ship during a time when the ship provided support for Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
relief, as well as undertaking two deployments to the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In September 2007, Tyson was promoted to Rear Admiral and took command of Task Force 73
Task Force 73
The US Task Force 73/Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific is a US Navy task force of the United States Seventh Fleet and is 7th Fleet's logistics force composed of supply ships and other fleet support vessels. In addition to its logistics component, it also provides industrial voyage repairs...
.
On July 29, 2010, Admiral Tyson assumed command of Carrier Strike Group Two
Carrier Strike Group Two
Carrier Strike Group Two, abbreviated CSG-2 or CARSTRKGRU 2, is one of five U.S. Navy carrier strike groups currently assigned the United States Fleet Forces Command. U.S...
, with the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier as its flagship, becoming the first woman to command a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier task group. During the ceremony, she stated, "As far as the trailblazing piece, I understand I am the first woman on the job...but I'm a professional just like my fellow officers are, and my fellow strike group commanders."
Carrier Strike Group Two completed its Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX)
Composite Unit Training Exercise
COMPTUEX, or Composite Training Unit Exercise, is a rehearsal each US Navy Carrier Strike Group performs before departing for deployment. Each ship and aircraft in the battle group trains in its speciality, COMPTUEX brings ships together to project force as a battle group...
and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) predeployment underway training cycle and subsequently departed Norfolk Naval Base on its 2011 overseas deployment under the command of Admiral Tyson on 11 May 2011. The carrier strike group will be operating with the U.S. Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean surrounded by the Mediterranean region and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Anatolia and Europe, on the south by North Africa, and on the east by the Levant...
and the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
in support of Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan (OEF-A)
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
.
In a 1 August 2011 ceremony on the George Bush, Tyson was promoted to two-star admiral. Former U.S. President George H.W. Bush administered the oath of office to Tyson via videolink from Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunkport, Maine
Kennebunkport is a town in York County, Maine, United States. The population was 3,720 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford metropolitan statistical area....
.
Personal
Tyson resides in Williamsburg, VirginiaWilliamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
, with her husband Wayne and enjoys playing golf.
External links
- Official U.S. Navy Biography
- Female CSG Commander - YouTube
- "The woman at the helm in the US Navy" - The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
(June 23, 2011)