Mark E. Ferguson III
| Mark E. Ferguson III | |
|---|---|
 Admiral Mark E. Ferguson III, USN | |
| Born | October 30, 1956 |
| Allegiance |
 United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1978–2016 |
| Rank |
 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 |
Defense Distinguished Service Medal 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 retired United States Navy admiral who last served as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe which he concurrently served 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 last 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).
In July 2014, he began his service as the Commander of Allied Joint Force Command based in Naples, Italy.[1]
He retired from service June 2016.[2]
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"[3] and "they literally cheered when my predecessor left the ship for the last time"[4]). 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
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Education
- Cardinal Gibbons School, Class of 1974
- United States Naval Academy, Class of 1978
- Master's degree in Computer Science, Naval Postgraduate School
- National Security Fellowship, John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University
- Air Command and Staff College.
References
- ↑ "Adm. Ferguson assumes command of JFC Naples". Stars and Stripes.
- ↑ "Frontline Photos: June 17, 2016". Military Times.
- ↑ It's Your Ship, Special 10th Anniversary Edition, Hachette Book Group, New York, 2002
- ↑ Abrashoff, Mike. "Retention Through Redemption", Harvard Business Review, Boston, February 2001. Retrieved on 24 November 2015.
External links
Media related to Mark E. Ferguson III at Wikimedia Commons
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jonathan W. Greenert |
Vice Chief of Naval Operations 2011–2014 |
Succeeded by Michelle J. Howard |