Background
He was born in Winchester, Massachusetts, and graduated from Northeastern University, where he was a member of the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps program, in June 1973.
He was born in Winchester, Massachusetts, and graduated from Northeastern University, where he was a member of the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps program, in June 1973.
He is the former Commander, United States. Naval Forces Europe – Commander, United States. 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, United States. 2nd Fleet from 2004 until December 2006. He assumed his the duties of Commander, United States. Naval Forces Europe and Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples on November 30, 2007 and assumed the additional duties as Commander, United States. Naval Forces Africa on March 26, 2009.
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 Virginia-195 (1976-1979), Carrier Air Wing 17 (1982-1984), and Virginia-105 (1985-1988) embarked in Kitty Hawk, America, and Forrestal. He commanded the Virginia-46 "Clansmen” (1990–1991) 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. During his career, Admiral Fitzgerald was assigned as Deputy Commander, Joint Air Force Component Commander for Provide Promise Yugoslav Operations and Assistant Commander for Deny Flight North Atlantic Treaty Organization operations (1993).
He assumed command of Carrier Air Wing 14 (1994-1995) while deployed to the Persian Gulf in Carl Vinson supporting Operation Southern Watch.
Admiral Fitzgerald’s shore tours include Virginia-174 Landing Signal Officer (1979-1982), Naval Maritime Intelligence Center, SPEAR (1991-1992), and Executive Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (1996-1998). He holds a Masters Degree in Aeronautical Systems Engineering from the University of West Florida (1975) and attended the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island (1983-1984). Selected for flag rank in September 1998, Admiral Fitzgerald’s first flag assignment was Deputy Commander, United States. Naval Forces Central Command and commanded Joint Task Force Determined Response in Aden, Yemen (2000) in response to the terrorist attack on the guided-missile destroyer United States Ship Cole.
Assuming command of Carrier Group Eight (2001), he led the Theodore Roosevelt Battle Group during Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2002).
He served as Director, Air Warfare and then as Director, Naval Warfare (2003–2004). He then assumed the position of Commander, United States. Second Fleet/Commander, Striking Fleet Atlantic in October 2004.
Admiral Fitzgerald was relieved as commander of USNAVEUR, USNAVAF & JFC Naples by Admiral Samuel J. Locklear on October 6, 2010.