Nora W. Tyson

A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Nora Wingfield Tyson attended St. Mary's Episcopal School, graduating in 1975.{{cite web|title=Alumnae Awards|url=http://www.stmarysschool.org/alumnae/alumnae-awards/index.aspx|publisher=St. Mary's Episcopal School|accessdate=5 October 2010}} Tyson graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1979, majoring in English. Later that year, she attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned into the United States Navy in December 1979.{{cite web|title=Rear Admiral Nora W. Tyson Commander, Carrier Strike Group Two|url=http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioid=425|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071030040650/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=425|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 30, 2007|work=U.S. Navy Biographies|publisher=U.S. Navy|accessdate=5 October 2010}} In 1995, Tyson earned her Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Affairs from the Naval War College.

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) 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.{{cite web | title= Rear Admiral Nora W. Tyson Commander, Logistics Group, Western Pacific (COMLOGWESTPAC) in Singapore | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/displaybbs.asp?bbs_id=1991&cat=4 | work= carat090521-02 | publisher= COMLOGWESTPAC | date= May 21, 2009 | accessdate=2010-10-05}}{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

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.{{cite web|title=USNS Amelia Earhart (T-AKE 6) Christening Ceremony April 6, 2008|url=http://www.nassco.com/pdfs/T-AKE-6_program.pdf |publisher=General Dynamics|accessdate=5 October 2010}}

Sea duty for Tyson included serving as a navigator aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier {{USS|Enterprise|CVN-65|6}} and the operations officer on the training aircraft carrier {{USS|Lexington|AVT-16|6}}. Later, Captain Tyson commanded the amphibious assault ship {{USS|Bataan|LHD-5|6}} 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 (lower half) and took command of Task Force 73 in Singapore.

File:US Navy 110731-N-XE109-005 Rear Adm. Nora W. Tyson is pinned to rear admiral upper half by Capt. Jeffery A. Davis, left, and Capt. Brian E. Luther.jpg

On July 29, 2010, Tyson assumed command of Carrier Strike Group Two, with the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier {{USS|George H.W. Bush|CVN-77|6}} as its flagship, becoming the first woman to command a United States Navy aircraft carrier task group.{{cite news|last=Charlier|first=Tom|title=Memphian becomes first woman to command Naval carrier strike group|url=http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2010/aug/01/admiral-tyson-aboard/|newspaper=The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, Tn.|date=August 1, 2010|accessdate=5 October 2010}}{{cite web|title=Rear Admiral Nora Tyson becomes the first female strike group commander|url=http://americanwomenveterans.org/home/2010/08/rear-admiral-nora-tyson-becomes-the-first-female-strike-group-commander/|publisher=American Women Veterans|accessdate=5 October 2010|date=August 2, 2010}}{{cite web | author= Colin E. Babb | title= Women Aviators Take Command | url= http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/currentissue/NAN_vol94_no2_airscoop.pdf | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101206124842/http://www.history.navy.mil/nan/currentissue/NAN_vol94_no2_airscoop.pdf | url-status= dead | archive-date= December 6, 2010 | work= Airscoop | publisher= Naval Aviation News | date= Summer 2010 | accessdate=2010-10-12}} 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."{{cite news | title=First Woman Takes Helm of Carrier Group | url= http://www.military.com/news/article/first-woman-takes-helm-of-carrier-group.html?ESRC=navy-a.nl | newspaper=Daily Press, Newport News, Va. | date=July 31, 2010 | accessdate=July 31, 2010}}

Carrier Strike Group Two completed its Composite Unit Training Exercise 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 Tyson on 11 May 2011. The carrier strike group operated with the United States Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean Sea and the United States Fifth Fleet in the Persian Gulf, with its aircraft flying missions as part of the War in Afghanistan.{{cite web | title= USS George H.W. Bush Departs for Maiden Deployment | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=60273 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20120805064321/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=60273 | url-status= dead | archive-date= August 5, 2012 | work= NNS110511-07 | publisher= USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs | date= May 11, 2011 | accessdate=2011-05-12}}

In an August 1, 2011 ceremony on the George Bush, Tyson was promoted to rear admiral upper half. Former President George H. W. Bush administered the oath of office to Tyson via videolink from Kennebunkport, Maine.Reilly, Corinne, "Promotion Has A Special Guest: Former President", Norfolk Virginian-Pilot, 3 August 2011, p. B3.{{cite web | author= Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Timothy Walter, USN | title= CSG 2 Commander Pins on Second Star, Former President Administers Oath | url= http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=61923 | archive-url= https://archive.today/20120805080036/http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=61923 | url-status= dead | archive-date= August 5, 2012 | work= NNS110802-03 | publisher= USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77) Public Affairs | date= August 2, 2011 | accessdate=2011-08-15}}

Tyson served as Vice Director of the Joint Staff beginning in February 2012. In July 2013 she was promoted to vice admiral and named as Deputy Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command.

In 2015, Tyson was installed as commander of the Third Fleet, making her the first woman to lead a United States Navy ship fleet. Tyson implemented the '3rd Fleet Forward' initiative announced by CINCPACFLT Admiral Scott Swift, retaining Third Fleet operational control of forces, including a three-ship SAG and Carrier Strike Group 1, deployed beyond the hitherto Third Fleet/Seventh Fleet boundary at the International Date Line. She retired on September 18, 2017.

{{clear}}

{{Portal|Biography}}

• List of female United States military generals and flag officers
• Women in the United States Navy

{{USNAVY}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20071030040650/http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=425 Official U.S. Navy Biography]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMX7XC1x8Uk Female CSG Commander] – YouTube
• [https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2011/jun/23/women-helm-us-navy "The woman at the helm in the US Navy"] – The Guardian (June 23, 2011)
• [https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-navy-review-idUSKCN0SC05X20151018 "U.S. signals wider engagement in western Pacific"] – Reuters (October 18, 2015)

{{s-start}}

{{s-mil}}

{{s-bef|before=Jeffrey A. Hesterman
{{small|Acting}}}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commander of Carrier Strike Group 2|years=2010–2012}}

{{s-aft|after=Gregory M. Nosal}}

{{s-bef|before=Craig A. Franklin}}

{{s-ttl|title=Vice Director of the Joint Staff|years=2012–2013}}

{{s-aft|after={{no wrap|Frederick S. Rudesheim}}}}

{{s-bef|before=Michelle J. Howard}}

{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command|years=2013–2015}}

{{s-aft|after=Richard P. Breckenridge}}

{{s-bef|before=Kenneth E. Floyd}}

{{s-ttl|title=Commander of the United States Third Fleet|years=2015–2017}}

{{s-aft|after=John D. Alexander}}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tyson, Nora W.}}

Category:Living people

Category:Military personnel from Memphis, Tennessee

Category:Vanderbilt University alumni

Category:Naval War College alumni

Category:Female admirals of the United States Navy

Category:United States Naval Flight Officers

Category:United States Navy admirals

Category:1957 births