Robert J. Natter
{{short description|American military officer}}
{{Infobox military person
|name=Robert J. Natter
|birth_date= {{Birth date and age|1945|4|9}}
|death_date=
|image=Robert J Natter.jpg
|image_size=
|caption=Admiral Robert J. Natter
|nickname=
|birth_place= Trussville, Alabama
|death_place=
|placeofburial=
|placeofburial_label= Place of burial
|allegiance= United States of America
|branch= United States Navy
|serviceyears=1962-1963 / 1967-2003
|rank= Admiral
|unit=
|commands={{unbulleted list| Atlantic Fleet/Fleet Forces Command | Seventh Fleet | USS Antietam | USS Chandler}}
|battles= Vietnam War
|awards={{unbulleted list| Navy Distinguished Service Medal (5) | Silver Star | Defense Superior Service Medal | Legion of Merit (5) | Bronze Star (for Valor) | Purple Heart}}
|relations=
|laterwork=Board of Directors, United Defense Industries
}}
Admiral Robert Joseph Natter is a retired United States Navy admiral who served as Commander, U.S. Atlantic Fleet/Fleet Forces Command from 2000 to 2003.
Military career
Natter was born April 9, 1945, at his home in Trussville, Alabama. He enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve at the age of 17 as a Seaman Recruit. After one year of enlisted service he was appointed to the United States Naval Academy, and graduated in 1967, receiving a commission as an Ensign.{{Cite web |url=http://www.nationalveteransday.org/SPEAKERS/NATTER.HTM |title=National Veterans Day speaker bio |access-date=2007-08-09 |archive-date=2007-08-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070819033715/http://www.nationalveteransday.org/SPEAKERS/NATTER.HTM |url-status=dead }}
Natter's service at sea included department head tours in a Coastal Minesweeper and Frigate, and Executive Officer tours in two Amphibious Tank Landing Ships and a Spruance Destroyer {{USS|Hewitt|DD-966|6}}. He was Officer-in-Charge of a Naval Special Warfare detachment in Vietnam and commanded the {{USS|Chandler|DDG-996|6}}, {{USS|Antietam|CG-54|6}} and the United States Seventh Fleet.[http://www.chips.navy.mil/authors/robert_natter.htm United States Navy bio] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120208035252/http://www.chips.navy.mil/authors/robert_natter.htm |date=2012-02-08 }}
Shore assignments included Company Officer and later Flag Secretary to the Superintendent at the United States Naval Academy; Executive Assistant to the Director of Naval Warfare in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV); staff member for the House Armed Services Committee of the 100th Congress of the United States; Executive Assistant to the Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet; Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, during Operation Desert Storm; Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for officer and enlisted personnel assignments; Chief on the Navy's Legislative Affairs organization; Director for Space, Information Warfare, Command and Control (OPNAV N6); and the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Plans, Policy and Operations (OPNAV N3/N5).
Natter was a distinguished graduate of the U.S. Naval War College and has master's degrees in both Business Management and International Relations. In May 2000, he was awarded the Naval War College Distinguished Graduate Leadership Award.
Awards and honors
| 170px Navy Surface Warfare Officer Pin |
| 80px Small Craft insignia Officer-in-charge |
| 90px Joint Chiefs of Staff ID Badge |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=80}}18px18px18px18px
|Navy Distinguished Service Medal with four gold award stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Silver Star ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=80}}18px18px18px18px
|Legion of Merit with four award stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|other_device=nv|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|Bronze Star with Combat V |
| 80px |
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|Meritorious Service Medal with award star |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}}18px18px
|Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and award star |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|other_device=nv|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|Navy Achievement Medal with Combat V |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Combat Action Ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=United States Navy Presidential Unit Citation ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|ribbon=Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Battle Effectiveness Award ribbon, 2nd award.svg|width=80}}
|Navy "E" Ribbon with two Battle E awards |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|name=Vietnam Service Medal ribbon|width=80}}14px14px14px
|Vietnam Service Medal with seven service stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Humanitarian Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=80}}14px14px14px
|Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with three service stars |
| 80px |
| 80px
|Vietnam Civil Actions Medal Unit Citation |
| 80px |
| 80px |
Other honors include in 1998 the Order of the Rising Sun from the Emperor of Japan, the 1998 Order of National Security Merit from the Republic of Korea, the 2003 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the 2003 Ted Williams Military Achievement Award, and the 2004 Naval Order of the United States Distinguished Sea Service Award.{{Cite web |url=http://navalorder.org/honoree.htm |title=Naval Order of the United States bio |access-date=2007-08-09 |archive-date=2007-09-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929021205/http://navalorder.org/honoree.htm |url-status=dead }}
He retired from the Navy in 2003.
Post military
Natter joined the board of directors of United Defense Industries in 2004.[http://www.uniteddefense.com/pr/pr_20040126.htm United Defense Industries bio] He is also President of R.J. Natter & Associates, LLC, a consulting firm; serves on the McDonald's Corporation Advisory Board; and is a Non-Executive Director of Novonix Limited which develops, manufactures and sells the worlds most accurate high precision battery cell testing equipment and graphite materials for the lithium-ion battery (LIB) industry;[https://www.novonixgroup.com/our-people/admiral-robert-j-natter Novonix Ltd Our People]/{{Cite web |url=https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/novonix-limited-asx-nvx-appointment-230200432.html |title=Novonix Limited asx nvx appointment |access-date=2020-07-19 |archive-date=2020-07-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719064308/https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/novonix-limited-asx-nvx-appointment-230200432.html |url-status=dead }} served as Chairman of the United States Naval Academy's Distinguished Graduate Selection Committee; and in May, 2012 became Chairman, Naval Academy Alumni Association's national Board of Trustees.{{cite web |url=http://www.usna.com/page.aspx?pid=248 |title=Alumni Association's Board of Trustees Listing |website=www.usna.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120628132807/http://www.usna.com/page.aspx?pid=248 |archive-date=2012-06-28}} He was one of the Naval Academy's 2019 Distinguished Graduate selections.{{cite web |url=https://www.usna.com/events-dga-announcement?erid=5793116&trid=2b9e8de1-1186-47e5-9940-1a1d1252f349/ |title=Events and Programs - DGA Announcement - www.usna.com |website=www.usna.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230130525/https://www.usna.com/events-dga-announcement?erid=5793116&trid=2b9e8de1-1186-47e5-9940-1a1d1252f349/ |archive-date=2018-12-30}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{USGovernment|url=http://www.chips.navy.mil/authors/robert_natter.htm|agency=United States Navy}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Robert J. Natter}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Natter, Robert J.}}
Category:People from Trussville, Alabama
Category:United States Navy admirals
Category:United States Naval Academy alumni
Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Category:Recipients of the Silver Star
Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit