Rear Admiral Martha Herb

Rear Adm. Herb graduated from Lake Forest College with a Bachelor of Arts. She was commissioned via Officer Candidate School in July 1979. In 1992, she completed both a Master of Arts in Education and Human Development and a Doctor of Education in 1996, specializing in Counseling and Military Families, at George Washington University. She has completed both the Joint Professional Military Education course (JPME) and Advanced JPME.

During her active service, she became one of the first three women officers to graduate from the Naval School of Diving and Salvage in Washington D.C. Subsequent tours included assignments with Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One Detachment One, USS Samuel Gompers (AD 37); officer-in-charge, Commander, Navy Surface Fleet Atlantic Second Class Diving School, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Testing and Evaluation Unit Two.

Transitioning to the Reserve Component in 1983, she completed various unit and staff tours including five command tours: Mobile Diving Salvage Unit Two Detachment 608; Afloat Training Group Detachment 212; Naval Ordnance Safety and Security Activity; Naval Cooperation and Guidance of Shipping (NCAGS) Detachment A, and Reserve Component Commander, Navy Region Southeast.

Her NATO experience includes service as officer-in-charge of a joint cadre supporting the U.S. Military Delegation to the Military Committee in Brussels, Belgium. In 2010, she furthered her international experience and completed a 14-month tour to Afghanistan as a member of the International Security Assistance Force as the chief, Military Technical Agreement Branch.

Herb is authorized to wear the Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three gold stars, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with three gold stars, and various service and campaign awards. Herb is most proud to have served with shipmates who, together, earned a Meritorious Unit Commendation, the Coast Guard Unit Commendation and the Navy Unit Commendation.

Prior to her call to active duty, Dr. Herb worked as a licensed therapist at the Christian Counseling Center of Annapolis, Md. She is a Maryland Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and a National Certified Counselor.