Navy Flag Officer Biography

Rear Admiral Walter E. "Ted" Carter, Jr.

Commander, Carrier Strike Group 12

Rear Admiral Walter E.  "Ted" Carter, Jr.


Rear Adm. Carter, a native of Pascoag, R.I., graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1981 and was designated a naval flight officer in 1982. He graduated from the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun) in the last all-Phantom class in 1985.

Carter’s sea assignments include: Fighter Squadron (VF) 161 RockRivers aboard USS Midway (CV 41) flying the F-4S Phantom II; VF-21 Freelancers flying the F-14A Tomcat aboard USS Independence (CV 62); Carrier Air Wing� Five as operations officer; VF-14 Tophatters as executive officer and commanding Officer; and executive officer aboard USS� Harry S. Truman� (CVN 75). He commanded USS Camden (AOE 2) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

Shore assignments include: instructor duty at VF-124 Gunslingers flying the F-14A Tomcat, and chief staff officer; and, Fighter Wing Pacific at Naval Air Station Miramar, Calif. Carter completed three joint tours as executive assistant to the Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command; chief of staff for Joint Warfighting Center, U.S. Joint Forces Command, and Commander, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, U.S. Joint Forces Command where he served as lead for the Transition Planning Team in the disestablishment of U.S. Joint Forces Command in August 2011.

Carter is the recipient of the U.S. Navy’s prestigious Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Leadership Award while commanding VF-14 and the U.S. Navy League’s John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership while commanding Carl Vinson.

He has accumulated over 6,000 flight hours in F-14, F-18, and F-4 aircraft with over 2,000 carrier-arrested landings onboard 18 aircraft carriers including all 11 active carriers. His personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Legion of Merit (two awards), Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat V, Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Air Medal (two Combat V and five strike flight), and various service medals and unit awards.

In October 2011, Carter assumed command of Carrier Strike Group 12 embarked aboard USS Enterprise (CVN 65).


Updated: 10 September 2012