Navy Flag Officer Biography

Rear Admiral Gerald W. "Jerry" Clusen

Reserve Deputy Commander, U.S. 10th Fleet

Rear Admiral Gerald W.  "Jerry" Clusen


Rear Adm. Clusen assumed duties as Reserve deputy commander, U.S. 10th Fleet in October 2010. An information dominance warfare officer, he is also the Reserve Component leader for the information warfare and cryptology community.

A native of Manitowoc, Wis., he enlisted in the Navy Reserve in January 1971. Upon completion of Recruit Training and Electronics Technician “A” School, he reported to USS Oklahoma City (CLG 5), flagship for Commander, 7th Fleet. Clusen served in Vietnam combat operations and was awarded the Combat Action ribbon and various unit commendations.

Follow-on Navy Reserve assignments included service in naval air and surface Reserve units in Wisconsin and Minnesota in support of communication stations, submarine bases, and naval air stations. Shipboard tours included USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) and USS Richmond K. Turner (CG 20). Clusen was promoted to the rank of chief petty officer in 1981.

Receiving a direct commission in 1983 as a special duty officer (cryptology), now information warfare officer, Clusen was assigned to the Naval Security Group Reserve. He completed commanding officer assignments in San Diego, Minneapolis, Minn., and Oshkosh, Wis., and an executive officer assignment in Great Lakes, Ill. He served as deputy commander, Reserve Cryptologic Area Central, Fort Sheridan, Ill., and then as commander, Reserve Cryptologic Area East, Fort Dix, N.J. As Net-Centric Warfare Support officer, he provided operations training and support oversight for Navy Information Operations Command Reserve Component units located in Norfolk, Va., North Island, Calif., and Pensacola, Fla. Clusen served as Navy Net-Centric Warfare Group chief of staff in 2007, and then as deputy commander in 2008 during a three-year recall to active duty where he also served as Naval Network Warfare Command special assistant for Reserve Affairs. He served as the commander, Navy Net-Centric Warfare Group, the Reserve Component of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. 10th Fleet, the National Security Agency and the National Reconnaissance Office from October 2010 through disestablishment in September 2011.

Active assignments included tours with the Naval Security Group Command and the National Security Agency, Fort George G. Meade, Md.; Naval Security Group Activities in Adak, Alaska and Hanza, Okinawa; Joint Analysis Center, Molesworth, England; and the Fleet Information Warfare Center Headquarters, the Naval Network Warfare Command and the Navy Information Operations Command in Norfolk, Va. Clusen has completed the National Security Agency Senior Cryptologic Officer course, the Naval Information Warfare Staff and Operations course in Information Operations Planning and the Naval Intelligence Reserve Senior Intelligence Leadership course.

Clusen retired from Kimberly-Clark Corporation after more than 28 years in manufacturing operations, engineering and maintenance management and project leadership in information technology, manufacturing computer security and product and technology development. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse.

Clusen’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two gold stars, and various unit and campaign medals and ribbons.


Updated: 3 October 2011