Mark W. Balmert
Encyclopedia
Mark William Balmert is retired United States Navy
rear admiral
. His last command was the joint Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Strike Group 3
. He retired from the Navy in 2008 and joined Northrop Grumman as a Strategic Senior Consulting Manager.
. He participated in the Navy Reserve Officer Training program (NROTC) at the University of Notre Dame
, and graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science
degree in Chemical Engineering
. He earned a Master of Science
in Financial Management
from the Naval Postgraduate School
in 1985. He is a 1989 graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College
He also attended the National Securities Management Course at the Maxwell School of Citizenship
at Syracuse University
.
. He served as the Engineering officer aboard the USS Fife (DD 991)
from 1986 to 1988, and aboard the USS Merrill (DD 976)
as Executive Officer from 1991 to 1992. CDR Balmert commanded USS Chandler (DDG 996)
from 7 August 1996 to 18 December 1998, winning the Battle Efficiency Award, and Destroyer Squadron
7 during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom as Sea Combat Commander for the Constellation Battle Group.
Shore assignments include Naval Plans Officer at Headquarters, United Nations Command and Combined Forces Command in Seoul, Korea
; Surface Commander Assignments Branch Head in Millington, Tenn.; Chief of Staff for Commander Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet; Director, Operations Division, Office of Budget in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management/ Comptroller) and Director, Operations Division, Fiscal Management Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
Balmert also served as Chief Staff Officer of Destroyer Squadron 13; Assistant Surface Operations Officer for Commander 7th Fleet
; Flag Secretary for Commander 3rd Fleet; Operations Officer for Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group 1; Commander Expeditionary Strike Group 5; and as Commander Expeditionary Strike Group 3. He was succeeded as commander for ESG3 on May 22, 2008 by Rear Admiral Kendall L. Card. RDML Balmert's final assignment was as Commander, Amphibious Group Three.
Balmert was nominated for promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral (Lower Half) in April 2004.
He retired from the U.S. Navy in 2008.
with four Gold Stars, the Bronze Star
, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal
, the Meritorious Service Medal
with two Gold Stars, the Navy Commendation Medal with three Gold Stars, and the Joint Service Achievement Medal.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
rear admiral
Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. It is generally regarded as the lowest of the "admiral" ranks, which are also sometimes referred to as "flag officers" or "flag ranks"...
. His last command was the joint Navy and Marine Corps Expeditionary Strike Group 3
Expeditionary Strike Group Three
The Expeditionary Strike Group Three, which has its roots in the Amphibious Group Three , is an expeditionary strike group — an amphibious ready group which combines the capabilities of surface action groups, submarines, and maritime patrol aircraft with those of Amphibious Ready Groups...
. He retired from the Navy in 2008 and joined Northrop Grumman as a Strategic Senior Consulting Manager.
Early years; education
Balmert was born in Fort Madison, IowaFort Madison, Iowa
Fort Madison, situated on the Mississippi River, is a city in and one of the county seats of Lee County, Iowa, United States. The other county seat is Keokuk. The population was 10,715 at the 2000 census...
. He participated in the Navy Reserve Officer Training program (NROTC) at the University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
, and graduated in 1977 with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in Chemical Engineering
Chemical engineering
Chemical engineering is the branch of engineering that deals with physical science , and life sciences with mathematics and economics, to the process of converting raw materials or chemicals into more useful or valuable forms...
. He earned a Master of Science
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
in Financial Management
Corporate finance
Corporate finance is the area of finance dealing with monetary decisions that business enterprises make and the tools and analysis used to make these decisions. The primary goal of corporate finance is to maximize shareholder value while managing the firm's financial risks...
from the Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Postgraduate School
The Naval Postgraduate School is an accredited research university operated by the United States Navy. Located in Monterey, California, it grants master's degrees, Engineer's degrees and doctoral degrees...
in 1985. He is a 1989 graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College
Joint Forces Staff College
The Joint Forces Staff College located in Norfolk, Virginia, was established as the Armed Forces Staff College in 1946 and incorporated into the National Defense University in August 1981. It educates and acculturates joint and multinational warfighters to plan and lead at the operational level...
He also attended the National Securities Management Course at the Maxwell School of Citizenship
Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs
The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is the public policy school of Syracuse University...
at Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
.
United States Navy career
Balmert was commissioned as an Ensign in December 1977 through the NROTC program. He attended Surface Warfare Officers School and then began his first sea assignment in 1978 aboard the USS Lynde McCormick (DDG 8)USS Lynde McCormick (DDG-8)
USS Lynde McCormick was a Charles F. Adams-class destroyer in the United States Navy.Lynde McCormick was laid down 4 April 1958 by Defoe Shipbuilding Company, Bay City, Michigan; launched 28 July 1959; sponsored by Mrs. Lillian McCormick, wife of Admiral McCormick; and commissioned at Boston 3...
. He served as the Engineering officer aboard the USS Fife (DD 991)
USS Fife (DD-991)
USS Fife , a , was a ship of the United States Navy named for Admiral James Fife, Jr. , a distinguished Submarine Force commander during World War II....
from 1986 to 1988, and aboard the USS Merrill (DD 976)
USS Merrill (DD-976)
USS Merrill , named for Rear Admiral Aaron Stanton Merrill USN , was a laid down 16 June 1975 by the Ingalls Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries at Pascagoula, Mississippi.She was launched 1 September 1976 and commissioned 11 March 1978.-History:USS Merrill had the distinction of being the...
as Executive Officer from 1991 to 1992. CDR Balmert commanded USS Chandler (DDG 996)
USS Chandler (DDG-996)
USS Chandler was the final ship in the Kidd class of guided-missile destroyers operated by the U.S. Navy. Derived from the Spruance class, these vessels were designed for air defense in hot weather. She was named after Rear Admiral Theodore E...
from 7 August 1996 to 18 December 1998, winning the Battle Efficiency Award, and Destroyer Squadron
DESRON
A destroyer squadron is a naval squadron or flotilla usually consisting of destroyers rather than other types of vessel. In some navies other vessels, such as frigates, may be included. In English the word "squadron" tends to be used for larger and "flotilla" for smaller vessels, both may be used...
7 during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom as Sea Combat Commander for the Constellation Battle Group.
Shore assignments include Naval Plans Officer at Headquarters, United Nations Command and Combined Forces Command in Seoul, Korea
United Nations Command (Korea)
The United Nations Command is the unified command structure for the multinational military forces supporting the Republic of Korea during and after the Korean War...
; Surface Commander Assignments Branch Head in Millington, Tenn.; Chief of Staff for Commander Naval Surface Force U.S. Pacific Fleet; Director, Operations Division, Office of Budget in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Financial Management/ Comptroller) and Director, Operations Division, Fiscal Management Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
Balmert also served as Chief Staff Officer of Destroyer Squadron 13; Assistant Surface Operations Officer for Commander 7th Fleet
United States Seventh Fleet
The Seventh Fleet is the United States Navy's permanent forward projection force based in Yokosuka, Japan, with units positioned near Japan and South Korea. It is a component fleet force under the United States Pacific Fleet. At present, it is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets, with...
; Flag Secretary for Commander 3rd Fleet; Operations Officer for Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Group 1; Commander Expeditionary Strike Group 5; and as Commander Expeditionary Strike Group 3. He was succeeded as commander for ESG3 on May 22, 2008 by Rear Admiral Kendall L. Card. RDML Balmert's final assignment was as Commander, Amphibious Group Three.
Balmert was nominated for promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral (Lower Half) in April 2004.
He retired from the U.S. Navy in 2008.
Military awards and decorations
RDML Balmert’s personal decorations include the Legion of MeritLegion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with four Gold Stars, the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal
Defense Meritorious Service Medal
The Defense Meritorious Service Medal is the third-highest award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense...
, the Meritorious Service Medal
Meritorious Service Medal (United States)
The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with two Gold Stars, the Navy Commendation Medal with three Gold Stars, and the Joint Service Achievement Medal.
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with four Gold Stars
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
Defense Meritorious Service MedalDefense Meritorious Service MedalThe Defense Meritorious Service Medal is the third-highest award bestowed upon members of the United States military by the United States Department of Defense...
Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service Medal (United States)The Meritorious Service Medal is a military decoration presented to members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguished themselves by outstanding meritorious achievement or service to the United States subsequent to January 16, 1969...
with two Gold Stars
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with three Gold Stars
Joint Service Achievement MedalAchievement MedalThe Achievement Medal is a military decoration of the United States military. The Achievement Medal was first proposed as a means to recognize the contributions of junior officers and enlisted personnel who were not eligible to receive the higher Commendation Medal or the Meritorious Service...