CAPTAIN Carl A. Carpenter
United States Navy
Captain Carl Carpenter was born in 1958 in Port Hueneme, California, and is the son of career naval officer. He entered the Navy through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Oregon State University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and received his commission as an Ensign in 1980.
Upon his completion of the Division Officer course at the Surface Warfare Officer School, he reported to USS MOUNT BAKER (AE 34), homeported in Charleston, South Carolina. While aboard MOUNT BAKER, Captain Carpenter served as First Division Officer, Communications Officer, Navigator and Administrative Officer.
In February 1984, he reported to the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (OJCS) participating in the JCS Intern program. He was assigned as the ADP Systems Officer for the Director of Manpower and Personnel Directorate (J-1).
In 1985, Captain Carpenter completed Department Head School in Newport, Rhode Island and was assigned in USS BADGER (FF 1071) as Operations Officer where he made deployments to the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific. In 1987, he was assigned as Operations Officer in USS REEVES (CG 24), forward deployed to the SEVENTH Fleet in Yokosuka, Japan. REEVES deployed to the Arabian Gulf twice and participated in Earnest Will escort operations.
From 1989 to 1991, he attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California and earned a Master of Science Degree in Systems Technology (Anti-Submarine Warfare).
In 1991, Captain Carpenter returned to sea duty as Assistant Chief of Staff for Communications for Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group ONE and completed USS RANGER (CV 61) final deployment to the Arabian Gulf. In April 1993, he reported to USS O’BRIEN (DD 975), again forward deployed in Yokosuka Japan, as the Executive Officer. O’BRIEN deployed to the Arabian Gulf as COMUSNAVCENT’s contingency flagship.
In February 1995, Captain Carpenter reported to Commander, Destroyer Squadron FIFTEEN as the Chief Staff Officer. In October 1996 he reported to USS HEWITT (DD 966), forward deployed in Yokosuka Japan, as the Commanding Officer. From January 1997 until September 1998, he served as the Commanding Officer, USS FIFE (DD 991) while forward deployed to Yokosuka Japan.
Following his Command tours, Captain Carpenter was assigned as the Force Structure/Command Relations Division Chief for the Plans and Policy Directorate (J5) of Commander U.S. Pacific Command and then the Director of Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection Directorate (N34) for Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
In November 2003, Captain Carpenter was selected to attend the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) in London England, where he was a member of the 2004 class consisting of 84 senior officers and diplomats from 44 countries.
In March 2005, Captain Carpenter returned for a fifth tour with the Forward Deployed Naval Forces in Japan to serve as the Commanding Officer, Afloat Training Group Western Pacific and Training Support Detachment Western Pacific, until June 2009.