ADM Mark E. Ferguson, III, USN (Ret.)
The Naval Order of the United States is pleased to announce that Admiral Mark E. Ferguson, III, USN (Ret.) has been selected to be the recipient of the 2019 Distinguished Sea Service Award. Admiral Ferguson was recognized during our annual Congress in Boston, Massachusetts, in October.
The Distinguished Sea Service Award recognizes the exemplary service of a recently retired United States Naval Officer who, over their total career, distinguished them self and the naval services, such that they should be singled out as one who stands "First Among Firsts.”
Admiral Ferguson culminated his career as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, U.S. Naval Forces Africa and Commander, Allied Joint Force Command Naples. His area of responsibility included the waters bordering the coasts of Europe and Africa, including the Baltic, Mediterranean and Black Seas.
CAPT Paul Crissy introduced ADM Mark E. Ferguson, USN (Ret), recipient of the 2019 Distinguished Sea Service Award.
Admiral Ferguson’s previous flag assignments included duty as the 37th Vice Chief of Naval Operations, the 55th Chief of Naval Personnel, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Manpower, Personnel, Training & Education), and Chief of Legislative Affairs and Assistant Commander for Distribution at Navy Personnel Command.
Prior to selection for Flag Officer, Admiral Ferguson was Director of the Senate Liaison Office, Special Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, responsible for readiness and surface warfare programs in the Office of Legislative Affairs, and as an assignment officer at the Bureau of Personnel.
Over his career, he operated in both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets in ships ranging from destroyers to aircraft carriers. He was Commander of Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 18, Commanding Officer of USS Benfold (DDG-65), Reactor Officer on board USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69), Operations Officer in USS Fife (DD 991), and a division officer in USS South Carolina (CGN-37).
Admiral Ferguson graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy, the Naval Post Graduate School and the Air Command and Staff College, and was a National Security Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.
CAPT M. Kris Carlock, the Registrar General, presented ADM Ferguson with a complimentary Life Membership in the Naval Order. In accepting the award, ADM Ferguson thanked the Naval Order noting his surprise at the honor and expressing his gratitude for all his blessings in life. He then recounted the story of his discussion with a group of junior executives in the tech industry about leadership where they spent a long time discussing trust. In the service, we take trust for granted. Trust must be safeguarded in our relationships, communities and institutions. He learned about trust at the Naval Academy and saw trust demonstrated with four traits over his career. First, trust is reliable. It requires action, keeps promises, meets deadlines, is on time, delivers, is credible and has integrity. To drive home the point, he told the story of his part in the Kosovo airstrikes to stop an unfolding humanitarian catastrophe. Second, trust is open. It clarifies expectations and is honest about limitations. It tells how you feel, what you think, and what you believe. It doesn’t criticize but values and seeks the opinions of others. He talked about his time with the Enterprise Strike Group to illustrate these traits. Third, trust is accepting. Trust listens, allows mistakes, accepts limitations, respects others’ points of view, and helps others. He then talked about how he implemented the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy as Chief of Naval personnel. Fourth, Trust is congruent. It talks straight, doesn’t play games, is sincere, sets boundaries, makes rules clear, and is not too kind. As an example of congruence, he recalled his interview with ADM Rickover as he was deciding on a career path and how it guided his actions as a reactor officer on a carrier years later.