Captain John P. Carter

Chief Of Staff
Combined Maritime Forces

Captain Carter hails from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physics and Mathematics. He received his Naval Commission from Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island in June 1987.

Following Nuclear Power Training in 1988, Captain Carter reported onboard USS PASADENA (SSN 752) during new construction in Groton, Connecticut. While assigned, he completed a change of homeport to San Diego, California and deployments to the North Atlantic and Western Pacific. In February 1998, Captain Carter completed a split Department Head tour as Weapons and Engineering Officer onboard USS KENTUCKY (SSBN 737) (BLUE) in Kings Bay, Georgia. In December 2001, he completed his Executive Officer tour on USS JACKSONVILLE (SSN 699) in Norfolk, Virginia. While onboard, the ship participated in New York City’s International Naval Review 2000, conducted a Mediterranean Deployment, and received the Commander Submarine Squadron Eight 2001 Battle Efficiency Award. In February 2007, Captain Carter completed a highly successful command tour on USS NEBRASKA (SSBN 739)(BLUE) home ported in Bangor, Washington.

Captain Carter’s shore tours include the Defense Liaison Division on the Special Projects staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C., Submarine Operations Officer on the staff of Commander Fleet Forces Command, Senior Board Member of the Atlantic Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board in Norfolk, and Director of Strategic Forces, Nuclear Weapons and Force Protection for Commander Submarine Forces Atlantic. His next assignment is Chief of Staff, Combined Maritime Forces 5th Fleet.

Captain Carter holds Master of Science degrees in Physics (’94) and Systems Analysis (’11) from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master in Engineering Management degree (’07) from Old Dominion University.

His personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Meritorious Service Medal among others. His unit awards include the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, two Meritorious Unit Commendations, and two Battle Efficiency awards.

Captain Carter is married to former Cheryl Lynn Furbeck of Slingerlands, New York, and has two daughters Jessica and Emily. Jessica is a sophomore at Chatham University in Pittsburgh and Emily is a senior at Smithfield High School.