Rear Admiral Carpenter is the daughter of an Air Force veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Raised throughout the United States, she holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia with a major in Psychology and has pursued graduate studies in Marketing and International Relations.
Carpenter received her commission through Aviation Officer Candidate School, Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Fla., with Class 19-77 and was designated a Naval aviator in July 1979. Graduating at the top of her class, she was assigned as the Navy's first selectively retained graduate instructor pilot (SERGRAD) in the T-44 aircraft at VT-31, NAS Corpus Christi, Texas. Following her tour as an instructor pilot, Carpenter was ordered to sea duty at VQ-3 (TACAMO), NAS Barbers Point, Hawaii, where she served as a mission commander, aircraft commander and instructor pilot in the EC130F/G/Q aircraft. She deployed throughout the Pacific and the western U.S. and Alaska in support of the nation's strategic nuclear triad. After completing a shore assignment at the Naval Military Personnel Command as an aviation junior officer assignments officer, Carpenter left active duty and accepted a reserve commission in February 1985.
Remaining highly active in the operational reserve force, Carpenter's assignments have included the staffs of Commander Carrier Group 4, Commander, Naval Forces Europe, Commander 6th Fleet, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (DCNO) Fleet Readiness and Logistics and Commander 2nd Fleet. Carpenter has accepted numerous recalls to active duty and has held four Navy reserve commands at the commander and captain level: Officer in charge of VR 506, CINCUSNAVEUR DET 108, DCNO N4 Fleet Readiness and Logistics DET 106, and 2nd Fleet JFACC. Under her leadership as commanding officer of Fleet Readiness and Logistics, the 75 member CNO staff unit shared the FY01 DON CIO Award for &qout;E Business" in government. She has represented the United States in a number of coalition and NATO forums, and completed Senior Courses at the NATO School in Oberammergau, GE.
Carpenter's flag assignments include: Deputy commander of Navy Region Southeast, Jacksonville, Fla. from October 2004- September 2005, acting Director, OPNAV N31 (Information, Plans, Security Division) from April 2005-May 2005, vice director, Standing Joint Forces HQ (SJFHQ), U.S. Joint Forces Command from December 2004-September 2006, and deputy commander, 2nd Fleet from October 2006-June 2008
Carpenter now serves as commander, Navy Warfare Development Command, Norfolk.
Carpenter's awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (3 awards), Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (5 awards), Navy Achievement Medal and various units awards. She has accumulated 3500 military flight hours. Carpenter is a distinguished graduate of the Naval War College and completed Capstone with class 06-02. Additionally, she has completed executive programs at the National Defense University, UNC Chapel Hill and Defense Acquisition University.