– Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense for Military Professionalism
A native of Weymouth, Massachusetts, Rear Admiral Margaret Klein was commissioned in May 1981 upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy. She earned her Master of Education from the University of Southern Maine in 1999.
A naval flight officer, Klein’s operational assignments include multiple tours with the “Ironmen” of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 3; forward-deployed USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group Staff as N6 during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom; and chief of staff for the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Strike Group.
Command and leadership assignments include command of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 3; Commander, Task Force 124 and Strategic Communications Wing 1; and 82nd Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy. She commanded forward-deployed Expeditionary Strike Group 5 as well as Task Force 64 providing strike assets during Operation Odyssey Dawn.
Klein’s staff assignments include Naval Air Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Naval Military Personnel Command; White House Military Office; Brookings Legislative Fellow for Senator Olympia Snowe; operations director, Naval Network Warfare Command, Chief of Staff, U.S. Cyber Command; and most recently as Chief of Staff, J5, on the Joint Staff.
Klein currently serves as Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense for Military Professionalism.
Klein has over 4,500 flight hours in the EC-130 and the E-6. Her decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, and other personal, unit, and campaign awards.