Tracy L. Garrett | |
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Born | Seattle, Washington |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Marine Corps Reserve |
Years of service | 1978–2014 |
Rank | Major General |
Commands held | Inspector General of the Marine Corps United States Marine Corps Forces, Europe |
Battles/wars | Iraq War |
Awards |
Legion of Merit Bronze Star Medal |
Alma mater |
University of Washington Naval War College |
Tracy L. Garrett is a retired major general of the United States Marine Corps Reserve. During her military career, she served as the first female Inspector General of the Marine Corps.
Garrett is a graduate of the University of Washington where she was a member of Kappa Delta sorority (Sigma Iota chapter) and the Naval War College. [1]
Tracy L. Garrett entered the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps, and in 1978 graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in English. [2] During this time, she studied abroad in Austria. [3] Following graduation, she was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. [2] Her father had been in the Marine Corps, and she had made the decision to pursue a career there while in high school. She had specifically intended to join the reserves so that she could also raise a family. [4]
In 1998, Garrett graduated with a master's degree in national security and strategic studies at the Naval War College in Rhode Island.
Garrett held a variety of commands, and served in the Iraq War between September 2004 and March 2005 as chief of staff of the 1st Force Service Support Group. [2] [1] In 2007, she was promoted to brigadier general, and again in 2010 to major general. [3] She has served as commander of the United States Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa, and was the first female Inspector General of the Marine Corps. [3] [5]
Since 2010, Garrett has been a director of the USAA. [5] Following 36 years of service, she retired from the Marine Corps on May 8, 2014; her posting immediately prior to retirement was as special adviser to the Commander of the United States Africa Command located in Stuttgart, Germany. She would commute on a monthly basis from her home in Seattle. [6]
Following retirement, Garrett continues to work with the USAA, and with the Girl Scouts of the USA in western Washington state, having been in the Girl Scouts as a child. [3]
Garrett's awards include the Legion of Merit, [7] Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal.