In December 2006, then-Captain Margaret “Peg” Klein became the first female commandant of the United States Naval Academy, overseeing the 4,400 young men and women preparing to be the nation’s next Navy and Marine Corps leaders. She was surprised by the appointment herself - as she told Inside Annapolis in 2007, “I never dreamed I’d be in this position. Just to be interviewed was an honor in itself, so to be selected was amazing.”
Aiming for the Skies
Rear Admiral Klein began her own Navy career here at the United States Naval Academy. She graduated with the Class of 1981, which was the second class that graduated with women. In fact, Klein graduated high school in 1975, but chose an ROTC program in college because women weren’t admitted to the academies at that point. When the service academies opened up in 1976, she was accepted to both the Naval Academy and West Point, and chose Navy. However, she was injured in ROTC training and didn’t pass the entrance physical to USNA. She finally gained admittance her sophomore year, and the Naval Academy Foundation told her they would pay part of the tuition for her sophomore year in college. She was in.
Klein continued her dedication to the military after graduation, pursuing a commission that kept her around planes as much as possible. Although she could not qualify as a pilot due to her eyesight, she knew from a young age she wanted to work with planes, as her father (a professor of aviation science and private pilot) had taken her flying.
She also hoped to pursue oceanography, and her designation as a naval flight officer (NFO) with the “Ironmen” of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron (VQ) 3, kicked off a career in both. By 1983, Klein qualified as mission commander and airborne communications officer in the EC-130Q. By 1987, she was reporting to the staff of commander, Naval Air Forces, United States Atlantic Fleet in a role ensuring enlisted personnel readiness. This fast-ascending USNA graduate then moved to the Naval Military Personnel Command in 1988 as aviation initial assignments officer and VQ detailer.
Succeeding on the Seas
From there, she returned to the Ironmen as executive officer and commanding officer, where she made an immediate impact, as the Ironmen clinched the Battle Effectiveness Award and the Maintenance Excellence Award during her command tour. Klein then served on the supercarrier USS Kitty Hawk Battle Group Staff, where she served as the Director, Communications and Information Systems (N6). While on the Carrier Group Five staff, the Battle Group engaged in critical military action, supporting both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. As she fulfilled her role, she became one of the first women involved in air reconnaissance.
Next, she served as deputy and then wing commander of Task Force 124 and Strategic Communications Wing One. After Klein completed major command, she then reported to the staff of commander, Carrier Strike Group Eight, where she served as the chief of staff for the Eisenhower Strike Group.
Making History at the Academy
Then came the moment she made history as the 82nd commandant at the United States Naval Academy. “I was ecstatic when I got orders to go to the carrier,” she said. “I never dreamed I’d go on to become second in charge at the Academy.” As the first female in the history of the role to hold it, her goals were lofty, but achievable—and admirable, “I want to make sure that when the midshipmen graduate, they are ready to serve as ensigns and second lieutenants,” she noted. “I want them to be ready to make a difference. And I want people to notice a difference between an Academy grad and everyone else.” After making great progress toward those goals, Klein was on to her next appointment in the field.
She served as director of operations for the Navy Network Warfare Command, the precursor to Fleet Cyber Command, from 2008 - 2010. During Operation Odyssey Dawn in 2011, Klein went on to command forward-deployed Expeditionary Strike Group 5 and Task Force 64, consisting of five ships, 30 aircraft, and more than 3,300 Sailors and Marines in combat operations in the Mediterranean Sea. She also commanded an aviation squadron and air wing.
Ongoing Service
Before her retirement from the service in 2017 after 35 years of service, this USNA graduate fulfilled one last important role, as senior advisor for military professionalism, reporting to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel “on issues related to military ethics, character, and leadership.” Rear Admiral Margaret Klein serves as Dean of Leadership and Ethics for the Naval War College. She is also on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Naval Institute.
Rear Admiral Klein has earned a number of notable awards over the course of her long and impressive career, including the Defense Superior Service Medal (two awards), Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit (five awards), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (three awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (three awards), the USNA Distinguished Graduate Award, and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. All in all, she has also logged more than 4,500 flight hours in the EC-130 and E-6 aircraft.
Celebrate Our Notable USNA Graduates!
At the United States Naval Academy, we recognize and are grateful for Rear Admiral Klein’s tremendous career and continued service. We celebrate a long tradition of outstanding men and women who have shown exemplary leadership over their careers, careers that started right here on the Yard. We invite you to see the place where these leaders are made. Every USNA tour, dining experience, and purchase gives back to the midshipmen who give their all for our country. We welcome you to the Yard, for those who’ve never been and for those to whom it is home. Let’s continue to serve our country with excellence.
