Tracy L. Garrett

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.