Frances C. Wilson

Frances Carlotta Wilson is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general, who served as the 12th president of the National Defense University.

Early life and education Wilson was born in Nassau County, in Long Island, New York, to Frances and John Wilson, a United States Air Force officer.

Wilson grew up in Arlington County, Virginia, She also completed the United States Army Basic Airborne Course, Armed Forces Staff College's Joint and Combined Staff Officer School, National Defense University's CAPSTONE and PINNACLE courses, Naval Postgraduate School's Revolution in Business Practices, and Harvard University's JFK School of Government's Senior Executive Course in National and International Security.

Wilson's sister, Mary O'Donnell is a retired United States Coast Guard rear admiral, who in 2000 became the first woman to become a reserve rear admiral in the Coast Guard. At the time of O'Donnell's retirement in 2004, Wilson and her sister were the highest ranking sisters in the United States Military. In March 2009, she was awarded the French Legion of Honor in a ceremony presided by French Defense Minister Hervé Morin at the French embassy in Washington, D.C. Wilson retired from active military service on September 1, 2009.

Awards and decorations Medals and ribbons

Basic Parachutist InsigniaNavy Distinguished Service Medal |Defense Superior Service Medal w/ oak leaf clusterDefense Meritorious Service MedalMeritorious Service MedalNavy and Marine Corps Commendation MedalNavy and Marine Corps Achievement MedalJoint Meritorious Unit Award w/ oak leak clusterNavy Meritorious Unit Commendation w/ 3 service starsNational Defense Service Medal w/ 2 service starsGlobal War on Terrorism Service MedalKorea Defense Service MedalNavy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon w/ 2 service starsMarine Corps Drill Instructor RibbonLegion of Honor, OfficerOffice of the Secretary of Defense Identification BadgeOffice of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge