Rear Admiral
Kirk A. Foster
U.S. Navy
(Retired)
109th pioneer achievement award Bio
class of 1980
EDUCATION
Rear Admiral Foster is a 1980 graduate of Frankford High School. His father attended Frankford, and his four older brothers graduated from Frankford, as did two sisters-in-law and three nieces.
While at Frankford, Kirk served as Treasurer and then President of the Student Council and was a member of the Thirteen Club. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1984, and earned his Juris Doctor at Villanova University School of Law in 1987.
He was awarded a Masters of Law degree in Environmental Law from George Washington University School of Law in 1997.
George Washington University School of Law
During his time as a law student at Villanova, Kirk was commissioned an Ensign in the Navy’s Judge Advocate General's Corps Student Program, and commenced his active duty service in January of 1988.
SHORE ASSIGNMENTS
During the next 28 years, he served the Navy in a variety of challenging assignments throughout the United States and overseas.
Admiral Foster’s shore assignments included serving as Counsel and Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations in Washington, D.C. As well as...
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Vice Chief of Naval Operations
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Director of the Legislation Division in the Navy’s Office of Legislative Affairs in Washington, DC,
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Commanding Officer, Region Legal Service Office, Southwest (San Diego, CA)
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Executive Assistant to the Judge Advocate General of the Navy
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Regional Environmental Counsel at Naval Mid-Atlantic Region, Norfolk, Virginia.
OPERATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS
Admiral Foster’s operational assignments as a legal advisor include:
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Amphibious Squadron ONE, embarked in USS Tarawa (LHA-1) and deployed to the Western Pacific
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Staff Judge Advocate, Commander, Carrier Group EIGHT, embarked in USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) and deployed to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf
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Force Judge Advocate, Commander, Naval Forces Europe-Commander, United States SIXTH Fleet, based in Naples, Italy
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Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Commander, Multi-National Forces in Baghdad, Iraq
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And Rule of Law Advisor, Office of the Defense Representative to Pakistan, United States Embassy, Islamabad, Pakistan.
OUTSTANDING SERVICE
For his outstanding service to our nation, Admiral Foster earned numerous awards including:
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The Navy Distinguished Service Medal
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Legion of Merit
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Bronze Star Medal
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Defense Meritorious Service Medal
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Meritorious Service Medal
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Joint Service Commendation Medal
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Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal
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Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal
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and various campaign and unit awards.
PRIOR TO RETIREMENT
His most recent assignment was as the Assistant Judge Advocate General of the Navy and Commanding Officer, Naval Civil Law Support Activity.
In July 2016, he retired from the naval service in the rank of Rear Admiral (Lower Half).
THE NEXT CHAPTER
Since retiring from active duty in October 2016, Rear Admiral Foster has supported a number of non-profit organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors of Navy Federal Credit Union, (the nation’s largest credit union), and on the boards of the Navy League National Capital Council and the Judge Advocates Association.
He also serves as an advisor to several military service organizations including the McGrail Scholarship Foundation, the Kaplan Family Service Foundation, and the Our Community Salutes Foundation.