Spartan Profiles: Frances Wilson

NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT

            In an era of terrorism and national security concerns, the role of the National Defense University, located in Washington, DC and in Norfolk, VA, has probably risen in importance.  And that task now is in the hands of new NDU president Lt. Gen. Frances Wilson, ’71, the first Marine and first woman to earn that position since the college was founded in 1976. 

            Before becoming president, Wilson had served as Commandant of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces (ICAF), one of NDU’s four colleges.  NDU has emerged as a center for joint, multinational and interagency education, with some 5,500 students preparing to become future military leaders. 

            After MSU, Gen. Wilson was the Honor Graduate and winner of the Leadership Award from the Marine Corps Women Officer Basic School.  She commissioned a Second Lieutenant and rose steadily within the military ranks.  In 1980, she graduated from the Amphibious Warfare School and served in the III Marine Amphibious Force.  In 1985 she graduated from the College of Naval Command and Staff, Naval War College, and worked in several capacities at Marine Corps headquarters. 

            Gen. Wilson commanded the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion at Parris Island Recruit Depot from 1988-1990 and participated in a fellowship with the Brookings Institutions.  In 1993 she assumed command of Camp H. M. Smith, Headquarters and Services Battalion, Marine Forces Pacific.  She returned to Washington, DC, in 1995 and eventually became Secretary of the Joint Staff.  She commanded Marine Corps Base Quantico and the 3 Force Service Support Group, III Marine Expeditionary Force and then directed Manpower Management Division and was the Marine Corps representative to the Secretary of Defense’s Reserve Force Policy Board.  In 2003 she became Commandant of the ICAF.