Admiral Henry G. (Harry) Ulrich III,  USN (Ret.), Former Commander, US Naval Forces Europe, US Navy

 

Admiral H.G. “Harry” Ulrich, III, USN (retired) pioneered the Global Maritime Domain Awareness movement during his 35-year naval career. Recognized worldwide as one of the field’s definitive thought leaders, he is also sought after for his expertise and keen insight into the political and military spheres of Africa, the Balkans and Southern Europe. 

A native of Southampton, Pennsylvania, Ulrich received his commission from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1972. He served in a broad range of sea and shore assignments, including seven sea tours with units of the Atlantic Fleet, and eight deployments to South America, West Africa, the Arabian Gulf, and Northern and Southern Europe. 

Stateside, Ulrich served on the staffs of the Joint Chiefs and the Chief of Naval Operations; as Director of Cruise Missile Plans and Policy; and as Director of Surface Warfare. In 2001, he was selected to reshape how the Navy trained its personnel as Commander, Task Force EXCEL (Excellence through Commitment to Education and Learning). Ulrich’s leadership culminated in the creation and implementation of ground-breaking tools and processes that significantly raised the quality of training and output for sailors, and ultimately, the U.S. Navy’s war-fighting capabilities. 

Ulrich’s final tour was as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe (COMNAVEUR) and Commander, Allied Joint Forces Command Naples (JFCN). As COMNAVEUR, Ulrich provided overall command, operational control and coordination of U.S. Naval forces in the European and African Command area of responsibility. As Commander, JFCN, he had operational responsibility for NATO missions in the Balkans, Iraq and the Mediterranean.

Prior to assuming this assignment, Ulrich served simultaneously as Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet; Commander, Naval Striking and Support Forces North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); and Commander, Allied Joint Command Lisbon.
Admiral Ulrich holds a Master of Science in Physics from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and has completed studies at the National War College in Washington, D.C. He is a Distinguished Fellow at the CNA Corporation and is a Director at the Atlantic Council and Oto Melara (North America).  He is a member of the Board of Advisors for Engility Corporation.