Ted Carter
Carter in 2015
17th President of Ohio State University
In office 1 January 2024 – 9 March 2026
Preceded by	Peter Mohler (acting)
Succeeded by	Ravi V. Bellamkonda
8th President of the University of Nebraska System
In office 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2023
Preceded by	Hank M. Bounds
Succeeded by	Jeffrey P. Gold
62nd Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy
In office 23 July 2014 – 26 July 2019
Preceded by	Michael H. Miller
Succeeded by	Sean Buck
54th President of the Naval War College
In office 2 July 2013 – 8 July 2014
Preceded by	John N. Christenson
Succeeded by	P. Gardner Howe, III
Personal details
Born	Walter Edward Carter Jr. (1959-11-04) 4 November 1959 (age 66) Newport, Rhode Island, U.S.
Spouse	Lynda Kohlhepp Carter (m. 1979)
Education	United States Naval Academy (BS)
Nickname	Slapshot
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Navy
Years of service	1981–2019
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands	U.S. Naval War College Carrier Strike Group Twelve Joint Enabling Capabilities Command, USJFCOM USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) USS Camden (AOE-2) VF-14 Tophatters
Battles/wars	Operation Desert Shield Operation Desert Storm Operation Enduring Freedom Operation Iraqi Freedom Operation Southern Watch Operation Allied Force
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal (2) Legion of Merit (3) Distinguished Flying Cross (with valor) Bronze Star Defense Meritorious Service Medal Meritorious Service Medal (4) Air Medal (3, 2 with valor and 5 Strike/Flight) Navy Commendation Medal (5, 2 with valor) Joint Service Achievement Medal

Walter Edward "Ted" Carter Jr. (born 4 November 1959) is an American academic administrator and highly decorated 38 year active duty Naval Flight Officer who retired as a United States Navy vice admiral in 2019.

Carter served as the 8th president of the University of Nebraska system from 2019 to 2023, He became the 17th president of The Ohio State University in Jan 2024, retiring from Ohio State University after serving 2 plus years. .

Carter was the 62nd superintendent of the United States Naval Academy from 2014 to 2019, and the 54th president of the United States Naval War College from 2013 to 2014.

He has a record number of flights with carrier-arrested landings for his role as a naval flight officer in fighter-bombers and other aircraft in operations in Bosnia, Kuwait, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Carter was born on 4 November 1959 to Walter and Dorothy Carter^[1] and raised in Burrillville, Rhode Island. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1981, was designated a naval flight officer in 1982, and graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School (Topgun) in 1985. While at USNA, Carter majored in physics and oceanography, lettered in ice hockey 4 years (team captain in 1981), and was editor in chief of the USNA satirical magazine, The LOG, from 1979 to 1981. He is a graduate of the Air War College intermediate course, as well as the Armed Forces Staff College.^[2]

His career as a flight officer includes sea assignments in Fighter Squadron 161 (VF-161) on board USS Midway (CVA-41) in Carrier Air Wing Five (CVW-5) and in the VF-21 "Freelancers" on board USS Independence (CV-62) with Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14). He commanded the VF-14 "Tophatters", and served as Executive Officer of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), culminating in command of USS Camden (AOE-2) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). His subsequent fleet-command assignment was commander of the Enterprise Carrier Strike Group / Carrier Strike Group Twelve (CSG-12) during Big E's final deployment as a 51-year-old aircraft carrier.^[2]

Carter accumulated 6,150 flight hours as a Mission Commander in the back seat of F-4, F-14, and F/A-18 aircraft during his career and flew with pilots, safely achieving 2,016 carrier-arrested landings, the record among all active and retired U.S. Naval Aviation designators. He also flew on 125 combat missions in support of joint operations in Bosnia, Kuwait, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.^[2]

Shore assignments include instructor duty in VF-124 "Gunfighters"; chief of staff for Fighter Wing Pacific; executive assistant to the Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command; chief of staff for Joint Warfighting Center, United States Joint Forces Command; and commander, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command where he also served as lead for the Transition Planning Team during the disestablishment of U.S. Joint Forces Command. Prior to becoming president of the Naval War College, Carter led Task Force RESILIENT as director, 21st Century Sailor Office (N17). He became the 54th president of the Naval War College on 2 July 2013.^[2]

On 23 July 2014, Carter relieved Vice Admiral Michael H. Miller, becoming the 62nd superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy.^[3] He was succeeded by Sean Buck on 26 July 2019.^[4]

After retiring from the Navy in 2019, Carter became the 8th president of the University of Nebraska System on 1 January 2020.^[5] During his successful four-year tenure at Nebraska, he increased enrollments by making more financial aid available to low- and middle-income Nebraskans and implemented a multi-year budget plan that included a two-year, across-the-board tuition freeze..^[6] After a Highly successful 4 year tenure the Board of Regents bestowed President Emeritus status to Carter.

.^[7] _{He became the 17th president of The Ohio State University in Jan 2024, retiring from Ohio State University after serving 2 plus years. He set the tone to create better pathways for military veterans to attend OSU thru mentoring thousands of active duty/national guard personnel and their families. Carter also created the highly successful accessibility program in 2026, providing free tuition through "The Buckeye Bridge" for all graduates from Columbus State Community College. He designed, built, and received Board of Trustee approval for the 10 year strategic plan called "Education for Citizenship 2035".}

Response to pro-Palestinian campus protests:

On 29 April 2024, after the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on Ohio State's campus, Carter released a campus statement saying that, in part, "What occurred on our campus on April 25 was not about limiting free speech. It was an intentional violation of university space rules that exist so that teaching, learning, research, service and patient care can occur on our campuses without interruption."^[8]

In 1999, Carter was awarded the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership.^[2]

In 2008, Carter was appointed an Honorary Master Chief by the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.^[2]

In 2009, Carter received the U.S. Navy League's John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership.^[2]

In 2014, Carter was inducted into the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame.^[9]

In 2015, Carter was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.^[10]

In 2019, Carter received the USS MIDWAY's Patriot Award in honor of the 50th Anniversary of TOPGUN.^[11]

In 2022, Carter received the U.S. Naval Academy's Distinguished Graduate Award.^[12] He is one of the youngest graduates to receive the award since its inception.

In 2025, Carter was awarded the U.S. Naval War College Foundation's Sentinel of the Sea Award. It is the Naval War Collge's highest distinction.

 This article incorporates public domain material from Vice Admiral Walter E. Carter, Jr. United States Navy.

Media related to Walter E. Carter Jr. at Wikimedia Commons

• The REAL Truth About Being an Admiral on YouTube – interview with Walter Carter
• Everything You Didn't Know About Commanding an Aircraft Carrier on YouTube – interview with Walter Carter
• Everything You Didn't Know About Taking the F-14 Tomcat to War on YouTube – interview with Walter Carter
• Deep Intel on the REAL Consecutive Miracles Strike on YouTube – interview with Walter Carter