A native of Oregon, Rear Adm. Norton graduated from Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in General Science, and was commissioned in 1987 as a General Unrestricted Line Officer through Officer Candidate School. She is currently serving as the Director, Command, Control, Communications, and Cyber Directorate, US Pacific Command.
As an Information Professional, Norton has served in information dominance billets at all levels, afloat and ashore. Early assignments were at Naval Communications Area Master Station Eastern Pacific in Hawaii and Naval Telecommunications Center, Fallon, Nevada, where she was the Officer in Charge. She served two tours directing cyber security programs for U.S. Pacific Command, and Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet. She commanded Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Bahrain during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Norton served afloat as C4I officer on the staff of Commander, Cruiser/Destroyer Group 12 in USS Enterprise, completing the 2001 deployment to the North Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea, Arabian Gulf and North Arabian Sea supporting Operation Enduring Freedom immediately following 9/11. She later served as the deputy director for Knowledge Management, on the staff of Commander, Naval Forces Europe and Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet in Naples, Italy, where she was responsible for all Fleet C4 issues afloat and ashore and the Maritime Domain Awareness program in Europe and Africa, and served as the J6 for Joint Task Force Lebanon in 2006.
Navy headquarters assignments include OPNAV N6 as the C4I Requirements Officer integrating Fleet and Shore FORCEnet programs; executive assistant to the Director for C4; the lead for C4ISR and Global Posture issues for the Navy’s 2008 Quadrennial Defense Review office; executive assistant to the N6; and deputy director for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Capabilities in the new N2/N6. She served as executive assistant to the VCNO and then the Chief of Naval Operations from 2010 to 2012.
Norton earned a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from the Naval Postgraduate School and a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, where she was the President’s Honor Graduate.
Personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal. Additionally, she is a recipient of a Navy League Award, Young AFCEAN Award, Copernicus Award and the National Security Agency’s Frank B. Rowlett Award for personal achievement in Information Security.
(as of 28 August 2013)