Walter E. Carter Jr.

Walter Edward "Ted" Carter Jr. (born 4 November 1959) is an American academic administrator and retired United States Navy vice admiral. He has been serving as the 17th and current president of The Ohio State University since January 2024. Carter previously served as the 8th president of the University of Nebraska system from 2020 to 2023, 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 piloting fighter-bombers and other aircraft in operations in Bosnia, Kuwait, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Early life and education
Carter was born on 4 November 1959, and raised in Burrillville, Rhode Island. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1981, was designated a naval flight officer in 1982, and graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapons School in 1985. While at USNA, Carter majored in 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.

United States Navy
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.

Carter accumulated 6,150 flight hours in the back seat of F-4, F-14, and F/A-18 aircraft during his career and safely accompanied pilots in 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.

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.

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

Post-naval career
After retiring from the Navy in 2019, Carter became the 8th president of the University of Nebraska System.

On 22 August 2023, Carter was announced as the 17th President of The Ohio State University. His tenure began on 1 January 2024.

Board service
In April 2023, Carter was named as a Commissioner for the Council on Higher Education as a Strategic Asset.

In March 2023, Carter was elected to the American Council on Education's Board of Directors.

In 2022, Carter was named to the Executive Committee of the Council on Competitiveness.

Response to pro-Palestinian campus protests
On 29 April 2024, after the Gaza Solidarity Encampment on Ohio State's campus, Carter released a public statement directed toward students, faculty, and staff saying, "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." In an op-ed, former OSU Professor Dr. Keith Kilty made a number of criticisms against Carter and suggested he resign immediately.

Awards and decorations
In 1999, Carter was awarded the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership.

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

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

In 2014, Carter was inducted into the Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame.

In 2015, Carter was inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.

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

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