Frances C . Wilson Frances C . Wilson is a retired United States Marine Corps lieutenant general , who served as the 12th President of the National Defense University . Early life and education . Wilson was born in Nassau County , in Long Island , New York to Frances and John Wilson , a United States Air Force officer . Wilson grew up in Arlington County , Virginia and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in social sciences from Michigan State University . Wilson later earned Master degrees in education from Pepperdine University , psychology from the University of Northern Colorado , business management from Salve Regina College , National Security and Strategic Studies from Naval War College , and a Doctor of Education from The University of Southern California . She also completed the U . S . Army Basic Airborne Course , Armed Forces Staff College ' s Joint and Combined Staff Officer School , National Defense University ' s CAPSTONE and PINNACLE courses , Naval Postgraduate School ' s Revolution in Business Practices , and Harvard University ' s JFK School of Government ' s Senior Executive Course in National and International Security . Wilson ' s sister , Mary O ' Donnell is a retired U . S . Coast Guard rear admiral , who in 2000 became the first woman to become a reserve rear admiral in the Coast Guard . At the time of O ' Donnell ' s retirement in 2004 , Wilson and her sister were the highest ranking sisters in the U . S . Military . Career . Commissioned a second lieutenant in November 1972 , she was the Honor Graduate and recipient of the Leadership Award from the United States Marine Corps Women Officer Basic School . As a company grade officer , Wilson served as an Air Traffic Control Officer at Yuma and Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Stations and as an Instructor at Marine Corps Development and Education Center ' s Instructional Management School . Following graduation from Amphibious Warfare School in 1980 , she served as Staff Secretary , 3rd Marine Division , III Marine Amphibious Force . As a field grade officer she was a Company Officer , Brigade of Midshipmen , and an Assistant Professor in the Professional Development Department at the United States Naval Academy . After graduating with the 1985 class of the College of Naval Command and Staff , Naval War College , she reported to the Manpower Plans , Manpower and Reserve Affairs Department , Headquarters Marine Corps as a manpower management analyst . She then served as Special Assistant for General and Flag Officer Matters , Joint Staff , and as Executive Assistant to the Vice Director , Joint Staff . Wilson commanded the Fourth Recruit Training Battalion at Parris Island Recruit Depot from 1988 to 1990 . She then participated in a Federal Executive Fellowship with the Brookings Institution before reporting to the Marine Forces Pacific staff as Requirements and Programs Officer . In July 1993 , she assumed command of Camp H . M . Smith and the Headquarters and Services Battalion , Marine Forces Pacific . Returning to Washington , D . C . , in 1995 , she participated on Roles and Missions Coordination Group , Requirements and Plans , Headquarters Marine Corps before being assigned as Secretary , Joint Staff . Wilson commanded Marine Corps Base Quantico and the 3rd Force Service Support Group , III Marine Expeditionary Force . She then directed Manpower Management Division , Manpower and Reserve Affairs , Headquarters Marine Corps and was the Marine Corps representative to the Secretary of Defense ' s Reserve Force Policy Board . From 2003 to 2006 , she served as Commandant of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces , National Defense University . In 2006 , she was appointed president of the National Defense University . On July 14 , 2006 Wilson was promoted to lieutenant general and assumed her post as the 12th president of the university , succeeding U . S . Air Force Lt . Gen . Michael M . Dunn . In March 2009 , she was awarded the French Legion of Honor in a ceremony presided by French Defense Minister Hervé Morin at the French Embassy in Washington , DC .