Kathy Charette

Last updated Aug 14, 2008

Kathy M. Charette

Captain United States Marine Corps, Retired

1979 - 2003

Captain Charette (former Kathy Garrison) was born in Pennsylvania. She attended primary and secondary schools in Manheim, PA. She enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1979. Her formal military education includes: Basic, NCO, SNCO and Senior Food Service Schools, NCO and SNCO Academy’s, Warrant Officer Basic School, Quality Assurance Evaluator, Contracting Officer’s Representative Course, Defense Small Purchase Course, Warfighting Course, and Amphibious Warfare Course. She graduated Honor Graduate from the NCO and SNCO Food Service Schools and NCO Academy.

After completion of recruit training in Parris Island, she served as a cook and baker in 1^st Force Service Support Group, Camp Pendleton, CA. During this time, she participated in several Combined Arms Exercise Training, Twentynine Palms, CA.

Upon re-enlistment in 1983, she was assigned to Camp Lejeune, NC as Chief Cook and Subsistence NCO. Promoted to Sergeant, she was assigned as a Food Service Quality Assurance Evaluator and Contracting Officer’s Representative for mess hall contracts. In 1989, she was assigned to Iwakuni, Japan as Food Service Operations Chief and shortly thereafter promoted to Staff Sergeant.

Attending Warrant Officer Basic School in 1991, she was then assigned as the Officer-In-Charge of Instruction, Food Service School, Camp Lejeune. During this period, CWO2 Charette also served as the Academics Officer and Executive Officer and was selected as Onslow County Armed Forces Service Women of the Year for the Eastern Division. In 1995, CWO3 Charette was assigned as the Food Service Officer, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, CA. During July 2000, she was assigned as Operations Officer, Marine Corps Food Service Program, Installation and Logistics, Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington D.C. She retired from the Marine Corps on December 31, 2003.

Her personal decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars; Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with two Gold Stars; Good Conduct Medal with three Bronze stars and National Defense Medal with Bronze Star.

Capt Charette is married to CWO5 “Gunner” Richard Charette of Three Rivers, MA. They have two sons, Ensign Nicholas Fleming, and Joseph; three daughters Karen, Kelly and Shaunda.