After a tour in
Washington D.C., Tyson became a
Naval Flight Officer in 1983. She then served three tours in
Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Four (VQ-4) in both
Naval Air Station Patuxent River and
Tinker Air Force Base, one of which as a commanding officer. Other shore duty assignments included serving as a political-military planner and assistant in the Asia-Pacific Division of the Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate for the
Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Director of Staff for the
Commander of Naval Forces Europe, and an executive assistant to the
Chief of Naval Operations. Sea duty for Tyson included serving as a navigator aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the operations officer on the training aircraft carrier . During the ceremony, she stated, "As far as the trailblazing piece, I understand I am the first woman on the job ... but I'm a professional just like my fellow officers are, and my fellow strike group commanders." Carrier Strike Group Two completed its
Composite Unit Training Exercise and Joint Task Force Exercise (JTFEX) predeployment underway training cycle and subsequently departed
Norfolk Naval Base on its 2011 overseas deployment under the command of Tyson on 11 May 2011. The carrier strike group operated with the
United States Sixth Fleet in the
Mediterranean Sea and the
United States Fifth Fleet in the
Persian Gulf, with its aircraft flying missions as part of the
War in Afghanistan. In an August 1, 2011 ceremony on the
George Bush, Tyson was promoted to rear admiral upper half. Former President
George H. W. Bush administered the oath of office to Tyson via videolink from
Kennebunkport, Maine. Tyson served as Vice Director of the
Joint Staff beginning in February 2012. In July 2013 she was promoted to vice admiral and named as Deputy Commander,
United States Fleet Forces Command. In 2015, Tyson was installed as commander of the
Third Fleet, making her the first woman to lead a United States Navy ship fleet. Tyson implemented the '3rd Fleet Forward' initiative announced by CINCPACFLT Admiral
Scott Swift, retaining Third Fleet operational control of forces, including a three-ship SAG and
Carrier Strike Group 1, deployed beyond the hitherto Third Fleet/Seventh Fleet boundary at the
International Date Line. She retired on September 18, 2017. ==Awards and decorations==