Rear Adm. Carol Lynch is a native of Fall River, Massachusetts. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, in 1981 and her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, in 1984. She entered active duty in 1986. Her active duty assignments included Naval Legal Service Office (NLSO), Newport, Rhode Island, as legal assistance attorney and defense counsel; USS Lexington (AVT 16) as the legal officer; NLSO Pensacola, Florida, as the Personnel Services (Defense and Legal Assistance) Department head, the Claims Department head and the Command Services Department head. She also served as special assistant United States attorney (SAUSA) for the Northwest District of Florida. Lynch transitioned to the Navy Reserve component in 1993 and since then has served in a variety of Navy Reserve Law Program community management positions and Selected Reserve billets. She had two command tours with Navy Reserve (NR) Navy Judge Advocate General (NAVJAG) 108 in support of the Criminal Law Division of the Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG) and with NR Navy and Marine Corps Appellate Review Activity (NAMARA) Defense. Her post command tours were as staff judge advocate for Navy Region Southeast Reserve Component Command and as the Reserve Deputy Force judge advocate for Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command and the Navy Reserve Law Program Military Justice Pillar lead. Her other reserve assignments were as executive officer, NR Civil Law Support Activity 108 in support of the Legal Assistance Division of OJAG, and with the Personnel Mobilization Team (PERSMOBTEAM) and NR Legal Service Office (LSO) Central. She assumed duties as deputy judge advocate general (reserve affairs and operations) and deputy commander, Naval Legal Service Command in October 2016. Her personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), Navy Commendation Medal (two awards) and the Navy Achievement Medal (three awards). In civilian practice, she is counsel, Naval Education and Training Command, and is licensed to practice law in Florida and Massachusetts.