A native of Rochester, N.Y., Rear Adm. Herbert graduated from the University of Rochester in 1984, receiving her commission through the Navy Reserve Officers Training Corps program. She holds a masters degree in Systems Technology (Space Systems Operations) from the Naval Postgraduate School (1991) and a master’s degree in Military Studies from the Marine Corps Command and Staff College (1998).

During her early assignments, Herbert served within the Integrated Undersea Surveillance System at Naval Facility Bermuda; at commander, Oceanographic Systems Atlantic; and at Naval Ocean Processing Facility, Dam Neck, Va.

Additional shore assignments include satellite communications officer at Headquarters, U.S. Naval Forces Europe; executive officer, Fleet Surveillance Support Command; Joint Command, Control, Communications, Computer, and Intelligence instructor at the Joint Forces Staff College; commanding officer, Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Washington; branch head, Naval Networks for OPNAV N6; and assistant chief of Naval Operations for the Next Generation Enterprise Network.

She also served as director of the Communications, Networks and Chief Information Officer (CIO) Division on the staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance.

Fleet assignments include combat systems officer embarked in USS George Washington (CVN 73) where she deployed to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operations Southern Watch, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom; and assistant chief of staff for Communications and Information Systems (N6) to commander, Carrier Strike Group 7 embarked in USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) where she deployed to the Western Pacific and Arabian Gulf with Ronald Reagan Strike Group.