Fitzgerald was born in Winchester, Massachusetts, and graduated from Northeastern University, where he was a member of the Army ROTC program, in June 1973.

He assumed command of Carrier Air Wing 14 (1994–95) while deployed to the Persian Gulf in USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) supporting Operation Southern Watch.

Fitzgerald's shore tours include VA-174 Landing Signal Officer (1979–82), Naval Maritime Intelligence Center, SPEAR (1991–92), and Executive Assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (1996–98).

He holds a master's degree in Aeronautical Systems Engineering from the University of West Florida (1975) and attended the Naval War College (1983–84).

Fitzgerald was relieved as commander of USNAVEUR, USNAVAF & JFC Naples by Admiral Samuel J. Locklear on October 6, 2010.