RICHMOND, Virginia (May 23, 2019) - Lt. Cmdr. Michael Williams, a native of Ocala, Florida, and executive officer, Navy Operational Support Center - Richmond, Virginia, retired after 26 years of active duty service May 18, 2019, while being awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.
Williams is a 1993 graduate of Vanguard High School and the son of Gwendolyn and Oland Williams and father of Marquis and Warrick.
"Dreams without goals are just dreams and ultimately fuel disappointment, so have dreams but also have goals," said Williams.
Williams entered the Navy in 1993 on Active duty. He completed Aviation Ordnanceman School in 1993 and served as an Aviation Ordnanceman on the USS Guam (LPH-9), NOB Norfolk, Virginia. He was command advanced to Third Class during his first enlistment. After his first enlistment of four and half years he was honorable discharged in 1997 where he joined the Reserves attached to the USS John F. Kennedy in Mayport, Florida. While enlisted he held the distinction of qualifying both Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. He then proceeded to Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida where he was selected for the Bachelor Degree Completion Program where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in and Education and minor in Mathematics in 2000.
Following graduation in August 2000, he proceeded to Officer Candidates School (OCS) in Pensacola, Florida where he graduated from OCS as a Surface Warfare Officer December 2000. He then proceeded to his first commissioned duty station in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he was assigned to the USS Hopper (DDG-70). His assignments included Electronic Warfare Officer, Auxiliary Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer. While onboard he qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer. He was also the Gun Liaison Officer (GLO) for the 5’ 54 during all gun shots while onboard as well part of the Visit Board Search and Seizure team onboard Hopper in the Persian Gulf in 2002.
Leaving the Hopper in 2002, he proceeded to the USS Chancellorsville (CG-70) in Yokosuka, Japan where his assignments included the Assistant Operations Officer, Damage Control Assistant, Main Propulsion Assistant and Assistant Chief Engineer. He qualified as Engineer of the Watch and Anti-Air Warfare Coordinator. In 2005 he proceeded to Personal Support Activity Atlantic where he was the Training and Quality Assurance Officer for all the PS and YN transition and processes for the East Coast. During his shore tour he completed his First Master’s Degree from University of Phoenix in Education and Training. He also completed his Joint Professional Military Education (JPME I) and a Second Master’s Degree from the Navy War College through the Fleet Seminar Program. In 2006 he Lateral transferred to the Human Resource Designator. In 2007 he proceeded to Navy Recruiting District Denver as the Enlisted Program Officer (EPO) in Denver, Colorado in 2007. During his tour he transformed one of the worst districts in Enlisted Recruiting to the Nations #1 District in the Nation for Recruiting. While assigned in Denver he completed his Second Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Colorado State University in 2009.
"Dreams without goals are just dreams and ultimately fuel disappointment, so have dreams but also have goals," said Williams.
Williams entered the Navy in 1993 on Active duty. He completed Aviation Ordnanceman School in 1993 and served as an Aviation Ordnanceman on the USS Guam (LPH-9), NOB Norfolk, Virginia. He was command advanced to Third Class during his first enlistment. After his first enlistment of four and half years he was honorable discharged in 1997 where he joined the Reserves attached to the USS John F. Kennedy in Mayport, Florida. While enlisted he held the distinction of qualifying both Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist and Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. He then proceeded to Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida where he was selected for the Bachelor Degree Completion Program where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in and Education and minor in Mathematics in 2000.
Following graduation in August 2000, he proceeded to Officer Candidates School (OCS) in Pensacola, Florida where he graduated from OCS as a Surface Warfare Officer December 2000. He then proceeded to his first commissioned duty station in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he was assigned to the USS Hopper (DDG-70). His assignments included Electronic Warfare Officer, Auxiliary Officer, and Assistant Operations Officer. While onboard he qualified as a Surface Warfare Officer. He was also the Gun Liaison Officer (GLO) for the 5’ 54 during all gun shots while onboard as well part of the Visit Board Search and Seizure team onboard Hopper in the Persian Gulf in 2002.
Leaving the Hopper in 2002, he proceeded to the USS Chancellorsville (CG-70) in Yokosuka, Japan where his assignments included the Assistant Operations Officer, Damage Control Assistant, Main Propulsion Assistant and Assistant Chief Engineer. He qualified as Engineer of the Watch and Anti-Air Warfare Coordinator. In 2005 he proceeded to Personal Support Activity Atlantic where he was the Training and Quality Assurance Officer for all the PS and YN transition and processes for the East Coast. During his shore tour he completed his First Master’s Degree from University of Phoenix in Education and Training. He also completed his Joint Professional Military Education (JPME I) and a Second Master’s Degree from the Navy War College through the Fleet Seminar Program. In 2006 he Lateral transferred to the Human Resource Designator. In 2007 he proceeded to Navy Recruiting District Denver as the Enlisted Program Officer (EPO) in Denver, Colorado in 2007. During his tour he transformed one of the worst districts in Enlisted Recruiting to the Nations #1 District in the Nation for Recruiting. While assigned in Denver he completed his Second Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Colorado State University in 2009.
In 2011, he left active duty and proceeded to the Selective Reserves where his assignments included Executive Officer of Operational Support Unit and Volunteer Transit Unit in Jacksonville, Florida and Manpower Human Resource Officer for COMNAV Six Fleet Det in Marietta, Georgia. In December of 2011, he was selected as Commanding Officer of the Navy Reserve Navy Pay and Personnel Support Center Detachment B, Jacksonville, Florida for NOSC Jacksonville. In 2012, he mobilized 8 months to Afghanistan working as Convoy Operations OIC mission commander conducting Key Leadership Engagements for the Afghanistan Public Protection Force. In 2013, after returning he preceded to NOSC Atlanta as the Commanding Officer of Operational Support Unit 0867 in Marietta, Georgia. In 2014, he was re-assigned as Deputy J1 for Joint Task Force (JTF) Guantanamo Bay Cuba where he was in charge of Manpower and Personnel for the Joint Manning Document for over 2,000 personnel assigned to the JTF. In fall of 2014 he was selected to the Human Resource Full Time Support community and re-assigned as the Operations Officer for Navy Recruiting District Michigan as the Operations Officer where led his recruiting team to earn the Recruiting Bronze “R” award in 2016; the first time in 4 years. In 2017, Williams was assigned to Navy Operational Support Center as the executive officer in Richmond, Virginia.
Lt. Cmdr. Williams’s personal awards include Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (2 awards), Army Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (3 awards), Navy Unit Commendation Medal, and various service and unit awards.