General Officer Biography

BRIGADIER GENERAL VAN P. WILLIAMS JR.

Retired


Brigadier General Van P. Williams Jr. is assistant adjutant general for air and commander of the Alaska Air National Guard Anchorage, Alaska. His responsibilities include articulating a vision, setting goals/objectives, developing leaders, and providing a healthy and equitable environment in which people can serve. He oversees the recruiting, retention, and training of over 2150 Air Guard members in two flying wings equipped with 8 airlift C-130H, 4 rescue HC-130H (N), 6 rescue HH-60, and 8 KC-135R aircraft for in-state and worldwide deployment.

General Williams enlisted in the Air Force in June 1966 and served on active duty until April 1970, which included a tour in the Republic of Vietnam. He joined the Air National Guard (ANG) in Van Nuys, California, in April 1970. In December of 1973, he graduated from the ANG Academy of Military Science as a distinguished graduate and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He transferred to the Alaska Air National Guard, Kulis ANG Base, in June 1981. He was commander of both the 176th Wing and 168th Air Refueling Wing in the Alaska Air National Guard prior to being assigned to his present position. He is a command pilot with more than 6,000 flying hours.

EDUCATION:

1977 Bachelor of arts degree in management, University of La Verne, La Verne, Calif.
1979 Master of science degree in management, University of La Verne, La Verne, Calif.
1984 Air Command and Staff College, by correspondence
1986 Air War College, by correspondence

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. January 1974 - March 1975, undergraduate pilot training, Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.
2. March 1975 - June 1981, C-130B/E co-pilot, pilot, instructor pilot, flight examiner, Van Nuys Air National Guard Base, Calif. 
3. June 1981 - March 1989, C-130E/H flight examiner, chief of safety, chief of standardization/evaluation, command post chief, Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska
4. March 1989 - October 1990, C-130B/E/H pilot, Air National Guard liaison to Southern Command, Howard Air Force Base, Panama
5. October 1990 - October 1996, KC-135D/E/R pilot, deputy commander for maintenance, vice wing 
commander and commander, 168th Air Refueling Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska
6. October 1996 - present, C-130H pilot, 176th Wing commander, Kulis Air National Guard Base, Alaska 
8. September 2002 - present, assistant adjutant general for air, Alaska Air National Guard

FLIGHT INFORMATION:

Rating:  Command pilot
Flight hours:  More than 6,100
Aircraft flown:  C-130B/E/H, KC-135D/E/R
Pilot wings from:  Columbus Air Force Base, Miss.

MAJOR AWARDS AND DECORATIONS:

Legion of Merit
Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Commendation Medal 
Air Force Achievement Medal
Air Force Presidential Unit Citation
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor and three oak leaf clusters
Combat Readiness Medal with four oak leaf clusters
Air Force Good Conduct Medal
National Defense Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal
Vietnam Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters
Air Force Overseas Service Ribbon - Long Tour
Air Force Longevity Service Award with seven oak leaf clusters
Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one oak leaf cluster
Air Force Training Ribbon with one oak leaf cluster
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with one oak leaf cluster
Vietnam Campaign Medal

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION:

Second Lieutenant Dec 13, 1973
First Lieutenant Feb 17, 1976
Captain Mar 4, 1978
Major Aug 8, 1982
Lieutenant Colonel Aug 8, 1986
Colonel Dec 29, 1992
Brigadier General Mar 2, 1998 

(Current as of January 2004)


The date of publication indicated on this biography reflects the most recent update. It does not necessarily reflect the date of printing.

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