Robert F. Willard

Last updated

Robert F. Willard
ADM Robert F. Willard.jpg
Born (1950-12-05) December 5, 1950 (age 73)
Bell, California, U.S.
Service/branch United States Navy
Years of service1973–2012
Rank Admiral
Commands U.S. Pacific Command
U.S. Pacific Fleet
U.S. Seventh Fleet
Carrier Strike Group 5
USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72)
USS Tripoli (LPH-10)
VF-51 Screaming Eagles
Awards Defense Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (4)
Meritorious Service Medal (3)
Navy Commendation Medal (4)

Robert Frederick Willard [1] is a retired United States Navy admiral who last served as the 22nd Commander, U.S. Pacific Command from October 19, 2009 [2] to March 9, 2012. He previously served as Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet from May 8, 2007, to September 25, 2009. [3] [4] Prior to that, he served as the 34th Vice Chief of Naval Operations from March 18, 2005, to April 2007. On March 9, 2012, Admiral Willard retired from the Navy after 39 years of service. On May 9, 2012, he was elected president and chief executive officer of the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, succeeding retired Navy admiral James O. Ellis Jr.

Contents

Willard renders a salute as he passes through the sideboys at the U.S. Pacific Fleet change of command ceremony, September 25, 2009. Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet change of command ceremony DVIDS207571.jpg
Willard renders a salute as he passes through the sideboys at the U.S. Pacific Fleet change of command ceremony, September 25, 2009.
Willard receives a command coin from Lieutenant General Chu Tien Cuong during a visit to USNS Mercy (T-AH 19). US Navy 100608-N-6410J-104 Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, receives a command coin from People's Army of Vietnam Lt. Gen. Chu Tien Cuong during their visit to the Military Sealift Command hospital shi.jpg
Willard receives a command coin from Lieutenant General Chu Tien Cuong during a visit to USNS Mercy (T-AH 19).

Willard is a Los Angeles native. In 1969, he graduated from East Longmeadow High School [ citation needed ] in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Naval Academy in 1973. He also holds a Master of Science degree in engineering management from Old Dominion University and was a fellow at MIT Seminar XXI.

An F-14 naval aviator, Willard served consecutively in Fighter Squadron 24 (VF-24), Fighter Squadron 124 (VF-124), and Fighter Squadron 2 (VF-2) at NAS Miramar, deploying aboard USS Constellation (CV-64), USS Ranger (CV-61), and USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63). He then joined Navy Fighter Weapons School Top Gun as Operations Officer and Executive Officer, as well as aerial coordinator for the Paramount film Top Gun .

In 1987, Willard reported to Fighter Squadron 51 (VF-51), where he served as executive officer and commanding officer of the Screaming Eagles, embarked in USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70). He subsequently attended Navy Nuclear Power Training before rejoining Carl Vinson as Executive Officer. Willard then commanded the flagships USS Tripoli (LPH-10) and USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) in various operations including Somalia, and the Persian Gulf.

As a flag officer, Willard has served on the Joint Staff as Deputy Director for Operations (Current Readiness and Capabilities); Commander. In 1998–1999, he attended MIT Seminar XXI. [5] He also served on Carrier Group Five embarked in USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63); Deputy and Chief of Staff, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Commander, Seventh Fleet, embarked in USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) in Yokosuka, Japan; and Director for Force Structure, Resources and Assessment (DJ8) on the Joint Chiefs of Staff. From March 2005 to April 2007, Willard was the 34th Vice Chief of Naval Operations. After, he was the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet from May 8, 2007, until September 25, 2009, when he was relieved by Admiral Patrick M. Walsh. As the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, he was responsible for the world's largest fleet command, encompassing 100,000,000 square miles (260,000,000 km2) and more than 170 ships and submarines, 1,300 aircraft, and 122,000 Sailors, Reservists and civilians.

He was named a Distinguished Graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy in late 2018. [6]

Willard appeared in and was a consultant for the 1986 film Top Gun . He pilots the “MiG-28” that receives "the bird" from Goose and Maverick.[ citation needed ]

In March 2010, a video in which Rep. Hank Johnson expressed his concern to Willard that the island of Guam might "capsize" and "tip over" due to overpopulation of military equipment and personnel went viral, garnering hundreds of thousands of views from thehill.com, hotair.com and latimes.com and was ultimately seen over three million times. [7] Willard reassured the Congressman, "we don't anticipate that", for which he received wide popular admiration. [8] [9] [10]

Awards and decorations

Naval Aviator Badge.jpg
United States Pacific Command.png
Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg Defense Distinguished Service Medal
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg
Navy Distinguished Service Medal with 2 golden award stars
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Legion of Merit ribbon.svg
Legion of Merit with 3 award stars
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg
Meritorious Service Medal with 2 award stars
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
1 golden star.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg
Navy Commendation Medal with 3 award stars
Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg Navy Achievement Medal
Joint Meritorious Unit Award-3d.svg Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg Navy Unit Commendation
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with 1 bronze service star
Battle Effectiveness Award ribbon, 3rd award.svg Navy "E" Ribbon w/ 3 Battle E devices
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg
National Defense Service Medal with 2 bronze service stars
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg
Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 3 bronze service stars
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Vietnam Service Medal ribbon.svg
Vietnam Service Medal with 1 bronze service star
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg
Southwest Asia Service Medal with 1 bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
Korea Defense Service ribbon.svg Korea Defense Service Medal
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Silver-service-star-3d.svg
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg
Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 1 silver and 1 bronze service star
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Ribbonstar-bronze.svg
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon.svg
Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with 3 bronze service stars
JPN Kyokujitsu-sho 1Class BAR.svg Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (Japan, 1st class, Kyokujitsu-Daijusho (旭日大綬章)) [1]
AUS Order of Australia (military) BAR.svg Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia (Military Division) [11]
United States Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon with expert device.svg Navy Expert Rifleman Medal
United States Navy Pistol Marksmanship Ribbon with expert device.svg Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forrest Sherman</span> United States Navy admiral

Forrest Percival Sherman was an admiral in the United States Navy and the youngest person to serve as Chief of Naval Operations until Admiral Elmo Zumwalt in 1970. The Forrest Sherman-class destroyer and the airfield at Naval Air Station Pensacola were named for him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael H. Miller</span> United States Navy Vice Admiral

Michael Harold "Mike" Miller is a former Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, and was the first active-duty officer to direct the White House Military Office. He was the 61st Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas B. Hayward</span> Chief of Naval Operations for the United States Navy

Admiral Thomas Bibb Hayward was Chief of Naval Operations for the United States Navy from July 1, 1978, until June 30, 1982, after which he retired from military service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John B. Nathman</span> United States Navy admiral

John B. Nathman is a retired United States Navy admiral who served as the Commander, United States Fleet Forces Command until 17 May 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James O. Ellis</span> American naval and air officer, aerospace executive and energy expert

Admiral James Oren Ellis Jr. is a retired 4-star admiral and former Commander, United States Strategic Command, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. He was President and Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations until May 2012. He joined the board of directors of Lockheed Martin in 2004, and served until 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richard J. Naughton</span>

Rear Admiral Richard Joseph Naughton was the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy from 2002 to 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph A. Ofstie</span> American admiral (1897–1956)

Ralph Andrew Ofstie was a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, an escort carrier commander in World War II, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air), and Commander of the U.S. Sixth Fleet. He was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and his hometown was Everett, Washington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerald R. Beaman</span> United States admiral

Gerald Roger Beaman is a retired Vice Admiral in the United States Navy and an ex Special Agent with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas H. Copeman III</span>

Thomas Henry Copeman III is a retired officer of the United States Navy. In mid-2009 he was appointed commandant of the Guantanamo Bay detention camps, in Cuba. His final assignment was as Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific from July 2012 to August 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Kilcline Jr.</span>

Thomas John Kilcline Jr. is a retired vice admiral of the United States Navy who served as Commander, Naval Air Forces from June 22, 2007, to July 1, 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frederick T. Moore Jr.</span> United States Navy officer (active 1937–1969)

Frederick T. Moore Jr. was a United States Navy captain. During World War II, he was executive officer of Fighter Squadron 1 operating off the carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10) and commanding officer of the Air Group 35 aboard the aircraft carrier USS Chenango in the Pacific. During the Korean War, he was the commanding officer of naval air training at NAS Pensacola and the air officer on USS Coral Sea. His first sea command was aboard USS Suribachi. In 1962–1963, Moore was the eighth commanding officer of USS Saratoga. Late in his career during the Vietnam War, he was Chief of Staff of the Naval Air Training Command at Naval Air Station Pensacola from October 1965 to July 1969.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse A. Wilson Jr.</span> United States rear admiral

Rear Admiral Jesse Alphonzo Wilson Jr. is a retired United States Navy officer. His last active duty assignment was as commander of Naval Surface Force Atlantic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donald C. Davis</span>

Donald Cooke Davis was a Naval Aviator and later an admiral in the United States Navy. He was Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet from 1978 to 1981.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbert D. Riley</span> United States Navy admiral

Herbert Douglas Riley was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of Vice admiral. A United States Naval Academy graduate, he trained as naval aviator and distinguished himself first as commanding officer of the escort carrier USS Makassar Strait during the combats at Iwo Jima and Okinawa during World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John J. Donnelly</span> American submarine officer

Vice Admiral John Jay Donnelly is a retired American submarine officer. A graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy class of 1975, he retired in 2010 after 35 years of service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joseph Aucoin</span> United States Navy officer

Joseph P. Aucoin is a retired officer of the United States Navy and former commander of the United States Seventh Fleet.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William R. Merz</span> U.S. Navy admiral

William Rhode Merz is a retired United States Navy vice admiral who last served as deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy from August 6, 2021 to October 7, 2022. He previously served as commander of U. S. Seventh Fleet from 2019 to 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Randy B. Crites</span> U.S. Navy Vice admiral

Randy B. Crites is a retired vice admiral of the United States Navy. He last served as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources from May 15, 2020, to 2023. He previously served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Budget, and as director of the Fiscal Management Division in Washington, D.C., until he was promoted to the rank of vice admiral in 2020. Prior he served as the Director of OPNAV N81 Assessments Division, as Director of the Maritime Headquarters at United States Pacific Fleet, as Commander Submarine Group 10, and as Commanding officer of USS West Virginia (SSBN-736) and USS Florida (SSGN-728).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenneth R. Whitesell</span>

Kenneth Ray Whitesell is a retired vice admiral in the United States Navy, and the past Commander, Naval Air Forces. He retired on September 7, 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael A. Brookes</span> US Navy officer (born May 27, 1965)

Michael A. Brookes is a United States Navy rear admiral who serves as the director of the National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office and commander of the Office of Naval Intelligence. He previously served as the director of intelligence of the U.S. Southern Command and U.S. Strategic Command.

References

  1. 1 2 "外務省: 外国人叙勲受章者名簿 平成24年". www.mofa.go.jp.
  2. "U.S. Department of Defense". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  3. U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs (May 17, 2007). "Williard assumes command of U.S. Pacific Fleet". The Dolphin.
  4. MCC(SW) Stefanie Sealy (September 25, 2009). "Walsh Takes Helm of U.S. Pacific Fleet" (PDF). United States Pacific Fleet Public Affairs Office. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 2, 2020. Retrieved September 28, 2009.
  5. Art, Robert (September 1, 2015). "From the Director: September, 2015". MIT Seminar XXI. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.; Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "Find Alumni". MIT Seminar XXI. Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  6. U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award Selection Panel (December 7, 2018). "Events and Programs – DGA Announcement – www.usna.com". www.usna.com. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  7. Video on YouTube
  8. Malcolm, Andrew (April 1, 2010). "Democrat Rep. Hank Johnson worries loading too many people onto Guam could capsize the island". The Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  9. ALLAHPUNDIT (March 31, 2010). "Dem Congressman: If Guam Gets Too Overpopulated, It Might Tip Over". hotair.com. HotAir.com/Salem Media. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  10. Wilkie, Christina (March 31, 2010). "Rep. Hank Johnson: Guam could 'tip over and capsize'". The Hill. Capitol Hill Publishing Corp . Retrieved December 30, 2018.
  11. Honorary Officer of the Order of Australia Archived March 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , Commonwealth of Australia Special Notices Gazette, 7 March 2012.
This article contains material from the United States Federal Government and is in the public domain.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Robert Willard at Wikimedia Commons

Military offices
Preceded by Commander of the United States Pacific Command
October 19, 2009 - March 9, 2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by Vice Chief of Naval Operations
2005 – 2007
Succeeded by