Robert F. Willard
| Robert F. Willard | |
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 Admiral Robert F. Willard, USN Commander, U.S. Pacific Command |
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| Born | December 5, 1950 Bell, California |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service/branch |  United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1973–present |
| Rank |  Admiral |
| Commands held | U.S. Pacific Command U.S. Pacific Fleet U.S. Seventh Fleet USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) USS Tripoli (LPH-10) |
| Awards | Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal (3) Legion of Merit (4) Meritorious Service Medal (3) Navy Commendation Medal (4) |
Robert F. Willard (born December 5, 1950)[1] is a United States Navy admiral who serves as the Commander, U.S. Pacific Command. He previously served as Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet from May 8, 2007 to September 25, 2009.[2][3] Prior to that, he served as the 34th Vice Chief of Naval Operations from March 18, 2005 to April 2007. He assumed his current assignment on October 19, 2009.[4]
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Willard is a Los Angeles native. In 1969, he graduated from East Longmeadow High School 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's 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, 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.
[edit] Popular culture
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. His callsign is "Rat," and his podcast is called the Rat-Pac Report.
[edit] Awards and decorations
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Defense Distinguished Service Medal |
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Navy Distinguished Service Medal with 2 golden award stars |
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Legion of Merit with 3 award stars |
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Meritorious Service Medal with 2 award stars |
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Navy Commendation Medal with 3 award stars |
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Navy Achievement Medal |
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Joint Meritorious Unit Award |
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Navy Unit Commendation |
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Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with 1 bronze service star |
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Navy "E" Ribbon w/ 3 Battle E devices |
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National Defense Service Medal with 2 bronze service stars |
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Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with 3 bronze service stars |
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Vietnam Service Medal with 1 bronze service star |
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Southwest Asia Service Medal with 1 bronze service star |
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Global War on Terrorism Service Medal |
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Korea Defense Service Medal |
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Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 1 silver and 1 bronze service star |
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Navy & Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with 3 bronze service stars |
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Navy Expert Rifleman Medal |
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Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal |
He was the 1982 Pacific Fleet Tailhooker of the Year.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.fas.org/irp/congress/2009_hr/nominate.html
- ^ U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs (May 17, 2007). "Williard assumes command of U.S. Pacific Fleet". The Dolphin.
- ^ MCC(SW) Stefanie Sealy (September 25, 2009). "Walsh Takes Helm of U.S. Pacific Fleet". United States Pacific Fleet Public Affairs Office. http://www.cpf.navy.mil/news/2009/Press%20Release%20CoC%20%20Final.pdf?story_id=48508. Retrieved September 28, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ Keating Passes Pacom Torch to Willard
- This article contains material from the United States Federal Government and is in the public domain.
[edit] External links
Media related to Robert Willard at Wikimedia Commons
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- 1950 births
- Living people
- United States naval aviators
- United States Navy admirals
- People from Los Angeles, California
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- United States Naval Academy alumni
- Recipients of the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
