RUSSELL T. WILLIAMS

1
RUSSELL T. WILLIAMS CAPTAIN, USN (RET) Program M
anager, Joint and Synthetic Training
United States Fleet Forces Command
Russell T. Williams was born in Beaufort,
South Carolina. A 1974 graduate of Louisiana
State University, he received a commission in the
U.S. Navy in March 1975 and his wings January
1976. His Navy aviation career of over 30 years
was spent in numerous operational tours flying
the A-6E Intruder. He has commanded an Intruder
squadron, an Amphibious Assault Ship (LHA) and a
Training Group. His operational tours includ
ed Fleet Air Reconnaisance Sqaudron One flying
the EA-3B Skywarrior from the decks of the USS
Midway (CV-41) and the USS Constellation. In
1979, he transitioned to the A-6E Intruder and
served with Attack Squadron One Four Five and One
Sixty Five stationed at NAS Whidbey Island
Washington. During 10 deployments he logged over
3700 flight hours and over 900 carrier landings
in the Intruder aboard the USS Constellation, USS
Ranger and USS Nimitz. His last tour in Intruders
was as Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron One
Sixty Five deployed to the Arabian Gulf in
support of Operation Southern Watch patrolling
the skies over Iraq. After a tour as the Ope
rations Officer of USS Nimitz, he was selected
for major command at sea and detailed as the
Executive Officer and subsequently the Commanding
Officer of USS Saipan (LHA-2). The second largest
ship in the U.S. Navy, the amphibious assault
ship mission is to support embarked U.S. Marine
Expeditionary Units launching the AV-8B Harrier,
H-46, H-53 and UH-1 from the flight deck. The
ship also carried landing craft in its well deck
as well as a myriad of equipment from tanks to
howitzers to support opposed or unoppposed
landings ashore.
His ashore tours included Air Test and
Evaluation Squadron FIVE (VX-5) at China Lake,
CA. As an Operational Test Director and Tactics
and Electronic Warfare Department Head, he
orchestrated flight tests of various attack
weapons systems, including the High Speed
Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), AGM-123 Skipper
air-to-ground missile, and numerous defense
electronic countermeasure systems.
As Operations Officer of the A-6E Intruder
Fleet Replacement Squadron, he was selected as
one of 12 aircrew Navy-wide to participate in the
A-12 Aircrew Systems Advisory Panel and Tactics
Development Team. Following this assignment he
attended the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode
Island, earning a Master of Arts in National
Security and Strategic Studies and additionally,
a Master of Science in Management from Salve
Regina University, Newport, Rhode Island.
Captain Williams (Ret) also served on the
Joint Staff, J7 Operational Plans and
Interoperability Directorate at the Pentagon,
Washington, DC where he directed teams of
military analysts observing Combatant Command
exercises. Results were briefed to the Chairman
of the Joint Staff for eventual inclusion into
the Remedial Action Process to improve joint and
coalition tactics, techniques and procedures.
For the past two years following retirement
he has been the Program Manager for the Navys
Training Transformation program for U.S. Fleet
Forces Command interfacing with Joint Forces
Command as well as OPNAV and OSD. In this
capacity, he oversees the Navys Fleet Synthetic
Training Program as well as the Joint Task Force
Exercise Program to ensure seamless integration
into the DOD Training Transformation Program.
His military decorations include the Legion
of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air
Medal (1st flight/strike), Meritorious Service
Medal (two gold stars), Navy Commendation Medal
(two gold stars), and various unit and service
awards. Captain Williams (Ret) and his wife Tamm
y reside in Suffolk, Virginia.