Melvin Williams (admiral)


Vice Admiral Melvin G. Williams Jr. After military service, Williams served for two years as a Presidential Appointee at the US Department of Energy. He was the Associate Deputy Secretary of Energy; 2011-2013- responsible for day-to-day Management and Operations of the Department of Energy.
Vice Admiral Williams now serves in Academia :
Associate Dean of Engineering at the Catholic University of America - which includes duties as Director - MS in Engineering Management; Director - MS in Materials Science & Engineering; Director – Off Campus Graduate Engineering Programs; and Partnerships. Full-time, 2017 to present.
Nuclear Research Consultant at the University of California – Davis, directly supporting the Vice Chancellor of Research and the McClellan Nuclear Research Center, STEM Education with high school students in the Sacramento area, and the UC Davis Physics Advisory Board. Part-time, 2016 to present.
Associate Provost at the George Washington University. Full-time, 2013-2016. Was responsible for supporting the over 1,700 GW student military members, their families, and veterans to accelerate learning opportunities and rewards, while working closely with GW senior leadership, students, alumni, and other affiliated stakeholders. Duties included Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Outreach & Development.
Williams is the former Commander, U.S. Second Fleet and former Director, Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Center of Excellence.

Personal biography

Vice Admiral Williams was born in San Diego, California and raised in Washington, DC. His father, Master Chief Melvin G. Williams, Sr., also served in the United States Navy. Chief Williams served aboard submarines, aircraft carriers, and other surface ships. Chief Williams would go on to meet then-Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo Zumwalt and highlight continued discriminatory practices in the Steward's Branch of the Navy, practices Zumwalt would later end.
Vice Admiral Melvin Williams, Jr. attended the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, graduating in 1978 with a degree in Mathematics. He later attended The Catholic University of America to earn his Master's degree in Engineering.
Admiral Williams and his family are longtime residents of the greater Washington, D.C. area.

Military career

A nuclear trained submariner aboard the USS Jack where he served with the future CEO of AT&T, RM2 William Hannigan, Vice Admiral Williams served in the U.S. Navy for thirty-two years as a commissioned officer and one year as an enlisted sailor. He was selected for Flag rank in 2002. His extensive operational assignments included four Command opportunities, including Commander of U.S. Second Fleet which responded with humanitarian assistance and disaster relief following the devastating earthquake in Haiti in January 2010, Commander of Submarine Group Nine, Commander of Submarine Squadron Four, and Commanding Officer of USS Nebraska - an Ohio-class Strategic Ballistic Missile submarine which was selected as the Top Strategic Mission Performer in the Nation.
Other key operational assignments included Deputy Commander, U.S. Fleet Forces, Director of Global Operations at U.S. Strategic Command, Executive Officer on USS Louisville during initial combat operations for Operation Desert Storm, Chief of Staff for the KITTY HAWK Carrier Strike Group during initial combat operations for Operation Enduring Freedom following the 9/11 Attack on the United States.
He is also the co-author of the leadership book "Navigating the Seven Seas", which in 2012 was designated by the U.S. Navy as one of the 18 books determined to be "essential reading" for all members who serve in the Navy.

U.S. Department of Energy

In 2011, Williams received a Presidential Appointment as Associate Deputy Secretary in the Department of Energy. There, he reported directly to the Secretary of Energy and Deputy Secretary of Energy as he executed his mission to further DOE effectiveness and operational excellence.

Operation GW VALOR

In 2013, Williams joined The George Washington University to lead the Office of Military and Veterans Affairs. There, Williams was
responsible for serving and supporting GW student military members, their families, and veterans to accelerate learning opportunities and rewards while working with university senior leadership, students, alumni, and other stakeholders to maximize access and affordability for the military community at GW. GW VALOR under Associate Provost Williams provided strategic-level leadership, close student services and support, and oversight of the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program at GW. Williams left GW VALOR in 2016 for a position at UC Davis.

Education

Military Awards

Navy Distinguished Service Medal ;
Defense Superior Service Medal;
The Catholic University of America 2012 Engineering Distinguished Alumni Award
The Black Engineer of the Year Award for Professional Achievement as well as induction into the STEM Hall of Fame in 2011
The National Society of Black Engineers Award for Lifetime Achievement in Government
The Thurgood Marshall Award for Service and Leadership