Submitted by NAVAIR Public Affairs Office

PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- Peter J. Williams, a native of Mechanic Falls, Maine, was recently promoted to Rear Admiral (lower half) in the United States Navy. Williams, a 1975 graduate from the University of Maine at Orono, is presently the Assistant Commander for Aviation Depots within the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) headquartered at Patuxent River, Maryland.

Williams is the son of Jean and the late Frank Williams of Mechanic Falls, Maine. “I remember a real sense of community in Mechanic Falls as I was growing up,” stated Williams when asked of his hometown. “It was a great place to raise a family and I have many fond memories of my youth.”

Williams was commissioned an Ensign in June 1976, following completion of Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. He was designated a Naval Flight Officer one year later.

During his career, Williams has been deployed numerous times, including several trips to the Mediterranean Sea on the USS Saratoga; to the Indian Ocean on the USS John F. Kennedy; to the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic and North Arabian Sea on the USS Forrestal; to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf on the USS George Washington; and again to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf on the USS Enterprise.

Williams has served the Navy in various capacities, including F-14A instructor, Deputy Assistant Program Manager (Systems Engineering) at the F-14 Class Desk for NAVAIR, Combat Direction Center Officer for Carrier Group Two, and Executive Officer and then squadron Commander for VF-143. Williams then held the position of Air Boss on the USS Enterprise before being assigned to NAVAIR as the F-14 Class Desk Officer, the Systems Engineering Department Head and then F-14 Program Manager.

Williams recently completed the requirements for a Systems Engineering Master’s Degree from Johns Hopkins University. He has accumulated over 3400 flight hours (including 2000 in the F-14) and logged more than 840 carrier landings. His decorations include a Legion of Merit, four Meritorious Service Medals, one Strike/Flight Medal, two Navy Commendation Medals, one Navy Achievement Medal and various other awards.

Photo 1: Rear Admiral Peter J. Williams is pinned by his mother, Jean, of Mechanics Falls, Maine, and by Vice Admiral Walter Massenburg, Commander, Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), at his promotion ceremony on October 1, 2004, at NAVAIR Headquarters in Patuxent River, Md.