PATUXENT RIVER NAVAL AIR STATION, MD—Capt. William G. Okoniewski retires Jan. 7 after 31 years of military service in a ceremony in the VX-20 hangar here. Okoniewski, who originally hails from Wilmington, Del., enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was assigned to the 720th Military Police Battalion at Ft. Hood, Texas and later to the 1st Infantry Division - "The Big Red One" - at Ft. Riley, Kan. While assigned to the 720th MP Battalion, Okoniewski completed one tour of duty in Vietnam.

After completing four years of ready reserve in the Army, Okoniewski enrolled and received his commission from the Navy's Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla., and later received his naval flight officer wings in 1980.

Okoniewski's naval sea duty includes three tours with Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Four (VQ-4) here and at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. He also served as the Communications Officer and Repair Locker Commander aboard USS Midway (CV 41) home ported in Yokosuka, Japan. While assigned to USS Midway, Okoniewski participated in Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Fiery Vigil that spearheaded the evacuation of the Philippines following the Mount Pinatubo eruption. His last operational tour was as the Executive Officer and then Commanding Officer of the "Ironmen" of Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron Three (VQ-3) home ported at Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.

Okoniewski's shore assignments include the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.; Flag Aide and Secretary to Commander of Fleet Air Western Pacific, Atsugi, Japan; E-6/TC-18F Requirements Officer to the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon; Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University at Ft. McNair, Washington, D.C. (Class of '96); Defense Systems Management College, Ft. Belvoir, Va. (Class of '99); Deputy E-6 Program Manager for Missions Systems and most recently as the Program Manager for Airborne Strategic Command, Control and Communications Program Office (PMA-271) here.

As the E-6 Program Manager, Okoniewski oversaw 192 employees at 19 locations around the nation with an operating budget of $621 million. During his tenure, he was responsible for five major aircraft modification programs including the E-6A to E-6B conversion and was formally recognized for pioneering more than $260 million of cost savings through the life of these programs.

Additionally, Okoniewski implemented an engine management program that produced Naval Aviation's first 15,000-hour on-wing aircraft engine.

Okoniewski has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Delaware, a master's degree in computer systems management from the Naval Postgraduate School and master's degree in natural resource management from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University.

His awards include the Legion of Merit, two Meritorious Service Medals, four Navy Commendation Medals, three Navy Achievement Medals, Southeast and Southwest Asia Campaign Medals and various unit commendations and service awards. He also earned the Green "C" as Communications Officer aboard USS Midway and the COMNAVAIRPAC Battle "E", Chief of Naval Operations Safety "S" and the Strategic Communications Wing One (SCW-1) Maintenance Excellence Awards as Commanding Officer of VQ-3.

—USN—