Robert F. Willard

Infobox Military Person
name=Robert F. Willard
born= birth year and age|1950
died=
placeofbirth=
placeofdeath=
placeofburial=


caption=Admiral Robert F. Willard
nickname=
allegiance=flag|United States of America
branch=United States Navy
serviceyears=1973-present
rank= Admiral
commands=U.S. Pacific Fleet Seventh Fleet USS "Abraham Lincoln" (CVN-72) USS "Tripoli" (LPH 10)
unit=
battles=
awards=Defense Distinguished Service Medal Navy Distinguished Service Medal Legion of Merit (4) Meritorious Service Medal (3) Navy Commendation Medal (4)
relations=
laterwork=
Admiral Robert F. Willard, USN is the 32^nd and current Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleetcite news|accessdate=2007-05-17
title=Williard assumes command of U.S. Pacific Fleet
author=U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs
date=May 17, 2007 |work=The Dolphin] . He previously served as the 34^th Vice Chief of Naval Operations from March 18, 2005 to April 2007. He assumed his current assigment on May 8, 2007.

Willard is a Los Angeles native and a 1973 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He possesses a master’s degree in engineering management from Old Dominion University and is an MIT Seminar XXI alumnus. As the Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, he is responsible for the world’s largest fleet command, encompassing 100 million square miles and more than 170 ships and submarines, 1,300 aircraft, and 122,000 Sailors, Reservists and civilians.

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 movie 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.

Willard appeared in and was a consultant for the movie "Top Gun". He pilots the Mig-28 that receives "the bird" from Goose and Maverick. His callsign during this time was "Rat".

Awards and decorations

Willard's awards include:He was the 1982 Pacific Fleet Tailhooker of the Year.

ee also

References

:"This article contains material from the United States Federal Government and is in the public domain.
* [http://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=19 Navy Leadership Biography]
* [http://www.cpf.navy.mil/bios/compacflt.htm COMPACFLT Biography]