Commanding Officer
Cmdr. William M. Adams
Cmdr. William Adams is a native of Ohio. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy. Upon graduation he cross-commissioned into the U.S. Navy in May 2007 and was designated a naval flight officer in March 2008.
Upon completion of flight school in Pensacola, Florida, Adams reported to the Fleet Replacement Squadron, the "Gladiators" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 106 on board Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana. After qualifications in the F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, he was assigned to his first fleet squadron, the “Swordsmen” of VFA-32. He deployed with the Swordsmen aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
In 2013, Adams was selected to attend the Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Course at the Naval Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) in Fallon, Nevada, then reported to Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic as a Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor. His follow-on tour took him back to the Swordsmen of VFA-32 as a training officer, where he deployed aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) in support of Operation Inherent Resolve.
After completion of a successful training officer tour in 2018, Adams attended the College of Command and Staff at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, earning a Master of Arts in Defense and Strategic Studies. In 2019, he reported to the "Black Knights" of VFA-154 at NAS Lemoore as a Department Head. Adams did two deployments with the Black Knights aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt in support of Freedom of Navigation Operations in the Western Pacific.
Following his department head tour, Adams reported to U.S. Northern Command at Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colorado, for his Joint Assignment in the Operations Directorate. He was then selected for command and reported to Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic as the Executive Officer.
Adams has assumed the duties as Commanding Officer at Strike Fighter Weapons School Atlantic.
He has been awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medals (Strike/Flight) (three awards), Navy Commendation Medals (three awards), and a Navy Achievement Medal.