Darryl A. Williams

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Darryl A. Williams

| image = Gen. Darryl A. Williams (2).jpg

| image_size =

| alt =

| caption = Williams in 2022

| order = 60th

| title = Superintendent of the United States Military Academy

| term_start = 2 July 2018

| term_end = 26 June 2022

| president = Donald Trump
Joe Biden

| predecessor = Robert L. Caslen

| successor = Steven W. Gilland

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|6|22|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Alexandria, Virginia, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| placeofburial =

| module = {{Infobox military person | embed=yes

| allegiance = United States

| branch = United States Army

| serviceyears = 1983–2024

| rank = General

| servicenumber =

| unit =

| commands = {{plainlist|

}}

| battles = {{ubl|Gulf War|Iraq War}}

| awards = {{ubl|Defense Distinguished Service Medal|Army Distinguished Service Medal (2)|Defense Superior Service Medal|Legion of Merit (4)|Bronze Star Medal (2)}}

| alma_mater = {{plainlist|

}}

| relations =

| laterwork =

| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=LTG Darryl A. Williams Remarks Upon Becoming West Point Superintendent.ogg|title=Darryl A. Williams's voice|type=speech|description=Darryl A. Williams gives remarks upon becoming the 60th superintendent of West Point
Recorded 2 July 2018}}

}}

Darryl Anthony Williams{{cite web |url=https://www.westpointaog.org/FindaGradDisplay?reid=fDhII9BDSUPneTZZqj%2fL5w%3d%3d&bbsys=0&bbrt=0 |title=Darryl Anthony Williams |website=West Point Association of Graduates |access-date=21 November 2020}} (born 22 June 1961) is a retired United States Army general who served as the commanding general of United States Army Europe and Africa and commander of Allied Land Command from 2022 to 2024. He previously served as the 60th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy, the first African-American to hold the position. He served as commander of Allied Land Command as a lieutenant general from 2016 to 2018.

Early life

Williams grew up in Fairfax County, Virginia, and attended Mount Vernon High School playing center for the Majors 1979 state champion basketball team and a defensive end on the football team. Williams graduated in 1979.{{cite news |last=Creed |first=Phil |date= July 15, 2018 |title=Mount Vernon alum takes over as new superintendent of West Point |url=https://coveringthecorridor.com/2018/07/mount-vernon-alum-darryl-williams-named-superintendent-of-west-point/ |work=Covering The Corridor |location=Alexandria, VA}}

Military career

File:2022 U.S. Army Europe and Africa Change of Command 220628-A-ZE118-002.jpg on 28 June 2022]]

Williams graduated from the United States Military Academy in December 1983 and was commissioned a second lieutenant of Field Artillery.{{cite web|url=http://www.ausa.org/people/ltg-darryl-williams|title=LTG Darryl A. Williams | Association of the United States Army|website=ausa.org|date=29 August 2017 |access-date=29 June 2018}} His first assignment was an executive officer and fire direction officer in Schweinfurt, Germany, with the 3rd Infantry Division. Next, Williams was assigned to XVIII Airborne Corps, deploying to Southwest Asia in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He was then assigned to West Point as a Tactical Officer. Later, Williams served in various command positions in Europe, including commander of United States Army Africa in Vicenza, Italy; deputy chief of staff G3/5/7 of the United States Army in Europe, Wiesbaden, Germany; and commanding general of the United States Army Warrior Transition Command and assistant surgeon general for Warrior Care and Transition.{{cite web |url=http://www.pointerview.com/2018/07/05/williams-assumes-command-becomes-60th-usma-superintendent|title=Williams assumes command, becomes 60th USMA Superintendent|website=Pointer View|access-date=13 September 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.army.mil/article/44569/warrior_transition_command_welcomes_new_commander|title=Warrior Transition Command welcomes new commander|website=US Army|date=September 2010 |access-date=13 September 2020}}

In 2014, Williams was tapped by President Barack Obama to manage the United States' response to the West African Ebola virus epidemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ebola-virus-outbreak/darryl-williams-man-who-will-lead-war-ebola-n204951|website=nbcnews.com|title=Darryl A. Williams: The Man Who Will Lead the War on Ebola|date=17 September 2014 |access-date=29 June 2018}}

On 24 June 2016, Williams assumed command of NATO Allied Land Command in Turkey.{{cite web |url=https://lc.nato.int/media-center/news-archive/2016/lieutenant-general-williams-takes-lead-of-allied-land-command|title=Allied Land Command – Lieutenant General Williams Takes Lead of Allied Land Command|website=lc.nato.int|access-date=29 June 2018}}

Williams's military education includes the Field Artillery Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, United States Army Command and General Staff College, School of Advanced Military Studies, and the United States Naval War College. He holds Masters’ degrees in Leadership Development, Military Art and Science, and National Security and Strategic Studies.{{cite web|url=https://www.westpoint.edu/about/superintendent|title=Superintendent's Biography|access-date=13 September 2020}}

In June 2022, Williams was nominated for promotion to general and appointment as Commanding General, U.S. Army Europe and Africa. He replaced Christopher G. Cavoli, who was to take command of the United States European Command, on 28 June 2022.{{cite web|url=https://www.congress.gov/nomination/117th-congress/2254?s=1&r=2|title=PN2254 — Lt. Gen. Darryl A. Williams — Army|date=8 June 2022|website=United States Congress}}{{cite web|last=McLeary|first=Paul|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/03/williams-recommended-to-be-next-army-europe-commander-00037157|title=Williams recommended to be next Army Europe commander|date=3 June 2022|access-date=4 June 2022|website=Politico}}{{cite web|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/29082|title=Webcast: U.S. Army Europe and Africa Change of Command Ceremony|date=24 June 2022|access-date=25 June 2022|website=DVIDS}} He assumed command of Allied Land Command a second time from Lieutenant General Roger Cloutier on 4 August 2022.{{cite web|last=Andries|first=Brian|url=https://www.dvidshub.net/news/426496/nato-allied-land-command-welcomes-new-commander|title=NATO Allied Land Command Welcomes New Commander|date=4 August 2022|access-date=4 August 2022|publisher=NATO - Allied Land Command|location=Buca|website=DVIDS}}

Awards and decorations

90px Basic Parachutist Badge

85px Army Staff Identification Badge

90px Presidential Service Badge

55px 16th Field Artillery Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia

80px 1st Armored Division Shoulder Sleeve Insignia

50px 4 Overseas Service Bars

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} Defense Distinguished Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=U.S. Army Distinguished Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} Army Distinguished Service Medal with one bronze oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} Defense Superior Service Medal with oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=60}}14px14px14px Legion of Merit with three oak leaf clusters

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Bronze Star ribbon.svg|width=60}} Bronze Star Medal with oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Defense Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} Defense Meritorious Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=5|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} Meritorious Service Medal with silver oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Army Commendation Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} Army Commendation Medal with oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Achievement Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} Army Achievement Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=60}} Joint Meritorious Unit Award with oak leaf cluster

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Valorous Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=60}} Valorous Unit Award

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=60}} Meritorious Unit Commendation

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Superior Unit Award ribbon.svg|width=60}} Superior Unit Award

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991-2016).svg|width=60}}11px11px Southwest Asia Service Medal with two service stars

{{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Iraq Campaign Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} Iraq Campaign Medal with service star

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg|width=60}} Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Korea Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} Korea Defense Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Armed Forces Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} Armed Forces Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Humanitarian Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=60}} Humanitarian Service Medal

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Army Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}} Army Service Ribbon

{{ribbon devices|number=0|type=numeral|ribbon=Army Overseas Service Ribbon.svg|width=60}}11px Army Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze award numeral 8

60px Medal of Honour - Defence General Staff Joint Forces (Italy)

60px Kuwait Liberation Medal (Saudi Arabia)

60px Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait)