William K. Lescher
{{Infobox military person
|name= William K. Lescher
|image= Adm. William K. Lescher.jpg
|image_size=
|alt=
|caption=
|nickname= Bill
|birth_date= {{birth year and age|1958}}
|birth_place= Highland Park, Illinois, US
|death_date=
|death_place=
|placeofburial=
|allegiance=
|branch= United States Navy
|serviceyears= 1980–2022
|rank= Admiral
|servicenumber=
|unit=
|commands= Vice Chief of Naval Operations
Expeditionary Strike Group 5
Atlantic Fleet Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing
HSL-40
HSL-48
|battles= Gulf War
|awards= Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2)
Defense Superior Service Medal (3)
Legion of Merit (3)
|relations=
|laterwork=
}}
William Kevin Lescher (born 1958){{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DD8BVZeVFP4C&pg=PA60 |title=Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty |date=October 1, 1990 |page=60 |publisher=Bureau of Naval Personnel |access-date=2021-06-08}} is a retired four-star admiral in the United States Navy who last served as the 41st Vice Chief of Naval Operations. He held this office from May 29, 2020, to September 2, 2022.{{Cite web |url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=113109 |title=Vice Chief of Naval Operations Changes Office |access-date=2020-05-30 |archive-date=2020-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200608220334/https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=113109 |url-status=dead }} Lescher was also the "Old Goat", the longest serving Naval Academy graduate on active duty, from 2018 to 2022.
Naval career
File:Promotion Ceremony 200529-N-BB269-1006.jpg
A native of Highland Park, Illinois,{{cite web|url=http://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/United_States_Naval_Academy_Lucky_Bag_Yearbook/1980/Page_501.html |title=United States Naval Academy - Lucky Bag Yearbook (Annapolis, MD), Class of 1980, Page 501 of 778 |publisher=E-yearbook.com |date=1980-01-01 |accessdate=2021-11-20}} he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1980.{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/1656628/passing-the-decanter-the-us-naval-academy-way/|title = Passing the Decanter, the U.S. Naval Academy Way}}{{cite web|url=https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/315201|title=William Lescher - Recipient -}} Trained as a helicopter pilot, Lescher served with HSL-36 and HSL-44 and later commanded HSL-48, HSL-40, the Atlantic Fleet Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, Expeditionary Strike Group Five and Task Forces 51/59 in Bahrain.{{Cite web |url=https://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=543 |title=ADM William K. Lescher — Navy Biography |access-date=2020-05-05 |archive-date=2020-06-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611224929/https://www.navy.mil/navydata/bios/navybio.asp?bioID=543 |url-status=dead }}
In May 2020, Lescher was nominated by President Donald Trump for promotion to admiral and assignment as the next Vice Chief of Naval Operations.[https://www.congress.gov/nomination/116th-congress/1771 PN1771 — ADM William K. Lescher — Navy] He assumed this office and rank on May 29, 2020.
Awards and decorations
| 180px |
| 50px |
| 110px |
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy Distinguished Service ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one gold award star |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=US Defense Superior Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}18px18px
|Defense Superior Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Legion of Merit ribbon.svg|width=80}}18px18px
|Legion of Merit with two award stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}18px18px18px
|Meritorious Service Medal with three award stars |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=award-star|ribbon=Navy and Marine Corps Achievement ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award star |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=oak|ribbon=Joint Meritorious Unit Award (USMC and USN frame).svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon.svg|width=80}}14px14px
|Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Battle Effectiveness Award ribbon, 3rd award.svg|width=80}}
|Navy "E" Ribbon with three Battle E awards |
| {{Ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Navy Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=National Defense Service Medal ribbon.svg|width=80}}
|National Defense Service Medal with service star |
| {{ribbon devices|number=1|type=service-star|ribbon=Southwest Asia Service Medal ribbon (1991–2016).svg|width=80}}
|Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Global War on Terrorism Service ribbon.svg|width=80}} |
| {{ribbon devices|number=0|type=service-star|ribbon=Sea Service Deployment Ribbon.svg|width=80}}14px14px
|Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two service stars |
| 80px |
| 80px |
| 80px |
- Lescher graduated with distinction from fixed wing, rotary wing and Naval Test Pilot School training. He has been recognized as the Association of Naval Aviation's HSL Pilot of the Year, the Naval Helicopter Association's Regional Pilot of the Year and the Naval Air Warfare Center's Rotary Wing Test Pilot of the Year. The units in which he has served have earned the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy "E" Ribbons and Theodore Ellyson award.
References
{{Commons category}}
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=???}}
{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Director for Resources and Acquisition of the Joint Staff|years=201?–2015}}
{{s-aft|after=Hugh Wetherald}}
{{s-bef|before=???}}
{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Budget and Director of Fiscal Management of the United States Navy|years=2015–2018}}
{{s-aft|rows=2|after=Randy B. Crites}}
{{s-bef|before=Joseph Mulloy}}
{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Integration of Capabilities and Resources of the United States Navy|years=2020}}
{{s-bef|before=Robert P. Burke}}
{{s-ttl|title=Vice Chief of Naval Operations|years=2020–2022}}
{{s-aft|after=Lisa M. Franchetti}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lescher, William K.}}
Category:People from Highland Park, Illinois
Category:United States Naval Academy alumni
Category:Military personnel from Illinois
Category:United States Naval Aviators
Category:Naval Postgraduate School alumni
Category:United States Naval Test Pilot School alumni
Category:Harvard Business School alumni
Category:Recipients of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal