William Evans "Bill" Gortney is a retired U. S. Navy admiral most noted for his service as the 23rd commander of the North American Air Space Defense Command (NORAD).
Childhood
The future Admiral William Gortney was born on September 25, 1955. In 1977, he graduated from Elon College (now Elon University) in North Carolina with a bachelor's degree in history and political science. He was an officer in the Kappa Sigma Fraternity and a member of the varsity football team and rugby club. The son of a retired U. S. Navy captain and second-generation naval aviator, Gortney entered the U. S. Naval Air Officer Candidate School at Pensacola Naval Air Station in Florida in the summer of 1977 as an aviation officer candidate.
Career
In September 1977, Gortney enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve, in December 1978, the future US Admiral graduated from fighter pilot courses.
From 1978 to 1980, Gortney served with Training Squadron 26 at Chase Field, Texas.
From 1981 to 1984 he served in the 82nd attack squadron,based on the aircraft carrier Chester Nimitz.
From 1984 to 1988 he served in the 125th attack fighter squadron, based at the Lemur base in California.
Served with the 87th Strike Fighter Squadron aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt from 1988 to 1990.
From 1990 to 1991, Assistant Chief of Naval Operations in Washington.
From 1991 to 1992, he served as Deputy Commander of the 132nd Strike Fighter Squadron aboard the USS Forrestal.
From 1992 to 1994, he was deputy commander of the 15th strike fighter squadron aboard the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt, and from 1994 to 1995, Gortney already commands this same squadron.
Graduates from the Naval War College in 1996 with a master's degree in international security.
From 1996 to 1997, Gortney was transferred ashore and commanded the 106th Strike Fighter Squadron based at Cecil Field in Florida.
In 1998, Gortney was assigned by US Naval Central Command to the US Navy's 5th Fleet in support of maritime security and combat operations in the Persian Gulf. Units of the 5th Fleet took part in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
From 1998 to 1999, William Gortney served on the Joint Staff, heading Joint Operations, J-33, US Naval Central Command. From 2000 to 2001, he was transferred to the Southwest Asia Joint Task Force, which was engaged in ensuring the operation "Southern Watch", inas deputy for current operations, and deputy commander of the 7th Air Wing aboard the USS Dwight Eisenhower.
From 2002 to 2003, he served as commander of the 7th Carrier Strike Group, based aboard the USS John F. Kennedy.
Team positions
His first command assignment was Deputy Chief of Staff for Global Force Control and Joint Operations at US Naval Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia. The future admiral of the United States held this position from 2004 to 2006. From 2007 to 2008, Commander Gortney became Commander of the 10th Carrier Strike Group based aboard the USS Harry Truman, earning the rank of US two-star Rear Admiral.
Also, Admiral William Gortney served as Chief of Communications for the Air Force Commander, US Naval Central Command at Suzdana Air Force Base in Saudi Arabia during the early months of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
He served as Commander, Naval and Amphibious Communications Component (NAU) to the Commander, Air Components, United States Central Command at Prince Sultan Air Force Base in Saudi Arabia during the early months of the invasion of Iraq in 2003, then through 2004 served as Chief of Staff Commander, US 5th Fleet in Bahrain.
From July 1, 2010 to August 2012, he is the Chief of the United States Joint Staff. From September 14, 2012 to December 2014, he heads the Unitedcommand of the US Central Command. Since December 5, 2014, he has been the head of the North American Air Space Defense Command (NORAD). In 2015, Admiral William Gortney ordered "recruiting centers, reserve centers, and ROTC facilities to increase oversight and take emergency measures, such as closing shutters in offices," in response to an armed shooting in Tennessee that killed five U. S. service members. On May 13, 2016, Air Force General Laurie Robinson took over from Gortney.
Evaluation of Gortney's performance
Admiral William Gortney was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal, several Distinguished Service Medals, Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Honor, Bronze Star, three Air Medals, three Meritorious Service Medals Department of Defense, Navy and Marine Corps Meritorious Service Medal and 8 Navy Service Ribbons.
During his military career, Admiral Gortney has flown more than 5,360 hours of flight, made 1265 successful landings on aircraft carriers, primarily in the A-7E Corsair II and F/A-18 Hornet.
