R 181800Z DEC 25
ALMAR 026/25
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC//
SUBJ/DEATH OF GENERAL MICHAEL J. WILLIAMS, 28TH ASSISTANT COMMANDANT
OF THE MARINE CORPS//
REF/A/GENADMIN/SECNAV/172250Z DEC 25//
NARR/REF A IS ALNAV 091/25, PASSING OF GENERAL MICHAEL J. WILLIAMS,
28TH ASSISTANT COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE CORPS//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. It is with great sadness that I announce the
death of General Michael J. Williams, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired,
the 28th Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. General Williams
passed away on 6 December 2025.
2. General Williams served as the Assistant Commandant of the
Marine Corps from September 2000 until September 2002 and retired in
November 2002 after completion of more than 40 years of active
service.
3. General Williams was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on 12 July
1943. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1960, and upon graduating
from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in
June 1967, he was commissioned a second lieutenant. He later earned
Master’s Degrees from the University of Southern California (1974)
and the College of Naval Warfare. He was promoted to first
lieutenant on 7 September 1968, and after completing Naval Flight
Training in Pensacola, Florida, he was designated a Naval Aviator in
February 1969.
4. Promoted to captain on 1 February 1971, he served operational
tours in both the continental United States and the Republic of
Vietnam before being ordered to the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare
School, Quantico, Virginia, in 1973. Upon graduation in June 1974,
he served on Okinawa, Japan with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing.
Returning to the United States in the summer of 1975, Captain
Williams joined Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 at Quantico. There, he
was designated a Presidential Helicopter Pilot while serving in
various positions with the Squadron. He was promoted to major on
1 August 1977 and in July 1978, he was selected to attend the Marine
Corps Command and Staff College, Quantico.
5. Following graduation in June 1979, Major Williams was ordered to
the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, where he served as a
Company Officer and Executive Assistant to the Commandant of
Midshipmen. He transferred to the 3d Marine Aircraft Wing, El Toro,
California, in July 1982, for duty as Executive Officer of
Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 16, and later as Commanding
Officer of Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 301. He was promoted
to lieutenant colonel on 1 October 1982.
6. From June 1984 until June 1985, Lieutenant Colonel Williams
attended the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. Following
graduation, he was ordered to the 3d Marine Division on Okinawa,
where he served as the Assistant Division G-3. Returning to the
United States in the summer of 1986, he reported to Headquarters,
Marine Corps, Washington, D.C., for duty as the Marine Corps Program
Development Officer, and later the Head, Program Development Branch,
Requirements and Program Division. He was promoted to colonel on 1
October 1988.
7. In July 1989, Colonel Williams transferred to the 2d Marine
Aircraft Wing at Cherry Point, North Carolina, as the Wing Inspector
before assuming duty as Marine Aircraft Group 26, Executive Officer
in April 1990. Colonel Williams then assumed command of Marine
Aircraft Group 26 (MAG-26) on 16 July 1990. He deployed MAG-26 to
Saudi Arabia to participate in Operations Desert Shield and Desert
Storm, returning to the United States in May 1991.
8. He was assigned duty as the Vice Director for Operational Plans
and Interoperability, J-7, and Vice Director, Joint Staff for
Military Education, The Joint Staff, in November 1991. While serving
in this capacity, he was selected for promotion to brigadier general
in December 1991, and advanced to that grade on 1 April 1992.
Brigadier General Williams served in that capacity until 16 July
1993, when he assumed command of 2d Force Service Support Group
(2d FSSG). On 8 June 1994, Brigadier General Williams was appointed
Commanding General, Joint Task Force 160, a humanitarian relief
effort for Haitian and Cuban migrants at Guantanamo Naval Base,
Cuba. He resumed command of the 2d FSSG on 31 October 1994. He was
advanced to the grade of major general in March 1995 and in July was
appointed Director of the Marine Corps Staff, Washington, D.C. He
assumed assignment on 23 July 1996 as the Commander, Marine Corps
Systems Command, Quantico. He was promoted to lieutenant general on
5 August 1998. Lieutenant General Williams served as the Deputy
Chief of Staff, Programs and Resources, Headquarters, Marine Corps,
Washington, D.C., as his last assignment prior to becoming the
Assistant Commandant.
9. Lieutenant General Williams became the Assistant Commandant of
the Marine Corps on 8 September 2000 and was advanced to the rank
of General on 1 November 2000. He served as Assistant Commandant
until 9 September 2002 and retired from active duty in November
2002.
10. General Williams’ personal decorations include the Defense
Superior Service Medal (with 1 Gold Star), Legion of Merit
(with 1 Gold Star ), Bronze Star with Combat “V”, Air Medal
(with Individual Action Combat “V” and 25 Strike/Flight
Award Numerals), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
(with 1 Gold Star and Combat “V”), among and many other individual
and unit awards reflecting his service from Vietnam through the Gulf
War and beyond.
11. All Marine Corps Installations-National Capital Region
(MCI-NCR) will half-mast the National Ensign from 1130 EST on 18
December 2025 until sunset of that day.
12. On Thursday, 18 December 2025, the family of General Williams
will have a private ceremony to honor the life of General Williams.
A graveside burial with full military honors is open to the public
and will begin at 1130 at the National Memorial Cemetery in
Quantico, Virginia. The uniform for military guests is blue
dress “B” or service equivalent. The uniform for civilian guests
is business suit.
13. Eric M. Smith, General, U.S. Marine Corps, Commandant of the
Marine Corps.//