Commodore, Destroyer Squadron TWO

A native of Levittown, Pennsylvania, Captain Williamson is a 1985 Naval Academy graduate.  His first assignment was as Fire Control Officer in USS ESTOCIN (FFG 15) from 1987 to 1989.  From 1989 to 1991, Captain Williamson served at the Bureau of Naval Personnel as the Post-Graduate Education Placement Officer and subsequently as the U.S. and Foreign Service College Placement Officer.

Captain Williamson attended Department Head School in 1991 and was assigned as Combat Systems Officer in USS VANDEGRIFT (FFG 48) from 1992 to 1994.  After his initial Department Head tour, Captain Williamson served as the first Commanding Officer in USS THUNDERBOLT (PC 12).  During his tour from 1994 through 1997, THUNDERBOLT conducted three counter-narcotics employments, and a six-month deployment in support of Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR).  During this deployment, THUNDERBOLT participated in several exercises including BALTOPS ‘97, Central Enterprise and Baltic Challenge.

Captain Williamson completed a ten-month tour as the Future Schedules Officer at Commander, Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in 1998.  In 1999, he was assigned as Executive Officer in USS VICKSBURG (CG 69).  During his tour, VICKSBURG served as flagship for both BALTOPS 99’ and UNITAS 40-99.  VICKSBURG also conducted highly extensive and successful testing of the Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) program during his tour.

Following his Executive Officer tour, Captain Williamson joined the Class of 2001 at the National War College at Fort McNair in Washington, DC where he completed his Master of Science Degree in National Security Strategy.  Captain Williamson was then assigned to the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Program Analysis and Evaluation (PA&E).  During his assignment there, Captain Williamson was the lead cost analyst in charge of developing supplemental requirements in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Additionally, he prepared decision papers for the Secretary of Defense in development of the President’s fiscal year 2004 budget request.

Captain Williamson was subsequently assigned command of USS PORTER (DDG 78) from December 2005 until June of 2006.  During his assignment, PORTER set new marks for aggressive completion of Unit Level training which led to Navy-wide changes in continuous readiness.  Under his command, PORTER won numerous unit-level awards including the Battle “E.” 

Following command, Captain Williamson was assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations Staff in the Naval Assessment Division (N81) as the Sea Shield Team Lead.  Upon merger of the N81 and N70 staffs he became the Deputy Branch Head for the newly formed Sea Shaping analysis cell.  Selected as the Executive Assistant to N81 in July 2006, Captain Williamson worked in this capacity until June 2007.   Subsequently he served as Chief of Staff, Carrier Strike Group TWO from July 2007 until August 2008.  Captain Williamson has been in command of DESRON TWO since December 2008.