Col. William Walker

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Hometown: Hartland, WI Last College: U.S. Air Force Academy ('83) Position: Vice Director of Athletics

Colonel Billy Walker is the Vice Director of Athletics as well as the Professor and Head of the Physical Education Department, Directorate of Athletics, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado. He is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Academy's athletic department to include 27 NCAA Division I sports as well as a multifaceted program involving physical education, cadet fitness testing and evaluation, and an intramural program for over 4,000 cadets. A recognized expert in intercollegiate athletic issues, he has served on multiple national committees and was asked by the United States Department of Education to testify as an expert panelist for the Secretary's Commission on Opportunity in Athletics.

Raised in Hartland, Wisconsin, Colonel Walker graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1983 where he was captain of the varsity wrestling team his senior year. After receiving his commission as a second lieutenant, he attended Undergraduate helicopter Training at Fort Rucker, AL. His first assignment after pilot training was as an instructor/evaluator pilot at George AFB, CA. From 1987-1991, Colonel Walker was a pilot in the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Andrews AFB, MD, providing priority airlift to our nation's highest-ranking officials. While at Andrews, Colonel Walker was the 89th Military Airlift Wing Director of Operations' Executive Officer as well as a Military Assistant to the Presidential Inaugural Committee. Colonel Walker then moved to the United States Air Force Academy as a physical Education instructor, assistant wrestling coach, and Director of the Fitness Testing and Evaluation Division. Walker later served as Commander of the 37th Rescue Flight, Francis E. Warren AFB, WY where his unit earned the distinction of "Best Helicopter Operations" in Air Force Space Command and garnered 25 "Saves" and 25 "Assists" while flying 82 rescue missions. In 1998, Colonel Walker was chosen as the Operations Officer for the 1st Helicopter Squadron, Andrews AFB, MD and was later selected as the Commander of this, the largest helicopter squadron in the Air Force. While Commander, he instituted a new Head-of-State mission and began routinely transporting the Vice President of the United States for the first time in decades. Additionally, he saw his squadron surpass the rotary-wing record of 200,000 accident-free flying hours. Colonel Walker subsequently became the Deputy Commander of the 89th Operations Group, an 800-person organization responsible for the safe transport of the President of the United States, Vice President, Cabinet Secretaries, members of Congress, foreign heads of state and other dignitaries around the world.

In April of 2001, Colonel Walker was chosen as the first Permanent Professor of Athletics and Physical Education at the United States Air Force Academy. He was a member of the NCAA Wrestling Committee from 2002-2007, serving as Chair from 2005-2007. He is currently the Chairman of the ECAC Lacrosse League Executive Committee, is a member of the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee and is the founding Commissioner of the Western Wrestling Conference.

Walker holds a Bachelor of Science in History from the United States Air Force Academy, a Master of Arts in National Security Studies from California State University, San Bernardino, and a Doctor of Education in Physical Education with an emphasis in Sports Administration and Law from the University of Northern Colorado. He and his wife, Caroline, have one daughter, Kaela, who is a freshman at Northwestern University.