William James Kear

MEDAL-RIBBONS: Defense Superior Service, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star w/Combat 'V', Meritorious Service (2), Joint Service Commendation, Navy Commendation (4), Navy Achievement Award, Combat Action Ribbon, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy 'E' (2), National Defense Service, Armed Forces Expeditionary, Southwest Asia Service, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary, Global War on Terrorism Service, Kuwait Liberation, Sea Service Deployment (4)

William James Kear was born August 20, 1953 in Wheeling, West Virginia where he was raised until attending the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD in 1973. Graduating in June 1977 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Jim was commissioned as an Ensign in the United States Navy. Spanning over 28 years, Jim’s career assignments included duty in the USS Cayuga (LST 1186), USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG 5) and USS Princeton (CG 59). He was uniquely fortunate to enjoy two commands at sea of Aegis Guided Missile Cruisers, USS Valley Forge (CG 50) and USS Mobile Bay (CG53) and received numerous unit citations for operational excellence and superior retention and command climate. His command philosophy was “Do it right the first time and do it with class.” His Sailors embraced that philosophy demonstrated by their personal and collective success.

Among Jim’s personal awards was the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal and Bronze Star (with Combat ‘V’) for heroic performance during the Gulf War in 1991. While in command of USS Mobile Bay, he conducted combat operations in the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003. He also enjoyed assignments ashore during his career at the US Naval Academy as an instructor and Flag Lieutenant to the Superintendent, Congressional Liaison Officer to the House and Senate Defense Subcommittees on Capitol Hill and Chief of Staff to the Atlantic/Pacific Surface Forces Command Headquarters in Coronado, CA.

Captain Kear held a Masters Degree in Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA in 1989 where he was also Class President, and a Masters Degree in National Security Strategy from the National War College in Washington, DC in 1994. He was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and Marine Technology Society. Jim loved the Navy and mentoring Sailors.

Retiring from the US Navy as a Captain in 2004, Jim settled in San Diego and is currently employed in the defense industry serving US Navy and Marine Corps customers world-wide.