The Honorable Charles A. Williams assumed his responsibilities on March 31, 2020 to include oversight and policy for Navy and Marine Corps facilities sustainment, restoration and modernization; military construction; acquisition, utilization and disposal of real property and facilities; environmental protection, planning, restoration and natural resources conservation; and safety and occupational health.

Prior to his appointment, Secretary Williams was a Principal of Commercial Realty LLC, a commercial real estate firm in St. Louis, specializing in client representation for office, industrial, retail and investment properties. Previously, he was a logistics engineer working on F-18 supportability and a contract negotiator for the AV-8B and F-18 program at McDonnell Douglas.

Secretary Williams retired from the Navy at the rank of Rear Admiral, last serving as Deputy Commander, Naval Inventory Control Point, a 2,800-person organization with $5 billion in sales responsible for aviation, ship and submarine parts.

Secretary Williams graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in 1972, and received his MBA from St. Louis University in 1981. After earning his commission through Aviation Officer Candidate School, he attended the Navy Supply Corps School and Joint Aviation Supply/Maintenance Program. In 1974 he was assigned to VS-28 and CAG-6 while deployed onboard USS America (CV-66). In 1977, he was selected to the Naval Acquisition Contracting Officer (NACO) Intern Program and assigned to the Aviation Supply Office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, contracting for aircraft parts and repair services. He subsequently attended Army, Navy and Air Force Defense Contracting Courses and Executive Programs at the University of Virginia and Naval Post Graduate School.

After release from active duty, Williams continued his naval career with diverse assignments in CONUS and overseas units including Joint Service commands and the Secretary of the Navy's Office of Program Appraisal at the Pentagon. Assignments included five reserve Commanding Officer tours: NSC Pensacola; NSD Guam; DCMD Chicago; NAVICP Mechanicsburg and DSC Columbus. He attended Executive Programs at Harvard and North Carolina focusing on International Relations and Logistics, the Naval and Army War Colleges, the NATO School in Germany with Foreign Military and Political Leaders, the Transportation Management School and Center for Creative Leadership Courses.

Williams is active in the St. Louis community. He served on committees with the Regional Commerce and Growth Association and St. Louis Realtor Association for economic development, Special School District educational committees, and as the Missouri State Representative for Tuberous Sclerosis. He has been a speaker to local organizations on naval sea power. He is president of the St. Louis Navy League and president of the Ritenour Foundation.

Last Updated: 8 March 2024