# William R. Merz

William Rhode Merz (born March 10, 1963) is a retired United States Navy vice admiral who last served as deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy from August 6, 2021 to October 7, 2022. He previously served as commander of U. S. Seventh Fleet from 2019 to 2021.
Merz's aboard assignments include USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19), "Submarine Group Seven" and Task Force 74. As a flag officer, he was assigned to commands at naval mine destroyer ships and anti-submarine warfare command. Later, he was appointed to Task Force 77 stationed at San Diego and TF-54 in Bahrain.

## Education

Bill Merz was born in San Diego, California. In 1986, he graduated with merit from the United States Naval Academy, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ocean Engineering. He later earned Master's Degrees from The Catholic University of America and the Naval War College. VADM Merz also completed the MIT seminar XXI program and the University of Virginia "Strategic Thinking" program.

## Career

VADM Merz served as a director during his ashore flag officer assignments, including Naval Undersea Warfare Center for a ballistic missile submarine program (OPNAV N97). Later, he was appointed as the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for warfare systems (DCNO OPNAV N9). His submarine design research assignments includes commanding officer of the U.S. naval reactors, chief of staff for the Submarine Force Commander. As a submariner, Merz was assigned to USS Haddo in San Diego, USS Proteus in Guam, and USS Boise in Norfolk. After serving aboard, he was assigned to command the deep-submergence vehicle NR-1, Los Angeles-class submarine USS Memphis and a submarine squadron.

## Awards and decorations

Submarine Warfare Officer Insignia :
| Navy Distinguished Service Medal with award star ||||||
| Defense Superior Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster | Defense Superior Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster | Legion of Merit with four award stars | Legion of Merit with four award stars | Meritorious Service Medal with three award stars | Meritorious Service Medal with three award stars |
| Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with award star | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with award star | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award star | Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award star | Joint Meritorious Unit Award | Joint Meritorious Unit Award |
| Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars | Navy E Ribbon, 1st award | Navy E Ribbon, 1st award |
| Navy Expeditionary Medal with bronze service star | Navy Expeditionary Medal with bronze service star | National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star | National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star | Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star | Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star |
| Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | Armed Forces Service Medal | Armed Forces Service Medal |
| Humanitarian Service Medal | Humanitarian Service Medal | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver and three bronze service stars | Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver and three bronze service stars | Navy Arctic Service Ribbon | Navy Arctic Service Ribbon |
| Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze service star | Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze service star | Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd Class | Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd Class | Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal | Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal |
| Deep Submergence Insignia in gold ||||||
| Command at Sea insignia ||||||
| Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge ||||||