Michael J . Williams Michael J . Williams ( born 12 July 1943 ) is a retired United States Marine Corps 4 - star general . He served as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps from 2000 until his retirement in 2002 . Biography . Michael J . Williams was born in Baltimore , Maryland on July 12 , 1943 . He enlisted in the United States Navy in 1960 and was commissioned a second lieutenant upon graduation from the U . S . Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in June 1967 . He also holds Masters Degrees from the University of Southern California ( 1974 ) and the College of Naval Warfare . He was promoted to first lieutenant on September 7 , 1968 and upon completion of Naval Flight Training at Pensacola , Florida , he was designated a Naval Aviator in February 1969 . Promoted to captain on February 1 , 1971 , Williams served operational tours in both the continental United States and the Republic of Vietnam before being ordered to the Marine Corps Amphibious Warfare School , Quantico , Virginia , in 1973 . Upon graduation in June 1974 , he served on Okinawa , Japan with the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing . Returning to the United States in the summer of 1975 , Capt Williams joined Marine Helicopter Squadron 1 at Quantico . There , he was designated a Presidential Helicopter Pilot while serving in various positions with the Squadron . He was promoted to major on August 1 , 1977 and in July 1978 , he was selected to attend the Marine Corps Command and Staff College , Quantico . Following graduation in June 1979 , Maj Williams was ordered to the U . S . Naval Academy at Annapolis , Maryland , where he served as a Company Officer and Executive Assistant to the Commandant of Midshipmen . He transferred to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing , El Toro , California in July 1982 , for duty as Executive Officer of Headquarters and Maintenance Squadron 16 , and later as Commanding Officer of Marine Helicopter Training Squadron 301 . He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on October 1 , 1982 . From June 1984 until June 1985 , LtCol Williams attended the Naval War College , Newport , Rhode Island . Following graduation , he was ordered to the 3rd Marine Division on Okinawa , where he served as the Assistant Division G - 3 . Returning to the states in the summer of 1986 , he reported to Headquarters Marine Corps , Washington , D . C . , for duty as the Marine Corps Program Development Officer , and later the Head , Program Development Branch , Requirements and Program Division . He was promoted to colonel on October 1 , 1988 . In July 1989 , Col Williams transferred to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing at Cherry Point , North Carolina , as the Wing Inspector before assuming duty as Marine Aircraft Group 26 , Executive Officer in April 1990 . Col Williams then assumed command of Marine Aircraft Group 26 ( MAG - 26 ) on July 16 , 1990 . He deployed the MAG to Saudi Arabia to participate in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm , returning to the United States in May 1991 . He was assigned duty as the Vice Director for Operational Plans and Interoperability , J - 7 , and Vice Director , Joint Staff for Military Education , The Joint Staff , in November 1991 . While serving in this capacity , he was selected for promotion to brigadier general in December 1991 , and advanced to that grade on April 1 , 1992 . BGen Williams served in that capacity until July 16 , 1993 , when he assumed command of 2nd Force Service Support Group ( 2nd FSSG ) . On June 8 , 1994 , BGen Williams was appointed Commanding General , Joint Task Force 160 , a humanitarian relief effort for Haitian and Cuban migrants at Guantanamo Naval Base , Cuba . He resumed command of the 2d FSSG on October 31 , 1994 . He was advanced to the grade of major general in March 1995 and in July was appointed Director of the Marine Corps Staff , Washington , D . C . He assumed assignment on July 23 , 1996 as the Commander , Marine Corps Systems Command , Quantico . He was promoted to lieutenant general on August 5 , 1998 . LtGen Williams served as the Deputy Chief of Staff , Programs and Resources , Headquarters , Marine Corps , Washington , D . C . , as his last assignment prior to becoming the Assistant Commandant . Lieutenant General Williams became the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps on September 8 , 2000 and was advanced to the rank of general on November 1 , 2000 . He served as Assistant Commandant until September 9 , 2002 and retired from active duty in November 2002 . Awards and decorations . General Williams ’ decorations include :