Peter D . Williams Major General Peter D . Williams ( also known as Drax Williams ; born November 15 , 1939 ) is a retired United States Marine Corps general and an aviator . He served as the Inspector General of the United States Marine Corps in his last command . Biography . Peter D . Williams , originally a native of Geneva , New York , was raised in Bermuda where his father edited the Bermudian magazine . He graduated from Cornell University in 1963 . Early USMC career . After college graduation , he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U . S . Marine Corps . After completing The Basic School at Marine Corps Base Quantico , Virginia , and flight training he was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1965 . Williams then flew the F - 8 Crusader at Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay , Hawaii for two years before joining VMF ( AW ) - 235 , flying the F - 8E Crusader from Da Nang in the Republic of Vietnam . In April 1968 , he reported to 1st Battalion , 3rd Marines , on the Demilitarized Zone as Air Liaison Officer and in September of that year , completed his first combat tour . Returning from overseas , he was assigned for two years as Flight Instructor at Chase Field , Texas . 1970s . Ordered back to Quantico , he attended the Amphibious Warfare School , and in February 1971 , reported for temporary duty to Headquarters Marine Corps , Washington , D . C . , for duty as Special Project Officer ( Harrier ) / Liaison to U . S . Government Accounting Office . In August 1971 , he transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma , Arizona , for duty as Flight Instructor in the A - 4 Skyhawk . During September 1972 , he returned to the Republic of Vietnam where he joined MAG - 12 flying A - 4s at Bien Hoa . During his second combat tour he served as MAG - 12 ' s Aviation Safety Officer , then as the Operations Officer of VMA - 211 , flying over 300 combat missions . Returning in August 1973 , General Williams joined newly recommissioned VMA - 231 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point , North Carolina , where he flew the AV - 8A Harrier and served as Operations Officer until March 1975 when he was posted for two years as Officer in Charge of VMA - 513 Detachment A with seven Harriers assigned . The primary mission of this detachment was to publicly demonstrate the combat capability of the Harrier . In June 1977 he reported to Landing Force Training Command at Little Creek , Va . , as Head , Aviation Section , Supporting Arms Branch . In August 1979 he attended the Armed Forces Staff College and subsequently was assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 32 , Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point , North Carolina , where he assumed command of VMA - 542 . 1980s to present . After two years , he received orders to the NATO Defense College in Rome , Italy and following that tour was assigned in February 1982 as Chief of Plans , Headquarters , Fleet Marine Force , Europe in London . He departed Europe in June 1985 for two years as Commanding Officer , Marine Aircraft Group 12 at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni , Japan where he flew the A - 4 , A - 6 and A - 7 aircraft . In 1987 , he transferred to the Naval Space Command at Dahlgren , Virginia , as Deputy Commander . He was selected in November 1988 for promotion to brigadier general and assigned duty as the Legislative Assistant to the Commandant of the Marine Corps / Director of Public Affairs , Headquarters Marine Corps in August 1989 . General Williams served in this capacity until July 1991 , when he was assigned as Commander , Marine Corps Air Bases , Western Area . This command included Marine Corps Air Station El Toro , Marine Corps Air Station Tustin , and Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton in California , as well as Marine Corps Air Station Yuma , Arizona . He served in this capacity for four years until he assumed his position as Inspector General of tne Marine Corps in July 1995 . He retired from the Marine Corps in 1997 . Awards and medals . General Williams ' decorations include :