Commander William B. Palmer II Executive Officer
Commander William B. Palmer, II, a native of Parkville, Missouri, enlisted as a Cryptologic Technician Intepretive (CTI) in 1988. He was the first Chinese Mandarin linguist to qualify as a national mission, subsurface, surface and airborne Cryptologic Direct Support Element Supervisor/Petty Officer-In-Charge. Palmer also served as an enlisted technical liaison to the Royal and Royal Australian Navies.
In 1996, CTI1(AW/SS/NAC) Palmer was selected for the legacy Seaman to Admiral program and commissioned an Ensign via Officer Candidate School in 1997. At sea, he has served as the Combat Electronics, Fire Control, Electronics Material Officer and Combat Communications Officer in USS TARAWA (LHA 1), the Auxiliaries Officer during the USS ESSEX (LHA 2)/BELLEAU WOOD (LHA 3) hull swap, and the commissioning Weapons Officer and later the Combat Systems Officer in USS NITZE (DDG 94). While aboard TARAWA, he was awarded the 1999 Shiphandler of the Year Award.
Shore tours include University Of San Diego Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, Destroyer Class Squadron (DDGRON), Navy War College (NWC), and NOSC Charlotte. In 2007, he augmented to Surface Warfare Officer Full Time Support serving as DDGRON’s Deputy Operational Support Officer and N3A/N7A. While assigned to NWC, LCDR Palmer assisted the Chinese Maritime Studies Institute. In August 2010, CDR Palmer assumed command of Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Charlotte, NC leading more than 270 active and reserve Sailors in meeting Combatant Commander and Fleet Commander requirements through the training, readiness and mobilization of reservists.
Palmer has served two Individual Augmentation assignments. First he deployed in support of EXPEDITIONARY ACTION GROUP ONE’s Horn of Africa counter-piracy mission in 2006. In Spring of 2008, he joined JOINT CREW COMPOSITION SQUADRON ONE’s Counter RCIED mission in Taji, Iraq supporting 1st Infantry Division, 1st Sustainment Brigade and later 10th Mountain Division, 10th Sustainment Brigade.
In September 2012, he reported aboard USS NORMANDY (CG 60) for duties as the Executive Officer.
CDR Will Palmer holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in International Relations from the University of San Diego, a Master’s of Arts in Diplomacy from Norwich University, and a Master’s of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College.
His personal awards include the Bronze Star Medal, six Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medals, four Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal, the Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal as well as various campaign and service awards.