William "Will" M. Fraser III

Will Fraser is a proven strategic leader, administrator, and communicator. He is a highly decorated retired General of the United States Air Force and landed at the pinnacle of the United States Military as one of nine Combatant Commanders.

During 40 years of service, he held a variety of demanding command and staff positions. He has led large-scale, diverse, global organizations where he earned a reputation as a motivational leader, strategic thinker, and change agent who delivered solutions to the most complex challenges.

As Commander, United States Transportation Command—a Unified, Combatant Command—he answered directly to the President of the United States and Secretary of Defense and served as the single manager responsible for global air, land, and maritime transport for the Department of Defense. He led the

most comprehensive and collaborative strategic planning effort in the command’s 25-year history. His diplomatic skill fostered new international partnerships and strengthened others enhancing the nation’s unparalleled ability to rapidly project influence, anywhere at anytime. He led over 130,000 personnel and annually executed over $12 billion of business.

As Commander, Air Combat Command, the largest major command in the Air Force, he was responsible for organizing, training, equipping, and maintaining combat-ready forces while ensuring strategic air defense forces were ready to meet the challenges of peacetime air sovereignty and wartime defense. The command consisted of over 130,000 personnel who operated over 2000 aircraft at more than 300 locations worldwide.

As Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, he presided over the Air Staff and served as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Requirements Oversight Council and Deputy Advisory Working Group. He led the organization, training and equipping of over 690,000 people serving in the United States Air Force and provided oversight of a $120 billion annual budget.

As Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, he represented the Chairman or Vice Chairman in the White House, traveled internationally as an advisor to the Secretary of State, and served as the Middle East Peace Process Roadmap Monitor. During his tenure, he streamlined the coordination process and increased collaboration between the Department of Defense and Department of State to obtain time-sensitive policy decisions and to meet US strategic objectives.

He held a variety of additional assignments including command of two bomb wings. His extensive experience in wartime, contingency and humanitarian relief operations includes Operation Southern and Northern Watch, Operation Desert Thunder, Operation Allied Force, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation Enduring Freedom.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and a Master of Science in Management Information Systems from the University of Northern Colorado. Additionally, he completed the National Security Leadership Course National Security Studies at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University, the Executive Development Program Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University, the Program for Senior Executives in National and International Security John F. Kennedy School of Government Harvard University, the Senior Intelligence Fellows Program and Leadership at the Peak Center for Creative Leadership Colorado Springs.

He is currently the Sierra Nevada Corporation Executive Vice President for Washington DC Operations. He is also a Strategic Advisor for Decision Lens, Knight Aerospace, Sarcos, Veelo Technologies, a Senior Fellow for National Defense University, and an Adjunct Contract Professor for the Air Force. Additionally, he is an Outside Director for CEVA Government Services and is serving on the Texas A&M University (TAMU) President’s Board of Visitors, TAMU Galveston Board of Visitors, TAMU Corps of Cadets Association Board of Directors, and TAMU Association of Former Students Leadership Council.