William R. Merz

William R. Merz
William R. Merz
	Vice Admiral William R. Merz, September 2019
Nickname(s)	Bill Merz
Born	March 10, 1963 (age 58); San Diego, California
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1986–present
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	United States Seventh Fleet
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal (2); Defense Superior Service Medal (2); Legion of Merit (5); Battenberg Cup (Atlantic Fleet)

William Rhode Merz^[1] (born March 10, 1963)^[2]^[3] is an American flag officer, former deputy chief of naval operations for warfare systems and vice admiral in the United States Navy who served as commander of Seventh Fleet from September 12, 2019 to July 8, 2021.^[4]^[5] Merz's aboard assignments include USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19),^[6] "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.

In June 2021, he was nominated to replace Phillip G. Sawyer as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy.^[7]^[8] He assumed his current position on August 6, 2021.^[9]

Education[]

Bill Merz was born in San Diego, California. In 1986, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering, and later attended The Catholic University of America and the Naval War College where he received master's degrees. Merz received a security studies degree through "MIT seminar XXI program".^[10]

Career[]

Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Adm. Bill Merz salutes side boys as he arrives at the Fleet Activities Yokosuka Theater for the 7th Fleet change of command.

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.^[11]

In 2017 when rear admiral Merz was serving as the director for undersea warfare division-N97, he was promoted to the rank of vice admiral.^[12]

Awards and decorations[]

Submarine Warfare Officer Insignia
Navy Distinguished Service Medal with award star
Defense Superior Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster	Legion of Merit with four award stars	Meritorious Service Medal with three award stars
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with award star	Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award star	Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Navy Unit Commendation	Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars	Navy E Ribbon, 1st award
Navy Expeditionary Medal with bronze service star	National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star	Southwest Asia Service Medal with bronze service star
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal	Armed Forces Service Medal
Humanitarian Service Medal	Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with one silver and three bronze service stars	Navy Arctic Service Ribbon
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon with bronze service star	Order of the Rising Sun, 2nd Class^[13]	Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
Deep Submergence Insignia in gold
Command at Sea insignia
Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge

References[]

^ "PN936 — 99th Congress (1985-1986)". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
^ Birth Index, 1905-1995. Sacramento, California: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.
^ Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 123. Retrieved 2021-06-22.
^ "New U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Takes Charge". USNI News. September 12, 2019.
^ "COMMANDER, U.S. 7th FLEET TO HOLD CHANGE OF COMMAND". U.S. Navy. 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2021-07-08.
^ "Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet calls on US 7th Fleet Commander". October 16, 2019 – via Business Standard.
^ "PN660 - 1 nominee for Navy, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. June 15, 2021.
^ "Flag Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
^ "August 2021 Roster (Public)" (PDF). MyNavyHR. Retrieved 2021-08-06.
^ "Vice Admiral William R. Merz Deputy Chief of Naval" (PDF).
^ "U.S. Navy Biographies - VICE ADMIRAL WILLIAM R. MERZ". www.navy.mil.
^ "Flag Officer Announcements". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
^ "Courtesy call by Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet, VADM William R. MERZ to Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense, ONISHI Hiroyuki and Order Presentation Ceremony". Ministry of Defence, Japan. 2021-07-08.

Military offices
Preceded by ???	Commander of 201?–2016	Succeeded by Richard A. Correll
Preceded by Charles A. Richard	Director of Undersea Warfare of the United States Navy 2016	Succeeded by Acting
Vacant Title last held by Joseph P. Aucoin	Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Warfare Systems of the United States Navy 2016–2019	Succeeded by James Kilby
Preceded by Phillip G. Sawyer	Commander of the United States Seventh Fleet 2019–2021	Succeeded by Karl O. Thomas
Preceded by Phillip G. Sawyer	Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy of the United States Navy 2021–present	Incumbent

[1] "PN936 — 99th Congress (1985-1986)". U.S. Congress. Retrieved 2021-06-07.

[2] Birth Index, 1905-1995. Sacramento, California: State of California Department of Health Services, Center for Health Statistics.

[3] Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy on Active Duty. Bureau of Naval Personnel. October 1, 1990. p. 123. Retrieved 2021-06-22.

[4] "New U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Takes Charge". USNI News. September 12, 2019.

[5] "COMMANDER, U.S. 7th FLEET TO HOLD CHANGE OF COMMAND". U.S. Navy. 2021-07-06. Retrieved 2021-07-08.

[6] "Flag Officer Commanding Eastern Fleet calls on US 7th Fleet Commander". October 16, 2019 – via Business Standard.

[7] "PN660 - 1 nominee for Navy, 117th Congress (2021-2022)". www.congress.gov. June 15, 2021.

[17_June_Flag-8] "Flag Officer Announcements". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2021-06-19.

[August_2021_Roster-9] "August 2021 Roster (Public)" (PDF). MyNavyHR. Retrieved 2021-08-06.

[10] "Vice Admiral William R. Merz Deputy Chief of Naval" (PDF).

[11] "U.S. Navy Biographies - VICE ADMIRAL WILLIAM R. MERZ". www.navy.mil.

[12] "Flag Officer Announcements". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.

[13] "Courtesy call by Commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet, VADM William R. MERZ to Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Defense, ONISHI Hiroyuki and Order Presentation Ceremony". Ministry of Defence, Japan. 2021-07-08.

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