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 most recently 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.
William R. Merz | |
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Nickname(s) | Bill Merz |
Born | San Diego, California | March 10, 1963
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) |
In June 2021, he was nominated to replace Phillip G. Sawyer as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy.[7][8]
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".[9]
Career
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.[10]
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.[11]
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[12] | 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.
- ^ "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 | ||
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Preceded by ??? | Commander of Submarine Group 7 201?–2016 | Succeeded by Richard A. Correll |
Preceded by Charles A. Richard | Director of Undersea Warfare of the United States Navy 2016 | Succeeded by Brian Howes Acting |
Preceded by ??? | 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 |