Brig. Gen. William M. Parker was born in Pineville, Kentucky. He commissioned as an air defense artillery officer from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science degree in history.

He holds master’s degrees in history from Clemson University; management from Webster University; military operational art and science from Air University; and strategic studies from the U.S. Army War College.

Brig. Gen. Parker began his career as a platoon leader with 1st Battalion, 2nd Air Defense Artillery, at Fort Bliss, Texas. He later served with the 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery, in Fort Bliss and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as a fire center officer and tactical director. After completing the Infantry Captain’s Career Course, he commanded A Battery, 1st Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery, at Fort Hood, Texas. He also served as an assistant professor of military science at Clemson University.

His command and leadership assignments include commander, 30th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; commander, 5th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Fort Bliss, and Operation Active Fence, Turkey; and professor of military science, ROTC program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan. With the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Brig. Gen. Parker served as rear detachment commander at Fort Campbell and as Iraqi Army Brigade Military Transition Team chief during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Brig. Gen. Parker’s key joint and staff assignments include theater access control officer, Multi-National Force–Iraq, U.S. Embassy; chief, Air and Missile Defense Plans and Policy Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, Headquarters, Department of the Army, Washington; chief of staff, 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; military deputy, Joint Counter-Small Unmanned Aerial Systems Office, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7, Arlington, Virginia; and most recently, director, Air and Missile Defense Cross Functional Team, Fort Sill.

His military education includes the Air Defense Artillery Officer Basic Course, Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Air Command and Staff College, U.S. Army War College and Airborne School.

Brig. Gen. Parker’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Citation, Army Superior Unit Award, Combat Action Badge and Parachutist Badge.

Brig. Gen. Parker is married to the former Kerry Bennett of Walton, Indiana. They have three children: Pixie, Billie and Cassie.