Vice Admiral
William Douglas Houser, USN (Ret.) (born 11 November 1921) is a former
United States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer who later served as a telecommunications executive.
Naval career
Houser joined the
United States NavyThe United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
in 1941 and fought in
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. His military career began aboard
USS NashvilleUSS Nashville , a Brooklyn-class light cruiser, was laid down on 24 January 1935 by New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey; launched on 2 October 1937; sponsored by Misses Ann and Mildred Stahlman; and commissioned on 6 June 1938, Captain William W...
(CL-43) in 1941. In 1944 the vessel was subject to a kamikaze attack that killed 131 people and injured many others.
After
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he became a
naval aviatorA United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981...
. He soon rose through the ranks to become operations officer and an executive officer of Fighter Squadron One-L.
In the
Korean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
Houser was assigned as commanded of Fighter Squadron 44 and was awarded a
Bronze starThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
for his combat skills. He also fought in the
Korean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
as commander of a fighter squadron.
After Korea he was with Air Development Squadron Three and later commanded Fighter Squadron 124, which was the Navy’s largest at the time.
He also fought in the
Vietnam WarThe Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, serving in 1966 as commander of the Kitty Hawk-class aircraft carrier
USS ConstellationUSS Constellation , a Kitty Hawk-class supercarrier, was the third ship of the United States Navy to be named in honor of the "new constellation of stars" on the flag of the United States and the only naval vessel ever authorized to display red, white, and blue designation numbers...
. His Vietnam service earned him the
Legion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
.
He served as a member of the joint staff of the
Joint Chiefs of StaffThe Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
from 1960 to 1962 and again from 1967 to 1968. He was military assistant to the
Secretary of DefenseThe Secretary of Defense is the head and chief executive officer of the Department of Defense of the United States of America. This position corresponds to what is generally known as a Defense Minister in other countries...
from 1962 to 1963, Director of Aviation Plans and Requirements of the United States Navy from 1968 to 1970, Commander of Carrier Division Two of the U.S. Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets from 1970 to 1972, and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations from 1972 to 1976.
In 1972 Houser was promoted to Vice Admiral. He retired from military service in 1976.
During Houser’s time in non-combat positions he was responsible for keeping on the F-14 fighter aircraft, which was at risk of termination.
Telecommunications career
After his military service he perused a career in the telecommunications industry. This began as director of satellite interconnection for the
Corporation for Public BroadcastingThe Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a non-profit corporation created by an act of the United States Congress, funded by the United States’ federal government to promote public broadcasting...
from 1976 to 1979. He then moved on to serve as director of special projects of the Communications Satellite Corporation from 1979 to 1981 and Vice President from 1981 to 1984. He then went on to serve as President of Packet Tech (1984–1986), the Fort Scott Corporation (1986–1988), Interfax (1989–1991), and COM21 (1991–1994).
While at COMSAT in 1980 and working on a business plan for telecommunications satellite parks, Admiral Houser created the word "teleport."
Education
Houser received a B.S. from the
United States Naval AcademyThe United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1941, an M.S. from
George Washington UniversityThe George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
in 1963 and also studied at the
University of Maryland, College of Special & Continuation StudiesThe University of Maryland University College is located in the unincorporated community of Adelphi in Prince George's County, Maryland in the United States. Serving over 90,000 students worldwide, UMUC is the largest 4-year public university in Maryland and one of the largest distance learning...
, the
Naval War CollegeThe Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
, and
Harvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Organizations and clubs
Houser is a member of the
Bohemian ClubThe Bohemian Club is a private men's club in San Francisco, California, United States.Its clubhouse is located at 624 Taylor Street in San Francisco...
of
San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
.
See also
- List of Korean War veterans who are recipients of the Bronze Star
External links