FORCM William “Bill” King, USN (Ret.)
Force Master Chief William “Bill” King, USN (Ret.)
The recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Sea Service Award for Senior Enlisted is Force Master Chief William “Bill” King, USN (Ret.)
A Texas native, FORCM King enlisted in 1991 and became a SEAL in 1992. He served six years at SEAL Team ONE and 20 years at the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU). At DEVGRU, he served at all the enlisted leadership levels including serving as a squadron Command Master Chief and the DEVGRU Command Master Chief. He deployed to Afghanistan in November of 2001 and was involved in the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003. He completed eleven deployments (nine combat deployments) and participated in multiple contingency operations throughout Southeast Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Horn of Africa.
He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography from the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and a Master of International Public Policy from The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington DC. His military awards include the Legion of Merit, six Bronze Stars (five with Valor), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and various other personal and unit decorations.
He served as the ninth Force Master Chief of Naval Special Warfare (NSW) at Naval Special Warfare Command (WARCOM), the component headquarters for NSW, from August 2018 until his retirement in August 2022.
Master Chief King’s wife, Robin King, has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Navy SEAL Foundation since 2013. Prior to being CEO, Robin served as the Navy SEAL Foundation’s Chief Financial Officer.