• Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, Kansas State University 1967
• Masters Degree in Human Relations with Webster College 1976
• 2 years US Marine Corps Reserve
• 2 years USAF ROTC, Kansas State University, (Cadet Wing Commander)
• 1967 - 1994 active duty USAF

Viet Nam: Dec 1968 to Dec 1969

• Flew 466 sorties for 960 combat hours.
• Combat awards include:
• The Silver Star
• Two Distinguished Flying Crosses
• Air Medal for combat action
• 11 Air Medals for numbers of combat sorties flown

Military Schools:
• USAF Squadron Officers School 1974
• USAF Air Command and Staff College 1977
• USAF Air War College 1987

Aircraft flown: T-72, T-37, T-38, O-2A, O2-B, T-29, OV-10, OA-37, A-10

He served in many military positions from Flight Commander through Squadron Commander to Group Commander.

Military positions held include:
• I Corps Air Liaison Officer & Group Commander
• Deputy Chief, Hq TAC/DOS
• Chief, Hq TAC/DOYF
• Commander, 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron
• Operations Officer, 19th Tactical Air Support Squadron
• Wing Instructor Pilot , O-2A, OV-10, A-10, OA-37
• Wing Titan II Nuclear Combat Missile Commander / Instructor
• Chief, Wing Plans and Exercises
• Chief, Wing Inspector General
• Chief, Wing Training Office
• Chief, Group Standardization and Evaluation

Narrative:

Colonel Bill Townsley was born at Fort Knox, KY, and traveled the world with his military family.  He served 2 years in both the US Marine Corps Reserve (’63 -’64) attaining the rank of Lance Corporal and USAFR (’65 –’67) with the rank of Staff Sergeant.  While at Kansas State University he was an ROTC Cadet Colonel and Wing Commander of one of its two ROTC wings.  He received a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from KSU in 1967, and a Masters degree in Human Relations from Webster College in 1976.

In Dec 1968, following Air Force pilot and survival training, he went to Viet Nam.  During the next year, he flew 466 sorties for 960 combat hours.   His combat awards include: the Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, an Air Medal for combat action, and 11 Air Medals for numbers of combat sorties flown.  He was featured in a 2000 History Channel series, “Dangerous Mission” for one of his exploits in Vietnam.

His overseas travels included Austria (3 yrs.), Japan (3 yrs.), Vietnam (1 yr), Germany (3 yrs.), South Korea (4 yrs), and many temporary duty locations overseas as well.

Since Bill’s retirement in Yorktown, Virginia in October 1994, he has been active in community, veteran, political, and charitable organizations.  This included: Commander (’96 -’97 and ’01-’10) of the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars; Commander, Department of Virginia MOWW (’04-06’), Chairman, York County Republican Committee (’94 -’98); President of the York River Exchange Club for 7 years (a charitable organization dedicated to the prevention of child abuse); Secretary of the Exchange Club of York (‘08-’11) and Treasure of the three state Colonial District Exchange Clubs (‘09-’11), and he Past Commander and of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 824 (’07-‘08), and a member the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 13. 

In 1998, he received a gubernatorial appointment from Governor Gilmore of Virginia, and served in the Department of Rehabilitative Services for one year.  From 2000 to 2008, he wrote a political column for the weekly Yorktown Crier called “Rogue Elephant,” and later called, “Free and Independent.”  He was a substitute teacher in the York County School Division for five years ’00-’05).  In 2005, he founded a small business, We7, Inc, to produce math puzzles for newspapers and to also develop and maintain websites.  From 1999 to 2005, Col. Townsley was Chairman of Senator George Allen’s Tidewater Area Military Academy Selection Committee.  In 2008, he received an appointment to Gov. Tim Kaine’s Joint Leadership Council under the Department of Veterans Services, and he is also on Congressman Rob Wittman’s veterans affairs council.  In January 2010, Bill volunteered for and was eventually elected to chair a new committee of citizens brought together to plan, organize and conduct a Yorktown 4^th of July Parade.   

In April 2002, he founded the American Independence Foundation, a non-profit, all volunteer organization dedicated to providing Youth Leadership Conferences for deserving high school sophomore and junior students from throughout the Nation.  Since its inception, he has conducted eleven of these conferences, serving over 400 students ranging from CA, FL, KY, LA, MD, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OK, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, WI, and VA.  In December, 2006 Colonel Townsley resigned as Director of the Foundation, but became an Assistant Director and remains an active fundraiser and assists in organizing the AIFCV Youth Leadership Conferences.

Bill is married to Linda Lou (Bell) Townsley.  He has five children and nine grandchildren.

Blister