• 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

Narrative:

Bill was born to a military family in 1942 at Fort Knox, KY.  He traveled the nation and the world with his career Army parents, attending many different schools before entering college in 1961.  He joined the Marine Corps Reserve in 1963, and went back to Kansas State University in 1964 after his six months active duty.   

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.  The History Channel's series, Dangerous Missions: Forward Air Controllers,  features then 2nd Lt Townsley's shootdown, evasion and escape  in Laos January 18 & 19, 1969.  

His overseas travels include 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 he has been active in community, veteran, political, and charitable organizations.  This included: Commander (’96 -’97 and ’01-’08) of the Hampton Roads Chapter of the Military Order of World Wars; Commander, Virginia MOWW (’95 - ’97 and ’01 – ’08), 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); Past Commander of the Yorktown Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 824 (’07-’08) and Officer of the Day, Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 13 (’05-’07)

In 1998, he received a gubernatorial appointment from Governor of Virginia, and served in the Department of Rehabilitative Services for one year.  Beginning in 2000, he wrote a political column for the weekly Yorktown Crier called “Rogue Elephant,” but changed the title to “Free and Independent” in 2002  He was also 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 publication.  From 1999 to 2005, Col. Townsley was Chairman of Senator George Allen’s Tidewater Area Military Academy Selection Committee.  In 2008 he was appointed by VA's Governor Kaine to the Joint Leadership Council under the Department of Veterans Services.       

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 ten of these conferences, serving over 300 students ranging from CA, FL, KY, LA, MD, MO, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NY, OK, OR, PA, SC, TX, UT, and VA.  In December, 2006 Colonel Townsley resigned as Director of the Foundation, but remains an active fundraiser and Assistant Director of Operations, assisting in organizing the AIFCV Youth Leadership Conferences.

Bill married Linda Lou (Bell) Townsley in 1973.  They have five children and nine grandchildren.

Blister