Colonel William D. McGarrity
Col. McGarrity is a native of Winter Haven, Florida. He was commissioned as an Infantry Officer in 1987 as a Distinguished Military Graduate from Georgia Southern College, Statesboro, Georgia, with a Bachelor’s of Art Degree in History and English.
Following commissioning, he attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course and the Ranger Course at Fort Benning, Georgia and was subsequently assigned to the 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Greaves, Republic of Korea, serving as a Rifle Platoon Leader. Following his Korea tour, he attended flight training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. After earning his flight wings he was branch transferred to the Aviation Branch and was assigned to the 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Brigade, Fort Hood, Texas, serving as the Assistant S-3, Aero-Scout Platoon Leader, Squadron S-4 and Headquarters and Headquarters Troop Commander. Following completion of the Advanced Course, he was assigned to the 82nd Aviation Brigade, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina serving as the D Company (AVIM) Executive Officer and the Brigade S-1. His next assignment was to the 2nd Battalion, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), Fort Campbell, Kentucky, where he served as the Battalion S-4, Battalion Executive Officer and Commander, D Company (AVIM) . After this assignment he attended the Air Command and Staff College, Maxwell Air Force Base. His next assignment was to the Special Management Division, Human Resources Command. His battalion command was the 603rd Aviation Support Battalion, 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia. Following command he was assigned to the Army Staff, Office of the Chief of Staff, Army, Washington, D.C., serving in the Senior Leader Division as the Aviation Colonels Human Resource Manager. Upon completion of the National War College, he was assigned as the Aviation Transformation Division Chief for HQDA G-3/5/7 Aviation Directorate.
Col. McGarrity holds Master’s Degrees in International Relations from Saint Mary’s University, San Antonio, Texas; Military Operational Art and Science, from Air University, Maxwell AFB, Alabama and National Security Strategy from the National War College, Washington, D.C.
Col. McGarrity’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (1 OLC), Meritorious Service Medal (6 OLC), Air Medal (NUM 2), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (1 OLC), Joint Service Achievement Medal, Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Combat Action Badge, Master Army Aviator Badge, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, the Canadian Parachutist Badge and the Army Staff Identification Badge.