Colonel Williamson has recently completed an assignment with Headquarters Marine Corps (HQMC) in the Command, Control, Communications, and Computers (C4) Department, where he served as the Deputy Chief, Resources and Operations Division.
Colonel Williamson is from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) and was commissioned in the Marine Corps in May 1994. He reported to Quantico, Virginia in August 1994, where he attended The Basic School and follow on instruction at the Basic Communication Officers Course.
In 1995, Colonel Williamson reported to Camp Pendleton, California for duty, where he was initially assigned to 9th Communication Battalion. While with 9th Communication Battalion, he completed assignments as the Wire, Satellite and Data Communication Platoon Commanders. In January 1998, Colonel Williamson reported to the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) for duty as the Assistant Communications Officer (S-6A) and Joint Task Force Enabler Officer in Charge. In June 1998, he deployed with 15th MEU(SOC) on a Western Pacific (WESTPAC) deployment.
From 1999-2002, Colonel Williamson was assigned to USNA in Annapolis, Maryland. Following completion of the Naval Postgraduate School (NPS) Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) Masters Degree Program as a Distinguished Graduate, he served as a Company Officer and Naval Leadership/Naval Science Instructor.
In 2002, Colonel Williamson attended the Expeditionary Warfare School (EWS) and Command, Control, Communications and Computers Planners Course (C4PC) in Quantico. Upon EWS graduation, Colonel Williamson was honored as a Distinguished Graduate and selected to receive the Colonel Donald C. Cook Award for excellence in Command, Control and Communications.
From 2003-2005, Colonel Williamson was re-assigned to 9th Communication Battalion. He first served as the Support Company Commander, deploying in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM (OIF) in 2003. He re-deployed to Iraq in support of OIF II as the Battalion S-3 Operations Officer from August 2004-April 2005.
In July 2005, Colonel Williamson reported to Okinawa, Japan. He first served with 3d Marine Division as the G-6 Operations Officer. In 2006, he was assigned to command the 3d Marine Division Communication Company. Following that assignment, Colonel Williamson served as the III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) Staff Secretary.
In July 2008, Colonel Williamson attended the Marine Corps Command and Staff College (CSC) in Quantico. Upon graduation, he was recognized as a Distinguished Graduate and earned a Masters of Military Studies from Marine Corps University.
Colonel Williamson reported for Joint duty with U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) at Tampa, Florida in June 2009. During that tour, he served as a Branch Chief in the J6 Communications Systems Directorate. Additionally, in 2010 he deployed to Iraq, serving as the J6 Director of Communications for a Joint Special Operations Task Force.
From June 2011 to May 2013, Colonel Williamson was the Commanding Officer of 9th Communication Battalion in Camp Pendleton. While in command, the battalion was responsible for the provision of C4 in support of the command elements of each I MEF Marine Air-Ground Task Force. Operational units from 9th Communication Battalion were deployed or prepared for rapid deployment in support of I MEF Forward in Afghanistan; the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade; 11th, 13th, and 15th Marine Expeditionary Units; and all I MEF forces assigned to real-world and contingency operations.
In 2013, Colonel Williamson completed a Top Level School assignment as a Secretary of Defense Corporate Fellow to Microsoft Corp. Following the fellowship, he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) in the Pentagon. While with the JCS from 2014-2016, he served as a Branch Chief and Program Manager within the J6 C4/Cyber Directorate.
Colonel Williamson’s academic and professional education includes: B.S., Computer Science (USNA, 1994); M.S., Management (NPS, 2000); Masters of Military Studies (MCU, 2009); Darden School of Business Executive Education Course (UVA, 2013); Expeditionary Warfare School (2003); C4 Planners Course (2003); USMC Command and Staff College (2009); Joint-Combined Warfighting School JPME-II (JFSC, 2009); Joint C4I/Cyber Staff & Operations Course (JFSC, 2016).
Colonel Williamson’s personal decorations include the Bronze Star, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster in lieu of third award), Meritorious Service Medal (two Gold Stars in lieu of third award), Navy-Marine Corps Commendation Medal, and Navy-Marine Corps Achievement Medal.