Maj. Gen. Timothy Williams '85
Currently: Adjutant general of Virginia
Status: Alumnus
Degree: Management
Class year: 1985
On Ut Prosim: Williams, a member of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and the Highty-Tighties while at Virginia Tech, has served his country and state in various capacities since being commissioned into the U.S. Army upon graduation in 1985. Williams spent more than five years on active duty before working for the Department of the Army as a civilian for more than 14 years. He was mobilized in 2003 and again in 2007, serving in Iraq. In 2014, Williams was appointed the adjutant general of Virginia, overseeing the Virginia Army National Guard, Virginia Air National Guard, and Virginia Defense Force. He took the oath to serve again this past July after Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin reappointed him for a third term.
Williams’ grandfather, father, brother, and son all have served or are serving in the Virginia National Guard. His father, wife, brother, and daughter graduated from Virginia Tech and were members of the corps.
“All I had to do was look to my dad and my brother, and not only were they inspirational in terms of service, but they certainly served as an example of what was available at Virginia Tech and what the corps did and still continues to do, frankly,” Williams said.
On how Virginia Tech impacted him: “Tech, and what I went through there, was absolutely one of the key components of my ability to survive and to reach out for any opportunity and have confidence in myself. In my case, spending five-plus years on active duty and then making the decision to return to my state and to join the National Guard, Tech was a central part of that. I had the confidence because of that. I could do it and I could find my path.”
On the importance of service for Virginia Tech’s future: “We now face a critical juncture in our nation. Can our nation move into the next 250 years? Not just Virginia Tech's 150 years, but can we go into the next 250 years? I think Virginia Tech will be a key component of leading that way, so that, as a republic, we continue to thrive and to grow. … Virginia Tech should be a leader in all that. Virginia Tech absolutely can move into the next 150 years, but frankly, they must, because our nation needs more schools like Tech.”
