COMMANDER William L. Read, USN Commander READ attended the University of Illinois and Columbia University as an Undergraduate before entering the United States Naval Academy in 1945. He was graduated and commissioned on 3 June 1949. His operational experience as a Naval Officer has been gained in destroyer and amphibious type ships. He has served in the USS BROWNSON (DD-868), USS MOUNT OLYMPUS (AGC-8), and USS JONAS INGRAM (DD-938). From 1961 to 1963 he commanded USS VAN VOORHIS (DE-1028). Commander READ is a graduate of the United States Naval War College. His shore assignments have included work in the Bureau of Naval Personnel involving special studies of the Navy promotion machinery and also as Flag Secretary to the Commander of the Atlantic Fleet Destroyer Force. Prior to reporting to his present command, USS KING, he served as a military assistant in the Office of the Secretary of Defense in Washington. WILLIAM L. READ retired in 1979 as the Commander of the Surface Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, with the rank of Vice Admiral, after 35 years on active duty. From 1979 to 1983, he was Vice President of Lone Star Industries, Inc. Vice Admiral Read is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Naval War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, and has an MS degree in Business Administration from George Washington University.