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Trident Scholar Program
Picture Name

Vice Admiral William H. Hilarides, USN (Ret.)

Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command

Then...

Willy had a typical career pattern at USNA, culminating in becoming company commander as a firstie. Along with being company commander, he was the only Trident Scholar in the company. Willy took the academic standards, applied lots of TV time, and still came out on top. No wonder he was a Physics major. A good friend of the group, Willy will always be remembered as the geek who never geeked, the smack who very seldom smacked, and the real good guy.

William’s Trident Scholar research was titled, “Radiation Effects on Transmission in Optical Fiber System.”

 

...& Now

Raised in Chicago, Vice Adm. William Hilarides graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Physics. After graduation, he served as master of the Naval Academy Sailing Squadron sloop Avenger, competing in numerous offshore racing events.

He holds a master’s degree in engineering management from the Catholic University of America, completed the Air Force Command and Staff College, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Program in International Security Affairs and numerous acquisition schools.

Prior to command, he served at sea aboard USS Pargo (SSN 650), USS Gurnard (SSN 662) and USS Maryland (SSBN 738), deploying to the North Atlantic, Mediterranean, Arctic and Western Pacific, as well as conducting several strategic deterrent patrols. Ashore, he served on the staff of Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet; Bureau of Naval Personnel; Joint Staff; and the staff of the chief of naval operations.

Hilarides commanded USS Key West (SSN 722) from May 1998 to November 2000 in Pearl Harbor. In command, he deployed to the Western Pacific and conducted a major shipyard maintenance period.

Since becoming an acquisition professional in 2002, he has served as director, Advanced Submarine Research and Development, program manager of the SSGN Program and program executive officer for submarines, where he was responsible for all new construction submarine programs, along with the acquisition and life cycle maintenance of submarine weapons, countermeasures, sonar, combat control and imaging systems.

Hilarides became the 43rd commander of Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) June 7, 2013. As NAVSEA commander, he oversees a global workforce of more than 56,000 military and civilian personnel responsible for the development, delivery and maintenance of the Navy’s ships, submarines and systems.

Hilarides has received various personal and campaign awards, including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

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