CAPTAIN WILLIAM H. NISLEY II UNITED STATES NAVY

Executive Officer Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center

Captain Nisley is a native of Chicago, Illinois and he enlisted in the Navy in June 1976. His assignments as an Aerographer's Mate include duty aboard USS BLUE RIDGE (LCC-19), USS BELLEAU WOOD (LHA-3), Mobile Environmental Team Norfolk, and instructor duty at AG-A and AG-C Schools. He is an honor graduate of the Joint Navy/Air Force Meteorology and Oceanography Analyst/Forecaster Course, and he advanced to Chief Petty Officer in 1985.

Captain Nisley was commissioned via the Limited Duty Officer program in October 1987 and reported to the Naval Oceanography Command Center/Joint Typhoon Warning Center, Guam where he was assigned as a Forecaster and Command Duty Officer. He then served as Operations Officer and Executive Officer at Naval Oceanography Command Facility, Brunswick, Maine.

Selected to complete undergraduate studies at Central Michigan University, Captain Nisley received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Earth Science/Meteorology in December 1994. His next assignment was as Officer in Charge, Naval Atlantic Meteorology and Oceanography Detachment, Patuxent River, Maryland where he served concurrently on the staffs of Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center – Aircraft Division and Air Test and Evaluation Squadron ONE until May 1998. During this tour, he was redesignated as a Restricted Line Oceanographer and qualified as a Flight Meteorologist in P-3C aircraft.

Captain Nisley completed advanced studies at the Naval Post Graduate School in June 2000 where he received a Master of Science Degree in Meteorology and Physical Oceanography and was selected for the Superintendent’s Outstanding Thesis Award. He then reported aboard USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73), as Meteorology and Oceanography Officer and in 2002, deployed to the Mediterranean Sea, North Arabian Sea and Arabian Gulf in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and SOUTHERN WATCH.

In 2003, Captain Nisley reported to the Chief of Naval Operations staff where he served as an action officer for METOC and ISR program directorates, and Executive Assistant to the Director, FORCEnet and Oceanographer/Navigator of the Navy. In August 2005, he assumed duties as Force Oceanographer and served as Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. FIFTH Fleet and Coalition Force Maritime Component Commander. During this tour, he directed U.S. and Coalition naval forces supporting combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, Theatre Maritime Security Operations, and coordinated the non-combatant evacuation of 15,000 American citizens from Lebanon, during hostilities with Israel in August 2006.

More recently, Captain Nisley served as Commanding Officer, Strike Group Oceanography Team Norfolk where he organized and directed sea going Detachments providing tactical METOC support afloat to Carrier and Expeditionary Strike Groups and Mobile Environmental Team missions supporting Fleet and Combatant Commander directed operations. He reported to Fleet Numerical as Executive Officer in September 2008 and assumed command on 21 August 2009.

His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with two gold stars, Navy Commendation Medal with three gold stars, the Navy Achievement Medal with three gold stars, and numerous unit and service awards.