Rear Adm. Willis Ivan Lewis Jr. was born on November, 24,1930 in Rayalton, Ill. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from McKendree College in 1952 and entered the Naval Aviation Cadet Program. He was designated a Naval Aviator and commissioned an ensign in March, 1954.
Following this, he was at Utility Squadron Seven and then Fighter Squadron 124. He was promoted to lieutenant junior grade ll May, 1955. In April 1956, he reported to Attack Squadron 126 and the following year he was with ATU-206, Naval Air Station, Pensacola Fla. While here, he was promoted to lieutenant.
He was attached to 361 5th Pilot Training Wing at Craig Air Force Base, Ala., in September, 1959 for two years. His next assignment was with Attack Squadron 44 in April, 1961 and then Heavy Attack Squadron Three in July, 1961, both as duty under instruction.
The next two years saw duty at Heavy Attack Squadron Nine before going to Attack Carrier Air Wing four in November, 1963. While here, he was promoted to lieutenant commander.
He was at the Naval War College, Newport, R.I. from July, 1956 to June, 1966. From August, 1966 to 1970 he was assigned to three consecutive Reconnaissance Attack Squadrons —three (under instruction), six (operations officer) and 14 (executive officer). He was promoted to commander on Nov 1, 1967 and became the commanding officer of Reconnaissance Attack Squadron 14 in April, 1969.
He was next assigned to the staff of commander-in-chief, U.S. Naval Forces, Europe as attack carrier operations officer from June, 1970 to January, 1972. Rear Adm. Lewis next served on the staff of commander, Naval Air forces, U.S. Atlantic fleet until June, 1973, when he became commander, Attack Carrier Air Wing Six. He served in the office of the Chief of Naval Operations with the command control and communications programs (OP-094). He also worked at the Headquarters, Naval District, Washington, D.C. for instructional duty as a Navy member of the State Department senior seminar in foreign policy. While in this position, he was promoted to captain.
In July, 1975, Rear Adm. Lewis reported to the Bureau of Naval Personnel as a member of the executive management team in the aviation officer distribution division. The following year saw duty with the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff with general purpose forces branch and force planning and programming division.
In June, 1978, he became the commanding officer of Naval Air Station, Key West, Fla. for three years. His next assignment was as chief of staff for commander, Second Fleet from May, 1981 to July, 1983.
He was commander, Fleet Air Western Pacific from July, 1983, to June, 1985 and then served as deputy chief of staff for management at commander-in-chief, U.S. Pacific fleet. While at Fleet Air Western Pacific, he was promoted to rear admiral on Aug. 1, 1984. He took over as commander, logistic command at CincPacFlt in September, 1985.
He took the helm of NTC from May to August, 1988, and then became commander, Naval Base, San Diego.
Rear Adm. Lewis received the Legion of Merit with three gold stars in lieu of subsequent awards; the Defense Meritorious Service Medal; the Air Medal with one gold star and numeral “13’ in lieu of subsequent awards; the Navy Commendation Medal with combat “V’ and one gold star; the Meritorious Unit Commendation with one bronze star; the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze star; the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Cuba); the Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze star; the Humanitarian Service Medal; the Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross Color); and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
Rear Adm. Lewis is married to the former Marlene f. Kolb. They have two children, Jennifer and Willis III.
