David Michael Williams

The family of Captain David Michael Williams, United States Navy, sadly announces his passing on May 15, 2025 in Albany, Georgia.

Mike, as he was known to his friends and family, was born on September 5, 1945, in Pasadena, California to his parents Gladys Prudence Fuller and John Roger Williams. After living in California for several years, his family moved to Wake Forest, North Carolina. Mike graduated from Wake Forest High School on May 29, 1963. He attended the University of Mississippi and participated in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps, earning his commission in the United States Navy and his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English in 1967.

Following commissioning, he attended pilot training. On May 23, 1968, he earned his Naval Aviator designation and began his career as a fighter pilot, primarily flying F-4, Phantom, and F-14, Tomcat, aircraft. Mike completed five operational deployments to the Mediterranean aboard various aircraft carriers and accumulated over 800 carrier landings. He was a U.S. Naval Test Pilot School graduate and involved in early operational test and evaluation of F-14 and F/A-18 aircraft. His last operational tour was as the Commanding Officer, Fighter Squadron Forty-One, known as the Black Aces, aboard the USS Nimitz (CVN-68).

In addition to his distinguished flying career, Mike also served on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington D.C.; was selected as a scholar to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, London, United Kingdom; and was assigned as a Naval Planner to the U.S. delegation to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Military Committee in Brussels, Belgium. He was a graduate of the United States Naval War College and Salve Regina College, Newport, Rhode Island.

Following a successful blind tennis date, Mike married Ann Chrystal Walker, from Shrub Oak, New York on January 28, 1971. They were married 54 years and had three children together.

Mike retired from the Navy on September 30, 1991. Following his retirement, he pursued his passions in genealogy, designing train sets, watching the news, reading, and caring for his family.

He is survived by his wife Ann and three daughters, Jennifer Williams, Julie Robbins, and Wendy Walker; six grandchildren, Zack, Kambell, Logan, Reilly, Ian and Kaylee; his brothers James Williams and John Williams and his sister Patricia Brothers.