Johnathan L Williams, CDR (Ret.), retired in January 2021 from the United States Navy after 22 years of honorable service which included extensive experience in intelligence operations, joint space operations, and international affairs. He most recently served as the Chief of Space Targeting (J2T) at JOINT TASK FORCE – SPACE DEFENSE in the National Space Defense Center, as part of United Stated Space Command. As the Senior Navy Representative, he was charged with manpower, education, training, and administration of Navy Space Cadre personnel assigned to the National Space Defense Center.

Johnathan first joined the Navy in 1998 after having been a program director for external affairs in the Office of The Governor of the Great State of Florida where he managed a $10 Million education and training program funded by money derived from the state’s tobacco settlement agreement with the major tobacco companies in 1997. As a result, he aided The Governor in launching the state-wide Tobacco Free Florida campaign, administered through the Florida Department of Health’s Bureau of Tobacco Free Florida.

He served two years as the diplomatic representative of the Secretary of Defense, managing all defense department intelligence activities in Macedonia and Kosovo and for providing military advice to the United States Ambassador to Macedonia. He also developed and conducted sensitive human intelligence operations, and collection operations in support of operational commanders and national level leadership and fostered bi-lateral military projects, programs and country plans that helped transform the Macedonian Ministry of Defense into a reliable regional partner.

In 2003, Johnathan was the US Intelligence Liaison to the Australian Defense Force in Baghdad, Iraq, operating with CJTF-7 and was responsible for all aspects of intelligence and counterintelligence operations and synchronized all-source intelligence production and analysis for the ADF. Additionally, he served as the HUMINT intelligence officer in support of multiple, simultaneous counter-terrorism operations with the USMC 2nd Fleet Anti-terrorism Strike Team.

In 2006, Johnathan was assigned to the Office of Naval Intelligence, International Programs the commonwealth desk officer, where he Coordinated and executed international engagement strategies in direct support of US Navy requirements and National Security objectives. Managed and fostered the US Navy and Royal Navy of the United Kingdom engagement partnership. Developed and negotiated an intricate and vital Memorandum of Understanding solidifying areas of cooperation with a key foreign government.

From 2008-2010, Johnathan was the commander of an 18-member tactical intelligence support team deployed in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and provided direct support to Navy and Joint Special Operations missions. As the senior Interrogator he was responsible for and conducted interrogations of extremist and Iraqi insurgents. He managed and provided exceptional oversight of detainees, interrogation operations and the respectful treatment of battlefield combatants. Significantly, he developed and integrated intelligence and information operations assets into a non-kinetic targeting department that conducted psychological operations that resulted in development of sources and leads facilitating kinetic operations.

CDR Williams is a graduate of the Army Command and General Staff College and earned his master’s degree in Business and Organization Security Management with Honors from Webster University; Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology from Florida State University, and Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Valley Forge Military College. In 2015, CDR Williams earned the distinction as a Senior Fellow at New Westminster College, British Columbia, Canada.