William M. Steele

Lieutenant General William Michael Steele commanded the U.S. Army, Pacific from July 1996 to October 1998. A native of Atlanta, Georgia, he graduated from The Citadel in 1967 and earned a Master of Arts in Management from Webster University in St. Louis. His military education includes the National War College.

In Vietnam Steele served from 1969 to 1970 as battalion advisor for the 23rd Ranger Battalion and as operations advisor for the 2nd Ranger Group. Promoted to brigadier general in 1990, his major command assignments include serving as Deputy Commanding General of the US Army Infantry Center, Commanding General of the 82nd Airborne Division and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

Other major duty assignments for Steele were Assistant Division Commander for the 8th Infantry Division in Germany from 1990 to 1991 and Deputy Commandant for the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. Prior to coming to Hawaii, he served as Director for Operations for the U.S. Atlantic Command in Norfolk, Virginia. He is currently a member of The Citadel Board of Visitors. General Steele retired on 30 September 2001.