It's been an interesting life so far for Bill. Here are some of the highlights:
Bill was born on 13 July 1954, in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in Highland Park, Michigan (1954-1959, 1963-1969) and Tucson, Arizona (1960-1963, 1969-1972) where he graduated from Salpointe High School in May 1972.
1972 was an eventful year for Bill. He met Paula Anne Stevens, whom he married in November, and joined the US Marine Corps in December.
Bill served on active duty in the Marine Corps from 1972 until 1981. Along the way he saw duty at Parris Island South Carolina, Camp LeJeune North Carolina, Camp Pendleton California, and Camp Schwab Okinawa. Bill spent most of this time as an amphibious tracked vehicle mechanic. He served ashore and afloat, including service aboard the USS Tuscaloosa (LST 1187) and USS Alamo (LSD 33).
Bill and Paula somehow found the time to start a family during these years. They have two daughters. Marianne was born in February 1974, and Amanda in August 1980.
In 1981 Bill left active duty and joined the US Marine Corps Reserve. He served with Ordnance Maintenance Company, Waco, Texas, USMCR, until 1990. From 1991 until 1995 he was assigned as an Operations Research Analyst to Marine Corps Studies and Analysis at Quantico, Virginia. He served on active duty during the Gulf War, but was not deployed outside the US. Bill retired from the USMCR on 1 April 1995 as a Master Sergeant.
Having returned to civilian life in 1981, Bill pursued academic interests. He entered North Texas State University as a physics student, and eventually graduated with a BS in Physics in 1987. Along the way, Bill supported himself and his family by working as an auto mechanic for Bill Utter Ford in Denton, Texas. Bill continued his education as a graduate student at the same school, though it was now known as the University of North Texas. Bill received a MS in Physics, with teaching certification, in 1990. His major professor was Dr. Chris Littler. Bill has many fond memories of the UNT Physics Department.
Seeking a better grounding in Astronomy, Bill obtained an appointment at the University of Oklahoma where he was able to work with a number of accomplished astronomers for an all-too-brief time. Although this was an intellectually satisfying time, it proved to be financially untenable. Nonetheless, Bill was very happy with the OU Department of Physics and Astronomy, and would enthusiastically recommend them to anybody considering graduate study concentrating in supernovae.
In December of 1990, Bill was hired by Computer Sciences Corporation to work as a science operations specialist doing real time operations with the Hubble Space Telescope at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore, Maryland.
Bill worked at the STScI until December of 1994, when he joined Allied Signal Technical Services Corporation (Now Honeywell Technology Solutions Inc.) as a member of the X-Ray Timing Explorer (XTE) science operations team, working at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.
With XTE safely in orbit and operating normally, Bill accepted an invitation to join the Mission Operations Team for the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer. Bill has been a member of the FUSE MOT since March of 1997, although he continued to support XTE operations into April of 97, and remains a consulting member of the XTE science team.
In his off-duty time, Bill pursues his avocation as a folk musician. He can be found playing at Crofton City Limits in Crofton Maryland from time to time. Bill recommends the Musi-Cal web server to anybody interested in finding their favorite musical events (sometimes you can even find mention of Bill there!).
Bill is also a patron of Mike Callahan's legendary establishment, and may be found there on the Net from time to time. Bill will happily discuss Spider Robinson, Robert A. Heinlein, and a whole lot of other stuff. Look in the USENET newsgroup alt.callahans, or the IRC channel #callahans.
Speaking of the net, Bill may also be found in USENET newsgroups dealing with astronomy, space sciences, physics, and military issues.
Bill and Paula live in Pasadena, Maryland with assorted children, cats, and dogs.
Bill is a member of the American Astronomical Society, a former member of the American Physical Society, and a life member of Sigma Pi Sigma, the Physics Honor Society. Bill is also a member of the U. S. Marine Corps Association.
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Master Sergeant Gawne alongside USS Constitution in Boston Harbor