William K. Gayler is a retired United States Army major general who last served as the Chief of Staff of the United States Africa Command from July 2020 to June 2021. Previously, he served as the Director of Operations of the United States Africa Command. Gayler earned a bachelor's degree in marketing from North Georgia College in 1988. He later received a master's degree in military arts and sciences from the Army Command and General Staff College and a second master's degree in national security strategy from the National War College.