Quick Facts
Biography
William Kevin Lescher (born 1958) is a retired four-star admiral in the United States Navy who last served as the 41st Vice Chief of Naval Operations. He held this office from May 29, 2020, to September 2, 2022. Lescher was also the "Old Goat", the longest serving Naval Academy graduate on active duty, from 2018 to 2022.
Naval career
A native of Highland Park, Illinois, he graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1980. Trained as a helicopter pilot, Lescher served with HSL-36 and HSL-44 and later commanded HSL-48, HSL-40, the Atlantic Fleet Helicopter Maritime Strike Wing, Expeditionary Strike Group Five and Task Forces 51/59 in Bahrain.
In May 2020, Lescher was nominated by President Donald Trump for promotion to admiral and assignment as the next Vice Chief of Naval Operations. He assumed this office and rank on May 29, 2020.
Awards and decorations
 | Naval Aviator insignia |
 | Command at Sea insignia |
| Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge |
| Navy Distinguished Service Medal with one gold award star | |
| Defense Superior Service Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters | |
| Legion of Merit with two award stars | |
| Meritorious Service Medal with three award stars | |
| Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal | |
| Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with award star | |
| Joint Meritorious Unit Award | |
| Navy Unit Commendation | |
| Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with two bronze service stars | |
| Navy "E" Ribbon with three Battle E awards | |
| Navy Expeditionary Medal | |
| National Defense Service Medal with service star | |
| Southwest Asia Service Medal with service star | |
| Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal | |
| Global War on Terrorism Service Medal | |
| Navy Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with two service stars | |
| Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon | |
| Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait) | |
| Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal |
- Lescher graduated with distinction from fixed wing, rotary wing and Naval Test Pilot School training. He has been recognized as the Association of Naval Aviation's HSL Pilot of the Year, the Naval Helicopter Association's Regional Pilot of the Year and the Naval Air Warfare Center's Rotary Wing Test Pilot of the Year. The units in which he has served have earned the Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy "E" Ribbons and Theodore Ellyson award.
