Dr. William (Billy) Walker, Brigadier General, United States Air Force (Retired) is the Director of Athletics and Recreation at American University in Washington, D.C.

He is responsible for the leadership, oversight, and vision for a NCAA Division I program with 16 men's and women's programs in the Patriot League and Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association.

Under Walker's leadership, the Eagles have soared to new heights in the competitive arena and in the classroom.

General Walker had previously served as the Deputy Director of Athletics at the United States Air Force Academy from 2001-2013.

Originally from Hartland Wisconsin, General Walker was a four-year wrestling letter winner at Arrowhead High School.

He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in history. As a varsity wrestler at Air Force, he was a three-year letter winner under legendary coach and National Wrestling Hall of Fame Distinguished Member Wayne Baughman, and served as team captain his senior year.

Walker would also later serve as Baughman's assistant coach where he helped coach numerous conference champion and NCAA tournament qualifiers.

Additionally, he served as a wrestling official as a member of the Inland Empire Wrestling Officials Association (Southern California) and the Washington Metropolitan Wrestling Officials Association.

Walker earned a master of arts degree in national security studies from California State University and his doctorate of education in physical education and sports administration from the University of Northern Colorado.

A command pilot with nearly 3,000 hours of helicopter flight time, General Walker's professional responsibilities over a 30-year active-duty career have included numerous operational assignments. He served as Deputy Commander of the 89th Operations Group at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, an organization of 800 people responsible for providing the safe transport of the President and Vice President of the United States, Cabinet Secretaries, and members of Congress around the world.

He was also Commander of the 1st Helicopter Squadron, the largest helicopter squadron in the Air Force, and the 37th Rescue Flight, Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming where his unit was named "Best Helicopter Operations" and garnered 25 "Saves " and 25 "Assists" while flying 82 rescue missions.

In 2001, Walker was appointed by President George W. Bush as the first Permanent Professor of Physical Education and Athletics in Air Force Academy history. In this role, he was responsible for day-to-day operations of the Academy's 23 NCAA Division I Olympic sports, and a multifaceted program involving physical education, fitness testing, and an intramural program for more than 4,000 cadets. Walker was also the first Director of the Air Force Combatives Center of Excellence, responsible for implementing hand-to-hand combat training for thousands of airmen deployed worldwide.

A recognized expert in intercollegiate athletic issues, Walker testified to the U.S. Department of Education Secretary's Commission on Opportunity in Athletics. He has served in many administrative capacities, including; Chair of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee; Board of Directors of USA Wrestling; member of the NCAA Division I Men's Ice Hockey Committee; and Chair of ECAC Lacrosse Executive Committee.

He also spearheaded the formation of the Western Wrestling Conference in 2005, bringing together nine unaffiliated institutions, and served as its commissioner from its inception until 2013.

General Walker and his wife Caroline have been married 32 years and have one daughter, Kaela, who is a 2015 graduate of Northwestern University.