Bill Connor - Bio
Bill Connor received his Bachelor's of Arts from The Citadel in 1990. After serving over ten years as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Army he received his Juris Doctorate from University of South Carolina in 2005.
He is currently an attorney with Hamilton and Associates in Columbia, South Carolina.
In May 2008, he returned from a yearlong combat deployment in Southern Afghanistan. During that time, he served as Joint Operations Officer for the Southern Region of Afghanistan developing and implementing the US advisory effort for Afghan National Security Forces. This effort occurred during the 2007 Taliban spring/summer offensive.
Due to success in that position, he was promoted to take command of the US advisory effort in the volatile province of Helmand. Shortly after arrival in Helmand, he was promoted in rank from Major to Lt. Colonel. In addition to command of US advisory teams, he was the senior American working with the United Kingdom senior staff. Upon return from Afghanistan, he published the book “Articles from War,”a memoir of his experiences and thoughts in Afghanistan.
Lt. Col. Bill Connor and Prince Harry, Afghanistan, December 2007
Bill Connor’s Military Service
1991 – 1993
Platoon Leader, B Company and E Company, 2-7 Infantry
Consecutively commanded two separate platoons – one of 20 soldiers and $2 million of equipment, and one of 35 soldiers and $4 million of equipment. Responsible for the training, health, safety, and combat readiness of the soldiers assigned.
1993 – 1994
Executive Officer, D Co., and Headquarters Co., 2-7 Infantry
Consecutively served as second-in-command for two separate companies – D Co. consisting of 120 soldiers and $10 million of equipment. HHC consisting of 350 soldiers and $50 million of equipment. Deployed twice to Kuwait during this period.
1995 – 1997
Battalion Logistics Officer, 2-27 Infantry, Schofield Barracks
Planned, coordinated, supervised and evaluated all supply, transportation and logistics requirements for an infantry battalion with 600 assigned personnel. Deployed for six months to the Sinai Peninsula for a peacekeeping mission between Egypt and Israel.
1997 – 1998
Company Commander, C Company, 2-27 Infantry, Schofield Barracks
Commanded an Infantry Rifle Company, which included 5 officers and more than 120 enlisted soldiers. Developed and implemented all training necessary to prepare for combat; including the development of junior officers in my command. I was selected as the Pacific Theater nominee for the MacArthur Leadership Award for performance in a command.
1998 – 1999
Company Commander, B Co., 4 Ranger Training Battalion
Commanded a Ranger Training Company composed of 35 officers and senior enlisted personnel instructors and classes of over 100 Ranger students. My command responsibilities included: Chief training officer, legal authority over all personnel, and accountability for all equipment.
1999 – 2000
The Aide to Commanding General/Chief of Infantry
Served as Executive Assistant to a two-star Army general responsible for a post of over 30,000 soldiers and civilians. He controlled the direction of the U.S. Army Infantry (affecting over 80,000 soldiers).
2000 – 2002
Small Group Instructor, Infantry Captains Career Course
Selected for a highly competitive assignment to instruct new Captains in the skills required for command and staff assignments. Instruction consisted of teaching a five-month, post-graduate program of instruction to 15-20 officers at a time. Students averaged 26-29 years of age with college degrees and four years of service as commissioned officers.
2003 - 2007
Joint Liaison Officer for the 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command (SC National Guard)
Liason Officer for a 2-star General Officer command assigned to work with Navy, Air Force, and foreign forces at the Theater Level. In addition to other statewide assignments, deployed to Korea for Ulchi Focus Lens and to Crete to serve as the Executive Officer for the Commanding General during a major NATO operation.
2007-2008
Regional Joint Operations Officer, then Senior US Advisor to Helmand Province, Afghanistan
Mobilized for over 15 months for a deployment to combat in Afghanistan. During the three months of mobilization training, was the Team Leader of an elite team of Captain and First Sergeant advisors. Upon arrival in Southern Afghanistan, was promoted to become the Joint Operations Officer for the newly forming Southern Region advisory mission (Afghan National Police). In this position, developed and executed the plans for putting advisory teams throughout the most violent region of Afghanistan during the Taliban summer offensive. Due to sucess in this position, was promoted to Senior US advisor to Helmand Province. In this position, acted as the Senior US officer to United Kingdom Forces controlling Helmand, was Senior Advisor to the provincial Chief of Police, and commanded US advisory effort in Helmand.
