Bill Center

Bill Center retired from the U.S. Navy as Rear Admiral in 1999 and has been President of the Washington Council on International Trade, an NGO advocating the education of the public, elected leaders, scholars and the media about the importance of trade, since April 2001.  He is also a sought-after public speaker and teaches the Graduate Seminar on U.S. Foreign Policy at the Evans School.

Bill is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the University of Washington's Daniel J. Evans School of Public Affairs.  During his naval career he commanded three ships and served in a wide variety of assignments at sea and ashore.  A specialist in policy analysis, strategic planning and organization development, he served as a senior advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on arms control, non-proliferation, environmental matters, and international agreements.  From May 1996 to May 1999, he commanded the Navy's third largest fleet concentration area, Navy Region Northwest. 

Since retiring from the Navy Bill has devoted himself to nonprofit leadership and volunteer work.