It is our pleasure to welcome CAPT Claude Willis Arnold Jr., USN, (Ret.) to our team of Highly Qualified Information Professionals here at Giesler, LLC.
Willis is from Fairhope Alabama, where he was raised by Claude W. and Dian Arnold. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1989 as a Seaman Recruit. He advanced through the enlisted ranks as a Hull Maintenance Technician filling assignments as Certified Welder through Maintenance Chief. Enlisted duty assignments included: USS Reeves (CG 24), Assault Craft Unit Five (ACU 5), USS Germantown (LSD 42), and USS FT McHenry (LSD 43). He achieved the rank of Second Class Petty Officer.
Willis was selected for commissioning under the Legacy Seaman to Admiral Program and attended Officer Candidate School, where he received a commission in July 1995.
As an Information Professional, Willis has served in a variety of billets at all levels, afloat and ashore. Early assignments were at Military Sealift Command, Pusan, South Korea where he served as Executive Officer, Naval Aviation Schools Command, where he was the Manpower and Student Control Officer, Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Jacksonville, Florida, where he served as the Network Security Officer, and Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station, Keflavik, Iceland, where he was the Operations Officer.
Afloat, Willis served as the Information Systems Officer in USS Blue Ridge (LCC-19) with additional duties as the Flagship COMMO for Commander SEVENTH Fleet, Carrier Strike Group Eleven, onboard USS Nimitz as the deputy N6. Carrier Strike Group One, onboard USS Carl Vinson as the deputy N6, and deployed to Commander SEVENTH Fleet embarked in USS Blue Ridge in support of Humanitarian operation Tomodachi.
Shore assignments include tours at Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Guam as the Executive Officer, United States Strategic Command, J6 as the SATCOM Policy and Special User Branch Chief, Officer-in-Charge, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Bahrain Field Office, Naval Support Activity, Manama, Bahrain, Warfighter Integration Division Chief (J66) and Battle Watch Commander for USSTRATCOM, Offutt AFB, Nebraska, and Director, Cyberspace Operations, USSOUTHCOM, Fleet Cyber Command, Cyber Mission Force South, Doral, Florida.
He holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Systems from Bellevue University, Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems, Magna Cum Laude, from Jacksonville University and an Associates of Science degree in Networking Services Technology from Florida State College at Jacksonville. He has been designated as a Joint Qualified Officer, Master Training Specialist, earned the Information Technology subspecialty, completed Joint Professional Military Education Phases 1 & 2, and the Knowledge Managers certification.
He is the recipient of various personal, unit and campaign awards including the USNI/AFCEA Copernicus Award for C4I excellence, the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal and Meritorious Service Medal. He had the distinct honor of serving with those who earned Joint and Navy Unit Commendation, and the Navy Battle 'E'.
Giesler, LLC is a women-owned, veteran-owned small defense contracting business specializing in Navy-focused defense strategy, thought leadership in creative solutioning, business development, special operations, training and exercise academics, threat intelligence, information technology, and security disciplines.
Our Core Services include Program Management Support Services, Highly Qualified Informational Professionals with SME Military Program Experience, Consulting, Administrative, and Managed Services, and Technology Integration Solutions.
Our Highly Qualified Information Professionals have over 100 cumulative years of experience, including Leadership tours at NCTAMS PAC and NCTAMS LANT, NCTS Iceland, NCTAMS LANT detachment Hampton Roads, 16 Shipboard Deployments in the Pacific and Middle East, Navy Information Technology Services, ONE-NET, NMCI, IT-21, cybersecurity, and data & infrastructure.
It is truly an honor to welcome CAPT Claude Willis Arnold Jr., USN, (Ret.). To learn more about working with our team, including Willis, check out our website, www.gieslerllc.com or schedule a meeting with our team attending SOFIC, May 16-19, 2022 in Tampa, Florida.
“Anchored in Honor”