Bill Rone appointed to Senior Executive Service at Hurlburt
Gulf Breeze man becomes Air Force Special Operations Command's senior civilian
Staff reports

Submitted photo AFSOC Commander, Lt. Gen. Michael Wooley presents Bill Rone, right, with the Air Force SES flag, as he appoints him to Senior Executive Service.

Gulf Breeze resident William S. "Bill" Rone was formally appointed to the Senior Executive Service during a standing-room-only ceremony held at Hurlburt Field on May 16. In accepting this appointment, Rone becomes the Air Force Special Operations Command's senior civilian and senior financial leader.

The Senior Executive Service (SES) is a corps of federal executives appointed to key leadership positions just below the level of Presidential appointees, and includes most managerial, supervisory and policy positions in the executive branch of the federal government classified above General Schedule (GS) grade 15 or its equivalent. SES members within the Department of Defense are considered the equivalent of general officers. Of the 167,000 civilians working for the Air Force, there are only 160 members of the SES corps - less than a tenth of one per cent.

AFSOC's commander, Lt Gen Michael Wooley presided at the ceremony, and stood with Rone's wife, Rita, as she placed the SES pin on her husband's lapel. Lt Gen Wooley also presented Rone with an official Air Force SES flag, which will be present at all official functions Rone attends. Similar to general officers in the military, those selected for the SES corps are presented such flags upon promotion to the SES ranks.

The Rone family celebrate Bill's promotion. They are, from left, son Will, Bill, wife Rita, daughter Carre and her husband Nelson Whiting. Marilyn F. White/Special to the News

In his remarks, Wooley praised Rone for his past and continuing contributions to AFSOC's world-wide mission, and cited the excellent financial management team Rone has assembled over the past 14 years at the AFSOC headquarters at Hurlburt Field. "Bill's leadership has had a direct impact on the battlefield," said General Wooley. "He orchestrates our entire financial program which is crucial to getting the best equipment into the hands of our Air Commandos in the fight." Wooley also cited Rone's community volunteer activity, including his tenure and chairmanship of the Board of Eglin Federal Credit Union, as well as his position as Treasurer of the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides college scholarships for the children of fallen Special Operations personnel.

Rone, in his remarks, recognized and thanked his family - his wife Rita, son Will and daughter Carre and her husband, Nelson Whiting for their past and continuing support. In particular, he noted the sacrifices his wife and children made throughout his 30 plus year career journey to date. He also acknowledged the "financial management family" he supervises at Hurlburt Field, praising them for their excellent work and dedication to the AFSOC mission, as well as four of his former supervisors, all retired Air Force colonels, who were in attendance. Finally, he described his pride in working for Air Force Special Operations Command, summing up with a favorite expression of his, i.e., "Life is good in Special Ops."

Mr. Rone began his career with the Air Force in 1971 as a University of West Florida cooperative education student at Eglin AFB. His career has included a number of key leadership positions in financial management with the DoD, including Director, Programs and Budget, Eglin AFB; Deputy Comptroller, Warner Robins Air Logistics Center; Comptroller, Naval Aviation Depot, Pensacola; and, Deputy Comptroller and Comptroller, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field.

Rone graduated with a BA in Accounting and an MBA from the University of West Florida and is a graduate of the Air War College and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces in Washington, D.C. He is the recipient of numerous Department of Defense awards, including the Air Force Association Logistics Excellence Award, Air Force Meritorious Civilian Service Award, Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award and recognition as U.S. Special Operations Command Comptroller of the Year.

He and his wife, Rita, and their family have lived in the Gulf Breeze area since 1990.