William Foster

Captain William Feeny "Bill" Foster Jr., USN (Ret.) passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by his family on December 7, 2024 after a 5+ year battle with cancer. He was born on July 28, 1958 in Monterey, California to William Feeny Foster and Katharine Howard Foster. Bill spent his childhood in several locations, including Southern France, Southern California, and Northern Virginia. After graduating from James Madison High School in 1976, Bill entered the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the NROTC program. While at Carolina, Bill became a proud member of the Eta chapter of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity. Upon graduating in May of 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, Bill was commissioned into the United States Navy. Bill's 28-year Naval career as a Surface Warfare Officer included many assignments. At sea, he served in: USS MULLINNIX (DD 944); USS PORTLAND (LSD 37); (USS CARR (FFG 52). He served as Executive Officer aboard USS THOMAS S. GATES (CG 51) and USS MOUNT WHITNEY (LCC/JCC 20). On 30 July, 1999, Bill assumed command of USS CONSTITUTION as her 66th Commanding Officer. While in command he launched "Old Ironsides Across the Nation," an educational outreach and public relations program, in partnership with the USS Constitution Museum in Boston, to take the historic warship's illustrious story to the citizens of the United States. That program continues today and was awarded the 2003 Institute of Museum and Library Services National Award. His role as Commanding Officer of the USS CONSTITUTION was one of which he was most proud. Bill's final Navy assignment was in Millington, Tennessee aboard the Navy Personnel Command at the Center for Career Development. While serving in the Navy, Bill earned his Masters Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. He was a recipient of several military awards including the Legion of Merit, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various others. Following retirement from the Navy in July 2008, Bill began his 16-year career in consulting. He began his career with Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington, D.C. which eventually took him to the UAE and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he began his specialty of defense work in the Middle East. After leaving Booz Allen in 2018, Bill began working for Jones Group International, where he eventually retired as President of Jones Group Middle East in 2024. While at Jones Group, Bill led a team of over 80 people in several areas of consulting including foreign policy, military, healthcare, and defense and security. In addition to his work with Jones Group, Bill served as a committee member of the World Defense Show and was Chairman of the Board of Directors for the American Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia for several years. Bill was truly a lifelong learner. Whether he was reading a new book, learning a new skill professionally or in his personal life, or traveling to a new country, Bill always had room to learn more about the world and its people. Bill was also an advocate for those with disabilities, as his son, Will, has Cerebral Palsy. Bill was the recipient of the 2001 United Cerebral Palsy of Boston Founders Award in recognition of his advocacy for persons with disabilities in the Boston area. He was a proud and loving father, who was constantly encouraging his children's dreams - big or small, and he dreamt of having grandchildren of his own one day. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William Feeny Foster and Katharine Howard Foster, and his brother Joseph Bernard Foster. He is survived by his three children, William Feeny Foster III, Meredith Foster Wylie (Jacob), and Margaret Clare Foster, and his siblings Anne Marie Foster and Christopher John Foster. Bill made the selfless decision to donate his body to science at Duke University School of Medicine. A funeral and burial with full military honors will be held at Arlington National Cemetery in late 2025/early 2026.