Leo V. Williams III

Leo V. Williams III is a retired Major General in the U.S. Marine Corps and a former brand manager for Ford Motor Co. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy, Williams was commissioned in the Marine Corps where he served eight years before transferring to the Marine Corps reserve. Prior to his retirement on Jan. 1, 2004, he served as deputy commanding general, Marine Corps combat development command.

At Ford, he was responsible for brand development and marketing plans for Ford F-150 pickup trucks and all Ford Division SUVs. After retiring from Ford, Williams became executive vice president for health foods manufacturer Medifast, Inc., and CEO and chairman of its subsidiary, Take Shape for Life, Inc. Under his leadership, the company’s revenue grew from $12M to $160M within eight years.

Williams serves on the boards of the SimpleGenerosity Foundation Father to Father, Inc. Previously, he was vice chairman of the Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees, where he chaired the joint finance and audit committee. He was also chairman of the board for the American Diabetes Association of Maryland and vice chairman of the Reginald F. Lewis Maryland Museum of African-American History and Culture in Baltimore, Md. He also served on the boards of Intelligent Illuminations, Inc., and the Navy Mutual Aid Association, the Department of Defense Reserve Forces Policy Board as a commissioner for the Military Leadership Diversity Commission, Marine Toys for Tots as vice chairman, the University of the District of Columbia as a trustee, and the Naval Academy Foundation as a board director.

Williams holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Southern Illinois University and lives in Charleston, S.C. with his wife, Vicki Davis Williams.