Ron Fenner, Program Chairman for the Spartanburg Pilots Association announced today that Lt. James H. Williamson III, aka (Trey) will be the guest speaker for the February Pilots Association meeting at Fuddruckers on Monday evening February 10th, 2020 at 7PM.
Trey enlisted in the US Navy in 1990 after graduating from Southside HS and served as an EOD Tech and Diver until 2000 when he accepted a commission in the US Marine Corps. He attended military flight training in Pensacola, FL where he was instructed in fixed wing and rotary wing flight.
Throughout his career he served in numerous units as a helicopter pilot, joint terminal aircraft controller with SOF, regional targeting cell officer in charge with SOF, squadron maintenance officer, squadron operations officer, and director of safety for a squadron and station.
During his five combat tours to Iraq and Afghanistan, he flew over 800 combat sorties and while on the ground as a JTAC, he controlled over 243 air to surface strikes. His awards include a Bronze Star, Air Medal with V, Air Medal with Strike Flight with a Numeral 13, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals, Navy Achievement Medals, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medals, and numerous other campaign medals and personal awards.
He began working for the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) after his retirement from the Marine Corps in July of 2018. While employed by the Sheriff’s Office, he took a brief 4 month leave of absence to work for FlightSafety International as a Bell 212 Experimental Test Pilot in Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Since working at SCSO, he has completed his Class 3 Law Enforcement Certification and qualified in the OH-6/Hughes 500. He has developed a training program and trained Tactical Flight Officers in airborne Law Enforcement Techniques. Coordinated and supported other departments with the State of South Carolina. He also developed the department drone policy and is the drone manager for the Sheriff’s Department. He has currently flown over 300 hours in support of SCSO since his employment.