Calvin Williams was placed as the vice president of administrative services for the University of South Florida in Tampa. The USF system includes three institutions – USF, USF St. Petersburg, and USF Sarasota-Manatee – and serves more than 48,000 students, with an annual budget of nearly $1.6 billion. The Tampa campus is home to USF Health, which includes the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, and Pharmacy. USF is ranked 43rd in the nation for research expenditures, and is one of only four public universities in Florida classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in the top tier of research universities.
Calvin brings to the position experience in global leadership and business strategy, having managed and directed over 20,000 personnel with diverse professional backgrounds and nationalities in a wide range of critical projects throughout the U.S. and internationally. His skills in high-level negotiations, team-building, visionary and strategic thinking, decision-making, and planning have led to significant success throughout his career.
Before joining USF, Calvin served as the director of installations and mission support for the United States Air Force at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. With an annual budget of $82 million, he was in charge of the construction and maintenance of over 1,000 facilities valued at over $6 billion. He developed a long-range strategic plan and received approval for $500 million in future airfield investment opportunities, led efforts to address insufficient manpower and shortage of funds, and improved communication within the organization.
Calvin has had a decorated 30-year career in the U.S. Air Force, retiring at the rank of Colonel. He has served in various engineering and senior leadership roles, both internationally and in the U.S., including chief master sergeant, senior military assistant to the assistant secretary of the Air Force, vice air base wing commander, and director of strategic engineering and environment in Iraq. He began his career with the Air Force as an engineer.
Calvin is originally from Arkansas. He earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology from Southern Illinois University, a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the University of South Florida, an MPA from Troy State University, a master’s degree in military operational art and science from Air Command and Staff College, and a master’s degree in military national resource strategy and policy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. Calvin and his wife are the parents of five children, ranging in age from 13 to adult.
