William Bruce Garrett

Captain William Bruce (Bill) Garrett, U.S. Navy, retired, of Annapolis, Maryland, passed away on March 14, 2026. Bill Garrett was an extraordinary individual, deeply devoted to his family, his profession, and his country. He was incredibly kind, understanding, personable, loving, patient, humble. A gentleman of exemplary character, a wonderful father and husband, full of faith and joy.

Bill was born on July 26, 1936, in Beloit, Kansas, the second son of Harold and Geraldine Garrett. He graduated from Cawker City High School in 1954. The following year he attended Kansas University and then in 1955, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He graduated in the Class of 1959. He was elected vice president of his class, was a member of the varsity track team, and was awarded the Fleet Reserve Association Prize as standing highest in the graduating class in conduct and aptitude.

Following graduation, he served on a destroyer then entered submarine training in 1961. He was the Commanding Officer of USS GRENADIER and the Executive Officer of submarine tender USS HUNLEY in Guam. His shore assignments included the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Navy Recruiting Command, and the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as Chief of the Navy Strategic Concepts Branch and as a Navy Planner during the war in the Falklands in 1982.

His military awards included the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Medal. His civilian awards included the Navy Distinguished Civilian Service Award and the Navy Superior Civilian Service Award. He was also designated as the Vice Academic Dean Emeritus by the Secretary of the Navy, only the third Naval Academy graduate to receive the Emeritus designation of the more than 90,000 graduates of the Naval Academy.

He then pursued an academic tract, graduating from the U.S. Naval War College, subsequently received the Master of Science Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University, and was awarded a doctorate in International Relations by the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University in 1982.

In 1983, he reported to the U.S. Naval Academy as the Director, Dvision of the U.S. and International Studies, served as Chairman of the Admissions Board, and as a member of the Athletic Board of Control. Following retirement from the Navy, he was appointed as Associate Dean for Faculty, serving from 1986 to 1989, then as Vice Academic Dean from 1989 to 2004. He was also a faculty member in the Political Science Department where he served as an Associate Professor.

Additionally, he served as an Associate Editor of the U.S. Naval Institute PROCEEDINGS, served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Hammond-Harwood House for six years, was a member of the Rotary Club of Annapolis where he received the Paul Harris Fellow Award four times, the highest recognition by Rotary for leadership and service. He was a volunteer at Lighthouse Shelter, an active member of St. Anne’s Episcopal Church for 40 years.

He leaves his beloved wife Sarah Margaret Mize (Sally) of Atchison, Kansas. Additionally, he is survived by his wife, their daughter Elizabeth (Liz) Schieber, of Charlottesville, Virginia, their son, William (Bill) Garrett, of Severna Park, Maryland, and their daughter Katherine (Kate) Lindsay, of Annapolis, Maryland, and eight grandchildren, Caroline, Brian, and Meg Schieber, Addison, Josephine, and Samuel Garrett, Sophia Fionda and Penelope Lindsay, and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Gerold, of Seattle and his brother, Pat, of Cawker City. His brother, Mike, resides in Kirkland, Washington, near Seattle.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 10 am in Saint Anne's Episcopal Church (Church Circle) Annapolis, Maryland 21401.