William G. Gang “Bill” had the heart of a champion and the grit of a soldier. Born in Prince Rupert, Canada, in 1944, he moved to the US at the age of 7 where he became a US citizen. He graduated valedictorian from Lincoln H.S. in Tacoma, Washington in 1962 and accepted his appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. He graduated in the West Point Class of 1966 with a B.S. in Engineering Science. Upon graduation he served on active duty for eight years which included being a combat engineer company commander during offensive operations in Vietnam. Prior to Vietnam he attended Airborne, Jumpmaster and Ranger Schools. Bill was dedicated to serving and honoring his country both with his military service and his civilian contributions. As a Special Operations Officer in the Army Reserves, Gang retired with the rank of Colonel in February of 1993. He holds three Bronze stars, two Meritorious Service Medals two Air Medals, the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross and the Valorous Unit Citation.
After completing an M.S. in Nuclear Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in 1970, Bill was Assistant Professor of Nuclear Physics at West Point. Additionally, he holds an MBA in Finance from Fairleigh Dickinson University. In 1974 he left active duty, entered the Army Reserves, and embarked on a career in industry as a manager for General Electric. At GE, he was responsible for the federal licensing of 37 nuclear reactors.
Over the next 44 years Col. Gang worked in both the nuclear and non-nuclear power industries as well as in telecommunications. He and his wife lived in Moscow in 1988 where he led operations for the first U.S.− Soviet joint venture under new Soviet law (post-Glasnost).
His varied career and civic activities included Director, Board of Directors, Information Systems Laboratories (ISL), Chairman, Board of Directors, International Software Engineering, INC., Treasurer, Board of Trustees, Army and Navy Academy. He was Vice Chairman, Corporate Affiliate Board, School of Engineering, UCSD from 2005-2008 and he was on the Board of Directors for Rancho Santa Fe Rotary 2009-2010. Memberships included: Military Officers’ Association of America, Society of American Military Engineers; Chair, Troops
to College Honorary Committee, San Diego State University, and Association of the US Army.
Bill established his consulting company, William G. Gang and Associates in 2009, upon retirement as Chief Operating Officer at ISL. Most recently, he was CEO and Chairman of the Board at 4Liberty an infrastructure company serving government agencies in the U.S. and Canada. Concurrently, he proudly served as Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for California South from 2006 to 2018. As such, he dedicated his time and expertise to the army’s National Training Center in Fort Irwin California. He also closely worked with the ROTC program at San Diego State University and the recruiting command for the region.
Bill’s sage Philosophy was “Plan for the future and try to live for today.”
Those privileged to know him appreciated his keen intellect, wise counsel, extensive depth of knowledge, kind demeanor and his lively sense of humor. Known as UB (Uncle Bill) to his niece and two nephews, he was famous for his broad dimpled smile, playful teasing and entertaining jokes. He and his loving and devoted wife, Kathryn celebrated 50 years of marriage last May. They have resided in Rancho Santa Fe, California since 2002. Besides his wife, Kathryn, he is survived by his In-laws Kosta and Julia Arger, and their children, Katarena, Anthony and Nicholas, a cousin Sheree Stinson of British Columbia, Canada and sister Judith Bleiweiss and stepbrother Kirk Gang of Tacoma, Washington.
A memorial service will be held at Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 3459 Manchester Avenue, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA 92007 on Saturday, December 15, 2018 at 11:00 o’clock AM. Following the service a reception honoring his life and service will be held at the Gang’s residence. He will be buried with full military honors at the United States Military Academy at West Point on January 25, 2019.
In lieu of flowers, you may make a gift to West Point in honor of William G. Gang
Make a Gift by Mail
1. Make the check payable to: "West Point Association of Graduates"
2. In the check's memo section, write “in memory of William G. Gang ‘66” and the designation of the gift: Department of Physics Endowment or Class of 1966 Gift Fund
3. Mail to: Gift Operations, West Point Association of Graduates, 698 Mills Road, West Point, New York 10996
Make a Gift Online: https://www.westpointaog.org/giveonline
Make a Credit Card Gift by Phone: Call the Gift Operations Office at 845-446-1658
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