USO Service Spotlight: William Stanley

Position/Title: USO MCAS Futenma and USO Kinser Center Director
Time worked at USO: November 2007 to present
Center/Office location: USO Futenma/USO Kinser

William Stanley graduated from Clyde A. Erwin High School in Asheville, NC in May 2000. He entered the Marine Corps in August 2000 attending boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina graduating in November 2000. Upon graduation from Marine Combat Training, and Traffic Management School, Ft. Eustis, Virginia; he transferred to 3rd Force Service Support Group (now called 3 Marine Logistics Group) in Okinawa, Japan.

After several commands and one combat tour in Al Asad, Iraq; Will separated from the Marine Corps and began working for USO Okinawa. Will first started at USO Kadena as a Duty Manager in 2007. The USO promoted Will to be a programs coordinator in June 2008, USO Schwab Center Manager in 2011, and to then to USO Futenma and USO Kinser Center Director in April 2017.

He always maintains a focus on our service members and their families. He often sacrifices time with his own family to take care for our troops. Will is the father of three boys: William, Nicholas, and Brandon. He is celebrating his 17th wedding anniversary with Tomoyo Moromi today.

Fun Questions
Favorite spot/activity on Okinawa: Camping
Hobbies: Spending time with family and BBQing!
Finish this phrase: “I can’t live without being motivated! Gotta have my daily motto!!!”

Why do you love working at the USO?
I love taking care of our service members and their families. Every day, I wake up ready to provide support at 110% and give back to the same community that helped me as a young Marine. The fact that I get to help make someone’s day a little bit better by providing services & programs that reconnect them to home and their families, is what I love. I get to put a smile on someone’s face! I believe it’s my calling to help and serve people, working with the USO provides the opportunity to do just that!

What is your favorite memory of working at the USO?
I’ve been around for a few years, so I have many favorites! I would say the best memories I have is seeing the surprises on the service members faces when we go beyond our brick and mortar facilities to support them! Here are some examples: going to the field and cooking breakfast for them as they are finishing up a field op. I also love hanging out at the airport, providing entertainment and food as they await going home after a deployment. Going to their base and providing a USO Center on wheels to support them is also a blast. Their reactions and gratitude shown is priceless and it makes me feel like we have accomplished our mission - “Connecting them to Family, Home, and Country!”