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General William F. Kernan was born in Fort Sam Houston, Texas in 1946. He entered Officer Candidate School as a Staff Sergeant and was commissioned an Infantry Officer in November 1968. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and a Master of Arts degree in Personnel Administration. His military education includes the Infantry Advanced Course, the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, and the U.S. Army War College.

General Kernan has commanded at Platoon through Combatant Command level. He has commanded two Airborne Companies, two Ranger Companies, an Airborne Infantry Battalion, a Ranger Battalion, and the 75th Ranger Regiment. For two years he was an exchange officer to England as a rifle company commander in the 3rd Battalion, the British Parachute Regiment. He was the Assistant Division Commander (Maneuver) of the 7th Infantry Division, followed by an assignment as the Director of Plans, Policy, and Assessments, J5, United States Special Operations Command. He commanded the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) for two years and the XVIII Airborne Corps and Fort Bragg for 30 months.

He has participated in numerous contingency operations. He has extensive experience in joint operations and warfighting. Combat tours have included Vietnam, Grenada, and Panama. During Operation JUST CAUSE, he led the 75th Ranger Regiment in its combat parachute assault onto Rio Hato, Panama.

General Kernan was appointed to the grade of General in July 2000. On 5 September 2000, General Kernan assumed command as the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic and Commander in Chief, United States Joint Forces Command, Norfolk, Virginia responsible for Joint requirements and training. He retired from the Army on 1 December 2002 and assumed the position of Senior Vice President and General Manager for International Operations for MPRI, a wholly owned subsidiary of L-3 Communications building the business from $43 million to $575 million in six years. He retired from MPRI in 2010 and remains on several boards and is a Senior Fellow for AUSA and the Institute of Land Warfare. He is also an advisor to the Army Maneuver Center and Army Special Operations Command and chairs the Warfighter Focus Board.

General Kernanā€™s awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Distinguished Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Legion of Merit (with 3 oak leaf clusters), Bronze Star Medal with ā€œVā€ device, Bronze Star Medal (with oak leaf cluster), Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (with three oak leaf clusters), Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal (with four oak leaf clusters), Army Achievement Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge (with combat star), Air Assault Badge and Ranger Tab.