William L. Ball
Encyclopedia
William L. Ball III is an American former government service worker and political appointee. He held senior posts in the Reagan
Administration, beginning as an Assistant Secretary of State
under George Shultz in 1985 . He moved to the White House
staff in 1986 as President Reagan’s chief lobbyist and liaison to Congress. After two years in that capacity, he was nominated by President Reagan and confirmed by the Senate
to become the 67th Secretary of the Navy in 1988.
, and earned a Bachelor of Science
from the Georgia Institute of Technology
.
of Georgia
and John Tower
of Texas
. Previously, he served for six years as a naval officer aboard ship and then at the Navy Department in Washington, D.C.
, before being released from active duty in 1975. He continued to serve as a naval reserve officer through March 5, 1985. He was aboard the USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) on September 16, 1988 and participated in the promotion and pinning of 9 newly selected Chief Petty Officer's (E-7)and stated that this was the highlight of his Naval career.
He was President of the American Beverage Association
(formerly the National Soft Drink Association) from 1990-2005. He currently serves as Managing Director of the Loeffler Group, the Washington DC-based government affairs practice of Loeffler Tuggey Pauerstein Rosenthal LLP.
He was elected chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Asia Foundation in January 2002 . He has been a member of the Foundation’s board since 1995, and served as vice chairman from January 1999 to December 2001.
Ball is president of the Navy Museum Foundation, a former member of the Board of Trustees for the Maine Maritime Academy, and a director of the Naval Historical Foundation
.
In July 2011, Ball became a member of the United States Energy Security Council, which seeks to diminish oil's monopoly over the US transportation sector and is sponsored by the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS).
.
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
Administration, beginning as an Assistant Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
under George Shultz in 1985 . He moved to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
staff in 1986 as President Reagan’s chief lobbyist and liaison to Congress. After two years in that capacity, he was nominated by President Reagan and confirmed by the Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
to become the 67th Secretary of the Navy in 1988.
Early years
Ball was born in Belton, South CarolinaBelton, South Carolina
Belton is a city in eastern Anderson County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 4,461 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Belton is located at ....
, and earned a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from the Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology
The Georgia Institute of Technology is a public research university in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States...
.
Career
Before joining the Reagan Administration, Ball worked for ten years as a staff member for two former United States Senators: Herman TalmadgeHerman Talmadge
Herman Eugene Talmadge was an American politician from the U.S. state of Georgia. He served as governor of Georgia briefly in 1947 and again from 1948 to 1955. His term was marked by his segregationist policies. After leaving office Talmadge was elected to the U.S...
of Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and John Tower
John Tower
John Goodwin Tower was the first Republican United States senator from Texas since Reconstruction. He served from 1961 until his retirement in January 1985, after which time he was the chairman of the Reagan-appointed Tower Commission that investigated the Iran-Contra Affair. He was George H. W...
of Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
. Previously, he served for six years as a naval officer aboard ship and then at the Navy Department in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, before being released from active duty in 1975. He continued to serve as a naval reserve officer through March 5, 1985. He was aboard the USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) on September 16, 1988 and participated in the promotion and pinning of 9 newly selected Chief Petty Officer's (E-7)and stated that this was the highlight of his Naval career.
He was President of the American Beverage Association
American Beverage Association
American Beverage Association is a trade organization that represents the beverage industry in the United States. Its members include producers and bottlers of soft drinks, bottled water, and other non-alcoholic beverages....
(formerly the National Soft Drink Association) from 1990-2005. He currently serves as Managing Director of the Loeffler Group, the Washington DC-based government affairs practice of Loeffler Tuggey Pauerstein Rosenthal LLP.
He was elected chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Asia Foundation in January 2002 . He has been a member of the Foundation’s board since 1995, and served as vice chairman from January 1999 to December 2001.
Ball is president of the Navy Museum Foundation, a former member of the Board of Trustees for the Maine Maritime Academy, and a director of the Naval Historical Foundation
Naval Historical Foundation
The Naval Historical Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded in 1926, has a broad mission to preserve and promote the naval history of the United States by supporting official Sea Services programs and institutions, meeting the needs of the public for naval history, and collecting historical...
.
In July 2011, Ball became a member of the United States Energy Security Council, which seeks to diminish oil's monopoly over the US transportation sector and is sponsored by the Institute for the Analysis of Global Security (IAGS).
Personal life
Ball and wife, Patty, have four daughters and reside in Alexandria, VirginiaAlexandria, Virginia
Alexandria is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2009, the city had a total population of 139,966. Located along the Western bank of the Potomac River, Alexandria is approximately six miles south of downtown Washington, D.C.Like the rest of northern Virginia, as well as...
.