Roll Call Tribute

Joe Steve Williams 

January 16, 1933 - August 15, 2024 

Joe Steve Williams, age 91, son of the late Austin Joe Williams and Mary O. Williams, of Austin, Texas, died in Naples, Florida, on August 15th, 2024.

He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 60 years, Nancy Lee Williams, formerly of Madison, Wisconsin. Survived by son Michael Williams; daughter Laura Gallagher; son-in-law Mark Gallagher; Granddaughters Erika (Justin), Abby (Alex), and Ava; and Great-grandchildren Atlas and Madison.

He attended Austin public schools and graduated from Austin High School. He graduated with academic and military honors from Texas A&M University—Class of 1954. His mentor and friend was the late, long serving, Texas A&M Professor of Physics, Nelson Duller. Steve earned a master’s degree in physics at the University of Wisconsin, in 1957.

Steve was a physicist and served as an officer in the U S Air Force where he was involved in the development of nuclear-powered aircraft. He was employed with the Sperry Gyroscope Co. in Lake Success, New York where he investigated magnetic amplifiers. He also designed nuclear-powered naval seaplanes at the Martin Aircraft Co. in Baltimore, Maryland.

He spent most of his career conducting foreign technological assessments to aid U.S. military research and development and guide National Defense policies. His assessments were influential in the Presidential decision to start the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), a.k.a. Star Wars, to develop ballistic missile defenses. He also led a joint Air Force, Army, and Navy program to define the potential foreign targets that would need to be overcome. 

Steve was selected to develop and manage the Air Force’s program to provide long-range technical forecasts of foreign threats. For his work in Intelligence, he received the Exceptional Civil Service Award, the highest U.S. Air Force award given to a civilian. The General Harold Watson Award for Excellence in Technical Intelligence. The Meritorious Civilian Service Award and the Federal Outstanding Civilian Career Award.

At the end of the Cold War, Steve fostered the first joint research program on pulse power and thermonuclear energy between a Russian nuclear weapons laboratory and a counterpart U.S. nuclear weapons laboratory.

He and Nancy retired to Naples in 1991 where he was active for many years in his community affairs and greatly enjoyed his beloved boat “STAR WARS”

It was Steve’s last wish that his family have a big fun family dinner, remember him, share amusing stories and good times, and, most importantly, order an extra-dry Beefeater Martini for him!

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Association of Former Students.