Born and raised in Weatherford, Texas, Wade Williams has long been shaped by a deep respect for service, discipline, and history. Inspired by his grandfather, Fred Williams—a World War II flight instructor—Wade developed a lifelong passion for aviation and the legacy of the Greatest Generation.

    Wade earned a Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences in Organizational Leadership from Texas A&M University–Commerce, graduating magna cum laude. For more than two decades, he has served as a World War II living historian and collector, using his extensive U.S. Army Air Forces collection to educate the public on the courage, innovation, and sacrifice of the wartime generation. He served as a qualified ground crew member on the B-17 “Chuckie” at the Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth and also holds a private pilot’s license.

    A dedicated mentor and educator, Wade spent 13 years as a Boy Scout leader and Merit Badge Counselor and served as a docent and Commanding Officer within the museum’s Living History Group. He was also honored as the model for a statue of Lieutenant Colonel Leon Vance, namesake of Vance Air Force Base.

    As a founding board member of Conservators of the Greatest Generation (COGG), Wade remains committed to preserving and sharing World War II history for generations to come.