General William E. “Kip” Ward is a retired United States Army General, best known for being the inaugural Commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM).

Born on June 3, 1949, in Baltimore, Maryland, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Morgan State University and a Master of Arts in Political Science from Pennsylvania State University.

Throughout his distinguished military career from 1971 to 2012, General Ward held several key positions, including:

• Commander of United States Africa Command (2007–2011): Led the newly established AFRICOM, overseeing U.S. defense and security activities across the African continent.
• Deputy Commander, U.S. European Command: Assisted in directing U.S. military operations across Europe and parts of Asia.
• U.S. Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority: Appointed by the Secretary of State to coordinate security efforts in the region.

After retiring from active duty, General Ward joined SENTEL Corporation as a Senior Adviser, focusing on the company’s international expansion efforts. He continues to engage in global security discussions and serves on the Advisory Board of Redwood Global, an infrastructure, energy, and investment firm.

General Ward’s contributions have been recognized with numerous awards, including the Army Distinguished Service Medal and the Defense Superior Service Medal. He is also a member of organizations such as Omega Psi Phi and Sigma Pi Phi fraternities.