William Toti | Captain USN (RET) & Former CEO Sparton Corp | Military Transition & Industry Leadership Expert

About

Captain William Toti, USN (Ret)

William Toti portrait
Illustration by Ze Otavio

Biography

Captain William Toti, US Navy (Retired), has more than 40 years of experience in defense. In three years as CEO of Sparton, he was able to restructure and double the company’s value, taking it through the sale of Sparton by Cerberus Capital Management to Elbit Systems of America. Prior to joining Sparton he spent more than a decade running multi-billion-dollar global defense businesses, for both products and services, including as president of the Integrated Maritime Systems sector at L3, as vice president of the defense segment of HP, HPE, and DXC, as president of Cubic Global Defense, and as vice president of Raytheon’s Mission Support Operations. He has served on Boards of Directors of ERAPSCO, JT3, and the Italian defense company Calzoni.

Captain Toti also served for more than 26 years in the U.S. Navy, including tours as commander of Fleet Antisubmarine Warfare Command Norfolk, as commodore of Submarine Squadron 3, and as commanding officer of the nuclear fast attack submarine USS Indianapolis (SSN-697). He served for more than nine years in the Pentagon, including tours as special assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, as Navy representative to the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, and as deputy director of the Navy War Plans Cell, Deep Blue. Mr. Toti is the creator/author of the US Navy’s current “Full Spectrum Antisubmarine Warfare” concept of operations.

Captain Toti holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from the U.S. Naval Academy, a master’s degree in spacecraft systems engineering, the pre-doctoral Electrical Engineer degree from the Naval Postgraduate School, and has done executive coursework at the Harvard Business School. He served as a Federal Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institution and as a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Fellow in International Affairs. He has more than 30 published articles and op-ed pieces and was the U.S. Naval Institute Author of the Year in 2001. He was a 2012 member of the White House Roundtable on Military Credentialing in support of an initiative to help transitioning service members receive civilian credentials and licenses.

Mr. Toti has worked to support the survivors of the World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35) for more than 25 years, was named an honorary survivor and their honorary captain in 2005, and has been featured in several global release documentaries on that storied ship, including “USS Indianapolis: Live from the Deep” (2017, PBS), “USS Indianapolis: Legacy Project” (2016, Tiny Horse Productions), and “USS Indianapolis: the Final Chapter” (2019, PBS).

His narrative titled “Antoinette,” describing his experiences during the September 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon was incorporated into the book Operation Homecoming, published by Random House (2006). He was featured in the 2016 PBS documentary, “9/11: Inside the Pentagon” and the 2020 History Channel documentary “9/11: The Pentagon.”, and the 2021 National Geographic six-part docuseries, “9/11: One Day in America.”

Captain William Toti, US Navy (Retired), is a seven-time recipient of the Legion of Merit, a recipient of the “Wash 100” list of most influential leaders in the government contractor sector (2016), HP Executive of the Year (2013), the FedScoop 50 Industry Leadership Award (2012), and the Rear Admiral John J. Bergen Industry Award from the Navy League of the United States (2010). He is a lifetime member of the U.S. Naval Institute, the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, the National Eagle Scouts Association, and as an adult leader was awarded the Honor Medal by the Boy Scouts of America (2002).

September 1974
Enlisting in the Navy at age 17
Thinking that it would improve his chances of gaining acceptance into Annapolis, William Toti thought it might be a good idea to enlist in the Navy at age 17. It seems to have worked.
September 1974
January 1981
Reporting to his first submarine
Reporting to his first submarine, USS Omaha (SSN-692)
January 1981
October 1989
After ten months at sea
While serving as Chief Engineer of USS Buffalo (SSN-715), William Toti and his crew spent nearly ten months at sea between 1988 and 1989. Here they are returning from a particularly arduous deployment.
October 1989
July 1992
Joint Staff Action Officer of the Year
After serving for two years on the Joint Staff, William Toti received the Action Officer of the Year award from Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell.
July 1992
March 1993
Executive Officer, USS Florida
(SSBN-728)
Taking over as Executive Officer (XO) of the Gold Crew on USS Florida (SSBN-728) Trident submarine.
March 1993
December 1996
Commanding Officer
USS Indianapolis
Taking command of the Los Angeles class nuclear fast attack submarine, USS Indianapolis (SSN-697).
December 1996
April 1997
The Toti children wave goodbye as their father leaves on deployment
The Toti children wave goodbye as their father exits Pearl Harbor channel on his final deployment on USS Indianapolis (SSN-697).
April 1997
June 1997
On the bridge of the USS Indianapolis (SSN-697)
As captain, on the bridge of his submarine USS Indianapolis (SSN-697).
June 1997
1997
Captain of the Indy:
A fast ship ready to go into harm's way
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1997
October 1997
USS Indianapolis, back from deployment
Returning to Pearl Harbor after his final deployment as captain of USS Indianapolis (SSN-697).
October 1997
February 1998
Decommissioning of USS Indianapolis (SSN-697)
Survivors of the World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35) stand in formation with William Toti’s crew at the decommissioning of their ship’s namesake submarine, USS Indianapolis (SSN-697).
February 1998
May 2000
US Naval Institute Author of the Year
After publishing several articles in US Naval Institute Proceedings magazine over the course of five years, William Toti was selected as Author of the Year in May 2000.
May 2000
August 2000
Promoted to Captain
William Toti’s wife and daughter pin his new captain shoulder boards on as he is promoted to captain.
August 2000
September 11, 2001
September 11, 2001 Pentagon attack
Recovery of one badly burned man outside the burning Pentagon about 20 minutes after the plane hit the building on 9/11.
September 11, 2001
September 11, 2001
Entering the burning building
Reentering the burning Pentagon to recover survivors, September 11, 2001.
September 11, 2001
September 11, 2001
Evacuating Antoinette Sherman on 9/11
After recovering Antoinette Sherman from the burning Pentagon on 9/11, we carried her to a medivac helicopter.
September 11, 2001
October 2001
Recognition for service on 9/11/2001
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Vern Clark presents William Toti with the Legion of Merit for services rendered on the September 11th attack on the Pentagon.
October 2001
February 2002
At Kandahar Airport, Afghanistan
Following the 9/11 attack, William Toti spent some time in Afghanistan supporting deployed troops.
February 2002
January 2003
Commander, Submarine Squadron 3
Taking command as commodore of Submarine Squadron 3, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
January 2003
April 2003
In Baghdad in 2003
Following the invasion of Baghdad in 2003, William Toti visits Baghdad to survey the sites struck by submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles.
April 2003
July 2005
Speaking at a memorial service for sailors lost on USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
Speaking at a memorial service for the shipmates of the USS Indianapolis in July of 2005. Survivors of the World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35) made William Toti their honorary captain in the early 2000s.
July 2005
February 2006
At the end of his Navy career, 2006
William Toti’s Navy portrait. Taken as he was about to retire from over 26 years on active duty.
February 2006
April 2006
Entry into industry
Taking over as director of advanced technology in a major defense firm.
April 2006
June 2008
With Southern Command commander Admiral James Stavridis
As a business executive, William Toti remained connected to the requirements of military commanders. Pictured here with then Southern Command commander (later Supreme NATO Commander) Admiral James Stavridis, USN.
June 2008
September 2017
USS Indianapolis LIVE: From the Deep
After the World War II USS Indianapolis (CA-35) wreckage was discovered at the bottom of the Marianas Trench in 2017, William Toti was asked to cover the event on a live one-hour broadcast with Miles O’Brien on PBS.
September 2017
August 2020
As CEO of Sparton, with the Secretary of the Navy and Congressman Mike Waltz
The Secretary of the Navy, Kenneth Braithwaite, and Congressman Mike Waltz visit Sparton Corporation while William Toti serves as CEO of Sparton.
August 2020
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