A native of Texas, William A. Chatfield attended Union College in Schenectady, New York, majoring in Political Science and Criminal Justice, and continued his studies at American University. He served as an intelligence analyst in the U.S. Marine Corps and then, from 1978 through 1979, he was Doorkeeper of the U.S. House of Representatives. Between 1981 and 1987 Chatfield held the following positions in the Reagan administration: Staff member of the Deputy Undersecretary for Policy at the Department of Defense; Regional Director of the Civil Aeronautics Board; Special Assistant to the Director, Office of Personnel Management; Assistant to the Chairman of the Consumer Product Safety Commission; Special Assistant for Congressional Liason in the Department of the Interior; and Staff Advisor to the Commissioner at the Interstate Commerce Commission.

 

In 1987 he became a “government affairs consultant” (lobbyist), and two years later he and former Congressman Tom Kindness (R-Ohio) established Kindness & Chatfield Associates, a lobbying firm.

 

Chatfield also served for many years as an Officer in the Marine Corp Reserves, and was a black belt martial arts instructor.

 

President Bush nominated Chatfield to be director of the Selective Service System in August 2003, however his confirmation was held up by Senator John McCain and he finally took over the position November 29, 2004.