Lieutenant Colonel William T. Graves, Jr. graduated from Duke University with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps through the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps program in May of 2006. From June 2006 to February 2007, he attended The Basic School and Initial Flight Screening in Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduating, he began basic flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida followed by primary flight training in T-34 aircraft with Training Squadron 28. In January of 2008, he reported to Training Squadron 21 for advanced flight training in T-45s and was designated a Naval Aviator at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas in July 2009.
First Lieutenant Graves was subsequently assigned to the Hawks of Marine Attack Training Squadron 203 at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina in August 2009 for operational training in the AV-8B Harrier. He competed his training at VMAT-203 in July of 2010.
In July 2010, First Lieutenant Graves was assigned to the Spades of Marine Attack Squadron 231 at Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina where he held positions as the S-1, Assistant Aircraft Maintenance Officer, Quality Assurance Officer, and Officer in Charge of multiple maintenance divisions. In March of 2013, Captain Graves deployed with VMA-231 in support of the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit.
In July 2014, Captain Graves reported to the Air Force Institute of Technology where he earned a Master of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. Following graduation, Captain Graves was assigned to the United States Naval Academy, where he served from 2016 - 2020 as an Aeronautical Engineering Instructor as well as a Company Marine Mentor and Leatherneck SPC, XO and OIC.
In July 2020, Major Graves assessed into the Active Reserves and was ordered to Marine Transport Squadron Belle Chasse. While at VMR Belle Chasse, Major Graves served as the Operations Officer, Executive Officer, and UC-12F NATOPS Evaluator.
In October 2022, Lieutenant Colonel Graves reported to 4th MAW for duty as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G-5 Officer where he served until May 2023.