Del Norte High School graduate William H. “Bill” Payne, Class of 1969, has defined a lifetime through service. A retired Navy SEAL Rear Admiral and the first career reserve SEAL to achieve flag rank, his distinguished career also includes 24 years in the New Mexico State Senate. Appointed to the University of New Mexico Board of Regents in 2021, he now serves the same university where he earned both his undergraduate and law degrees. As Chair of the Finance and Facilities Committee, he continues to help shape the future of higher education in New Mexico.
Bill grew up in the Bel-Air addition of Albuquerque’s Northeast Heights and attended Del Norte during its early years. After graduating, he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of New Mexico and entered the Navy in 1975. During his first 11 years of active duty, he served in Underwater Demolition Team Eleven, SEAL Team One, the U.S. Naval Academy, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Naval Special Warfare Unit One. The Navy also sent him to Georgetown University, where he earned a Master of Arts in Government and a certificate in National Security Studies, later receiving designation as a Middle East, Africa, and South Asia politico-military sub-specialist.
Payne’s 34 year military career included operational tours with SEAL Team One and senior leadership roles at U.S. Central Command and U.S. Special Operations Command. He retired as a Rear Admiral, becoming the first career reserve SEAL to reach that rank.
After returning to New Mexico, he served in the New Mexico State Senate from 1997 to 2021, including time as Republican Whip. He was widely recognized for his work on military affairs, utilities, and natural resource issues. Payne holds a Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor from the University of New Mexico and a Master of Arts in Government from Georgetown University. He is a licensed attorney in both New Mexico and Washington, D.C.
Whether serving in the military, the NM State Senate, or on the University of New Mexico Board of Regents, Bill Payne has consistently demonstrated the leadership and commitment fostered at Del Norte High School. His journey from the Class of 1969 to positions of national and state leadership stands as a lasting example for fellow Knights. The AlumKnights proudly recognize Admiral Payne for his lifetime of service to community, state, and nation.