William Seward

Commander William E. Seward, USCG (Ret.), is a decorated Coast Guard aviator, Army officer, and veteran of more than 28 years of military service. He logged thousands of flight hours in some of the world's most challenging environments, from Arctic storms over Kodiak to high-risk rescue missions across the Pacific and Caribbean. He served as an Aircraft Commander in the MH-60 Jayhawk, helped pioneer Airborne Use of Force tactics with Maritime Security Response Teams, and led interagency operations with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

But before the uniform, there was trauma.

In his memoir Raised by Wolves, Saved by Wings, Seward reveals the hidden scars of a childhood marked by physical and emotional abuse. From surviving neglect in Coast Guard base housing to becoming a trailblazing officer and rescue pilot, his journey is one of resilience, faith, and the power of love to rewrite a legacy.

Seward later became the first Coast Guard officer assigned to the U.S. Border Patrol, where he authored joint threat response protocols adopted across multiple federal agencies. He also helped shape the Coast Guard’s Child Care Subsidy Program and was recognized for life saving missions, diversity leadership, and exposing fraud in the federal system. His final years of service included oversight of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, the nation's largest volunteer maritime force.

Today he lives with his wife Cary, whose "angelic wings" helped him heal, and is the proud father of two sons who serve in the U.S. Army and Coast Guard. Through writing, speaking, and mentorship, Seward now devotes his life to helping others break generational cycles of abuse and take flight.