William Robert DeSteph Jr. is a Republican politician from Virginia who currently serves as a member of the Virginia Senate. He represents the 20th District, which includes all of Accomack County and Northampton County, as well as parts of Norfolk City and Virginia Beach City. DeSteph is a Desert Storm veteran who served in the United States Navy, including time as a chief petty officer and later as a naval special-warfare intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. After his military service, he worked in the defense technology sector and was a senior vice president and co‑owner at the firm AMTI, helping to grow and ultimately sell the company. He is known for his advocacy of smaller, limited government, public safety, free-market capitalism, energy independence, and private-sector job creation.

Education

DeSteph earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Maryland. His academic background in finance has informed his approach to fiscal policy and economic development in his legislative work.

Political Experience

Bill DeSteph began his elected-service career on the Virginia Beach City Council, where he served earlier in the 2000s and built a reputation as a fiscal conservative focused on government transparency and accountability. He later served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 2014 to 2016, representing the 82nd District. In November 2015 he was elected to the Virginia Senate for what was then the 8th District; following redistricting, he now represents the 20th District and has held this Senate seat since 2016. Throughout his tenure, he has sponsored legislation related to public safety, economic development, and government efficiency, and has remained active in veterans’ and community-support organizations while continuing to emphasize local economic growth and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.