Originally from Hampton, Virginia, William "CJ" Charlton's family lived overseas for most of his first 17 years of life. Though his father was in the Air Force, he primarily served in the Defense Attaché Office (DAO) for the US State Department. This afforded CJ’s family the opportunity to live in many foreign countries and travel the world experiencing different cultures.

Upon graduating from high school in Dover, Delaware, he accepted a four year Air Force ROTC scholarship for Aerospace Engineering to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (ERAU) in Daytona Beach, Florida. After completing his second year, CJ left ERAU and the ROTC program, transferring to Delaware State University to pursue a degree in Airway Science. It was there that he was recruited by the North Carolina Air National Guard (NCANG), to be a C-130 pilot.

Upon his graduation in 1995, CJ became the North Carolina Air National Guard’s first African American direct commissioned officer, and the first African American without prior military experience that they sponsored to attend Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) for the Air Force. CJ currently serves as a C-130 Aircraft Commander in the156 Airlift Squadron, operating out of Charlotte, North Carolina. During his 12 years in the squadron, CJ has accumulated over 2500 hours of flight time, with nearly 700 of them occurring in combat conditions. He has also served on the squadron's UPT selection panel, during which time the unit hired 12 African American aircrew members.

In January of 2000, CJ joined Atlantic Coast Airlines (ACA) as a first officer on their Canadair Regional Jet. The following year he upgraded to Captain on the company’s newly acquired Dornier Regional Jet. During his tenure at ACA, CJ was a significant factor in the recruitment of African American pilots at the company, working in conjunction with the Organization of Black Airline Pilots (OBAP). In August of 2005, he left ACA to join Continental Airlines. He currently serves as a first officer in the Boeing 757/767 fleet, flying domestic and international routes out of Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey.

During his entire post collegiate life CJ has been an active member of OBAP. He has held the positions of Parliamentarian, Advisor to Institutional Members, Chairman of the Professional Pilot Development Program, and currently serves as the Southeast Region Vice President. He is commonly recognized as the individual that most members having little to no flying experience, seek for counseling on how best to develop an aviation career.

CJ is married to the former Chera Washington. They reside in Charlotte, North Carolina with their two beautiful daughters, Zaria (8) and Maya (3).