William Kennedy was Vice President and Head of Chapman College's (now Chapman University), regional education centers. Bill was one of the early pioneers in developing and implementing college degree programs at extension campus sites. Bill was a national advocate and avid supporter of the voluntary education program and was instrumental in founding the CCMEA (California Colleges and Military Educators Association) which later became CCME and served as the first elected President of the association. Sometime after Bill's death in 1985 the William Kennedy Award was established in his honor.

The William E. Kennedy Award is given to a nominee meeting the following criteria:

- The nominee must be an employee of an institution offering a program of instruction at one or more military installations.

- The program of instruction offered by the employing institution must be governed by the provisions of voluntary off-duty educations programs.

- In addition, at their discretion, the Awards Committee may seek a written recommendation from the President, Vice-President, or Dean from the nominee's educational institution.

- The nominee has been employed directly in the promotion and delivery of voluntary off-duty education programs for a period of at least three years.

- The Awards Committee shall ascertain that the nominee's accomplishments are deserving of the award, and that these accomplishments demonstrate the nominee's dedication and leadership in the delivery of quality programs to military installations.

- If a nominee has been the recipient of any CCME Award in the past 5 years they are deemed an ineligible nominee.