[1] He was raised in Lorain, Ohio, and entered the United States Army in August 1961 as an enlisted soldier, attaining the rank of staff sergeant before attending Officer Candidate School (OCS).

He was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Nebraska at Omaha.

Wilson next served as the Deputy Commanding General, 21st TAACOM, the army's largest and most diverse logistics unit.

Based on his wide experience with leading soldiers, Wilson was selected to become the Chief of Ordnance of the United States Army and command the United States Army Ordnance Center and School responsible for the training and professional development of thousands of soldiers, NCOs, and officers every year.

Following this successful assignment, Wilson served as the Chief of Staff, AMC, where he was responsible for resource and personnel management for a workforce with over 80,000 military and civilian members.

In July 2022, he joined with other former U.S. military leaders in condemning former president and commander in chief, Donald Trump for his role in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on 6 January 2021.