King, Ernest Joseph (1878-1956), commanded the United States Fleet during World War II. He took this post shortly after the United States entered the war in 1941. As commander in chief, he directed the greatest naval fleet in history. Early in 1942, he also became chief of naval operations. King held both assignments until after the war, and was the only officer in American history to occupy both posts. He represented the Navy on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and on the Combined Chiefs of Staff Committee. After the war, he was an adviser to the secretaries of defense and of the navy.
King was born in Lorain, Ohio. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1901. King started his career as a midshipman in the Spanish-American War (1898). In 1933, he became a rear admiral. In 1941, he became an admiral and commander in chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. In 1944, he rose to the newly created rank of fleet admiral. He received the Distinguished Service Cross twice.
