William E. Reynolds

Who was William E. Reynolds?

William Edward Reynolds served as the fifth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, from 1919 to 1924.

During the early part of his military career he spent much of his time aboard various vessels in the Revenue Cutter Service and its successor agency, the Coast Guard. He took an active interest in the education of officers as superintendent of the Revenue Cutter Service School of Instruction by increasing and modernizing the curriculum. The period after World War I when he served as Commandant was one of manpower shortages and personnel problems as well as questions about whether the Treasury Department or the Navy Department should control the Coast Guard. Reynolds was able to guide the service through the difficulties of control and actually increased the number of vessels and men serving under him.