William Ambrose Jenkins (November 2, 1917 – August 27, 2022) was a United States Coast Guard admiral who served as the Superintendent of the United States Coast Guard Academy from June 1974 to June 1977.

Early life and education

Jenkins was born in

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City (abbreviated KC or KCMO) is the largest city in Missouri by population and area. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 508,090 in 2020, making it the 36th most-populous city in the United States. It is the central ...

, on November 2, 1917. He graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy on December 19, 1941, 12 days after Pearl Harbor. After graduating from flight training in 1944, he flew 23 different types of aircraft and helicopters during his career in the Coast Guard. Jenkins graduated from the

National War College The National War College (NWC) of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. History The National War Colle ...

in Washington, D.C., in 1965.

Military career

Jenkins was Chief of the Law Enforcement Division and Program Manager at USCG Headquarters, earning Coast Guard Commendation Medals for his interagency and international work in pollution control. Jenkins was promoted to two star

Rear admiral Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...

in 1970 and appointed to command of the Great Lakes Region before finally serving as the Superintendent of the United States Coast Guard Academy from June 1974 to June 1977.

Personal life and death

Jenkins turned 100 in November 2017, and died from COVID-19-related pneumonia in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on August 27, 2022, at the age of 104.

References

1917 births 2022 deaths American men centenarians Military personnel from Kansas City, Missouri United States Coast Guard Academy alumni United States Coast Guard admirals United States Coast Guard personnel of World War II United States Naval Aviators Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida {{USCG-bio-stub