Robert Coontz

Biography

Born in Hannibal in 1864, Robert Coontz entered the United States Naval Academy and spent the early years of his career aboard a variety of ships, learning seamanship and leadership while carrying out assignments from the coasts of North America to the Pacific. He distinguished himself during the Spanish-American War and the ensuing years of naval expansion, growing into a seasoned commander whose crews trusted his calm judgment.

As Chief of Naval Operations he shepherded the Navy through the difficult years of demobilization after the Great War, advocated for realistic training, and oversaw measures to modernize the fleet so that it remained ready for the challenges of a changing world; he later shared his insights through writings that documented a life devoted to the sea.