Edward Walter Eberle Edward Walter Eberle ( August 17 , 1864 - July 6 , 1929 ) was an admiral in the United States Navy , who served as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy and third Chief of Naval Operations . Early years . Born at Denton , Texas , Eberle was raised at Fort Smith , Arkansas . He entered the Naval Academy on September 28 , 1881 and graduated on June 5 , 1885 . U . S . Navy service . Following the two years of sea service — spent in screw sloop s - of - war " Mohican " and " Shenandoah " and in steamer " Ranger " — then required before commissioning , Eberle was promoted to ensign on July 1 , 1887 . Brief duty in Washington , D . C . , in the late summer and early autumn preceded his reporting to " Albatross " on November 22 , 1887 to begin three years of duty in that Fishing Commission steamer . Following leave from November 22 , 1890 to January 28 , 1891 , he received instruction in new developments in naval ordnance at the Washington Navy Yard while awaiting orders for sea duty . Here , he demonstrated an interest in and an aptitude for naval gunnery which ever after was central to his career . On March 20 , he reported to and , in the veteran screw sloop - of - war , steamed across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans to the Far East . A year and a half later , while still in the Far East , he was transferred to the sailing sloop - of - war " Marion " to close out this tour of duty in Asiatic waters . He returned to the United States in the summer of 1894 and reported for duty at the Naval Academy on August 20 . In the waning days of this service at Annapolis , Eberle ' s commission as lieutenant , junior grade , arrived on June 12 , 1896 , only to be followed a week later by orders sending him across the continent to San Francisco where " Oregon " ( Battleship No . 3 ) was being completed . Spanish - American War . Eberle reported for duty on July 10 , five days before the new battleship was first placed in commission ; and he was placed in charge of her forward gun turret . " Oregon " was still operating along the $ 3 coast in the spring of 1898 when Congress declared war on Spain ; and she promptly won great renown by her race south from Puget Sound to Cape Horn and then north to the Caribbean to join American forces blockading Cuba . Eberle distinguished himself during the Battle of Santiago de Cuba by the outstanding performance of his turret in its duel with Spanish cruiser " Cristobal Colon " and , later , in its bombardment of Spanish troop concentrations at Caimanera . From this time on , Eberle reportedly enjoyed the favor of powerful officers in the Navy . His promotion to lieutenant came on March 3 , 1899 , some three months before he was detached from " Oregon " and transferred to in which he served as flag lieutenant of the Asiatic Squadron . Late in the summer , Eberle returned to Annapolis to become aide to the superintendent of the Naval Academy . Besides carrying out the duties of that position , he busied himself in studying ordnance and in writing manuals for the use of guns and torpedoes and for the operation of wireless communication by warships . A year in " Indiana " ( Battleship No . 1 ) on training duty ended in September 1902 when Eberle became aide to the commandant of the New York Navy Yard . Six months later , he was named Rear Admiral Albert S . Barker ' s flag lieutenant ; and , during this two - year tour with the Commander in Chief of the Atlantic Fleet , he won his commission as a lieutenant commander . Eberle received a number of choice assignments : instructor at the Naval War College , executive officer of " Louisiana " , commandant of the San Francisco Naval Training Station with collateral duty as commanding officer of " Pensacola " . During the latter tour , he was promoted to commander on December 15 , 1908 . World War I . He earned a captain ' s commission which arrived on July 1 , 1912 . He attended the short course at the Naval War College in 1913 ; and command of " Washington " and , later , of the Naval Gun Factory at Washington , D . C . , preceded Eberle ' s appointment as Superintendent of the Naval Academy on September 1 , 1915 . After overseeing the Academy during the period of World War I when the need for officers brought the problems of acceleration , he left Annapolis on January 30 , 1919 to command the battleship divisions of the Atlantic Fleet . He was promoted to rear admiral shortly before leaving the Academy . On June 30 , 1921 , Eberle took command of the Pacific Fleet with the rank of admiral . Some two years later , on July 17 , 1923 , he became Chief of Naval Operations and held the office until relieved by Admiral Charles F . Hughes on November 14 , 1927 . During the years he held this post , he reportedly fought to minimize the adverse effect upon the Navy of arms limitations negotiations and from Congressional thrift , hurried the completion of aircraft carrier s " Lexington " and " Saratoga " , and upheld the Navy ' s right to maintain its own air arm . After relinquishing the duties of Chief of Naval Operations , Eberle served on the General Board until he retired . Retirement . Eberle retired from the U . S . Navy on August 9 , 1928 and died in Washington , D . C . on July 6 , 1929 . Namesakes . The ships , USS " Admiral E . W . Eberle " ( AP - 123 ) and , were named in his honor . See also . List of Superintendents of the United States Naval Academy References .