Alfred Walton Hinds Alfred Walton Hinds ( July 25 , 1874 – December 25 , 1957 ) was a United States Navy Captain who served as the 17th Naval Governor of Guam . His early naval service included serving as Assistant Engineer aboard the USS " Texas " , the United States Navy ' s first battleship , where he was reprimanded for an accident aboard in 1896 . In 1911 , Hinds joined the staff of the United States Naval Academy , heading the Department of Marine Engineering and Naval Construction , writing a textbook on the subject while there . From September 23 , 1913 to March 28 , 1914 , Hinds served as acting Governor of Guam . Having already helped formed the policies of the previous governor , Hinds continued much of the practices of the earlier administration . He successfully drew new import and export businesses to the island , though he failed in his attempts to further development of Guam as a key naval outpost . Following his governorship , Hinds commanded various ships and eventually became marine superintendent of the Panama Canal in 1924 , serving in that office until early 1925 . Life . Hinds was born on July 25 , 1874 in Marshall County , Alabama . He married Mary Beardslee in the early 1900s , and had one son , Walton Hinds in either 1903 or 1904 . He was a member of the New York Yacht Club . Hinds died on December 25 , 1957 . Naval career . Hinds graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1894 . He served as Assistant Engineer aboard the USS " Texas " , the first battleship commissioned by the United States Navy . The Navy publicly reprimanded him for his role in an accident aboard the vessel in September 1896 . In 1901 , he served temporarily aboard the USS " Wabash " . In 1908 , as a lieutenant commander , the Navy ordered him aboard the USS " Virginia " . In 1911 , Hinds headed the Department of Marine Engineering and Naval Construction at the United States Naval Academy . There , he also co - authored the book " Marine and Naval Boilers " with Lieutenant Commander Frank Lyon . The book served as a textbook for midshipmen at the Naval Academy . In 1917 , as a commander , he served as executive officer of the USS " Oklahoma " . In 1918 , he was given command of the USS " Rochester " . During his command , the ship came to the aid of the British steamer " Atlantian " . Though Hinds ordered the engagement of the U - boat that had attacked the ship , but the crew proved unable to find it . He was placed in command of the USS " New York " in 1922 . In 1924 , Hinds became marine superintendent of the Panama Canal , keeping that position until February 23 , 1925 . Governorship . Hinds served as acting Naval Governor of Guam from September 23 , 1913 to March 28 , 1914 . Prior to becoming governor , Hinds served as public works officer for the island under Governor Robert Coontz , and continued much of the same policies he advocated in the position after taking the governorship . Hinds expressed fear that the large numbers of Japan ese tourists to the island performing espionage . He also raised concerns about occupations of the surrounding islands by Japan . He successfully drew new American importers and exporters to the island , including San Francisco company Atkins , Kroll & Company . As governor , Hinds strongly promoted the utilization of Guam as an area for key naval bases to be built upon . He advocated for construction of a base to commence quickly using improvised dredging equipment from the Panama Canal . However , various engineers and the Chief of the Bureau of Yards and Docks dismissed the proposal as both unorthodox and originating from the wrong office . Hinds viewed Guam as of little importance other than as a naval outpost , stating in 1915 that " Except as a naval base - a place from which to sail forth to ' capture or destroy the enemy fleet ' - Guam has no value to the navy and is , perhaps , of but little interest to naval officers . "