Charles Adams Blakely Vice Admiral Charles Adams Blakely ( 1 October 1879 – 12 September 1950 ) was an officer in the United States Navy during World War I and the interwar period . Born on October 1 , 1879 at Williamsburg , Kentucky , Blakely graduated from Williamsburg Academy in 1897 and , in the summer of 1898 , served with the 2d Kentucky Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish – American War . Appointed a naval cadet in September 1899 , Blakely graduated from the Naval Academy on February 2 , 1903 and , after serving two years at sea as a passed naval cadet , was commissioned ensign in 1905 to date from February 3 . Between 1903 and 1907 , he served successively in the frigate , " Baltimore " ( Cruiser No . 3 ) , " Cleveland " ( Cruiser No . 19 ) , " Denver " ( Cruiser No . 14 ) , and the yacht . Command of " Thornton " ( Torpedo Boat No . 33 ) and " Macdonough " ( Torpedo - boat Destroyer No . 9 ) followed . In December 1910 , he became officer in charge of the machinist school at the Charleston Navy Yard . Between June 1911 and October 1914 , Blakely commanded the Reserve Torpedo Flotillas and the protected cruiser . From October 1914 to September 1916 , he served ashore at the New York Navy Yard . At the end of that assignment , he assumed command of " Rowan " ( Destroyer No . 64 ) . During World War I , Blakely commanded " O ' Brien " ( Destroyer No . 51 ) , serving in the waters surrounding the British Isles . At the end of the war , he went to Washington where he served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations . In December 1920 , Blakely became the engineering officer on the staff of the Commander , Destroyer Squadrons , Atlantic Fleet . He concluded that assignment in October 1922 and moved to duty as inspector of ordnance at the Naval Ammunition Depot , Lake Denmark , New Jersey . In 1925 , he began a year as Commanding Officer of the battleship . Leaving that billet in August 1926 , Blakely embarked upon a two - year tour of duty commanding the Destroyer Squadron , Asiatic Fleet . In July 1928 , he returned to the United States to take up duty in the Bureau of Navigation as president of the Naval Reserve Inspection Board . Blakely remained at the Bureau of Navigation for more than three years . He was relieved in December 1931 and , in January 1932 , reported for duty at the Naval Air Station Pensacola , Florida , as a student . Upon completion of the observer course in May 1932 , he was designated an aviation observer . During that same month , Blakely assumed command of the aircraft carrier , a unit of the Battle Force based on the west coast . In June 1934 , he relinquished command of the aircraft carrier and proceeded to Newport , Rhode Island , where he spent the next 12 months completing the senior course at the Naval War College . Blakely returned to Pensacola in June 1935 to take additional flight training . On March 10 , 1936 , at the age of 54 , he received his designation as a naval aviator . Two months later , he became commanding officer of the Pensacola facility . Rear Admiral Blakely was detached from duty at Pensacola late in the summer of 1937 . In August of that year , he became Commander , Carrier Division 2 , and presided over that organization until the end of the year , ultimately flying his flag in . In January 1938 , he fleeted up to Commander Aircraft , Scouting Force , a post he held for the next 18 months . In June 1939 , Blakely moved back to the west coast assuming concurrent command of Aircraft , Battle Force , and of CarDiv 2 with the rank of Vice Admiral . Once again he wore his flag in " Yorktown " . Blakely ’ s last active assignment was Commandant , 11th Naval District , with additional duty as the Commanding Officer , Naval Operating Base , San Diego . Ill health brought his relief from active duty on December 9 , 1941 and , on October 1 , 1942 , his transfer to the retired list . He died in San Diego on 12 September 1950 . Namesake . USS " Blakely " ( DE - 1072 / FF - 1072 ) was named in honor of both him and Capt . Johnston Blakeley . Unfortunately Admiral Blakely claimed to be a nephew of Johnston Blakeley . However , Johnston Blakeley had no siblings who survived to adulthood . Therefore , it is not possible for anyone to be a nephew or grandnephew of Johnston Blakeley .