Joseph M . Reeves Joseph Mason " Bull " Reeves ( November 20 , 1872 - March 25 , 1948 ) was an admiral in the United States Navy , who was an early and important supporter of U . S . Naval Aviation . Though a battleship officer during his early career , he became known as the " Father of Carrier Aviation " for his role in integrating aircraft carrier s into the Fleet as a major part of the Navy ' s attack capabilities . Reeves retired in the mid - 1930s but was recalled to active duty during World War II to serve in high - level staff positions within the Office of the Secretary of the Navy . He retired again in December 1946 with the rank of full admiral . Early life and career . Joseph Mason Reeves was born on November 20 , 1872 in the village of Tampico , Illinois . He received an appointment in 1890 to attend the Naval Academy , where he became a football hero . In addition to his on - field heroics , he is credited with the invention of the modern football helmet , in which he had a shoemaker create for him after he was told by a Navy doctor that a kick to his head could result in " instant insanity " or death . Reeves graduated from the Academy in 1894 . Upon graduation , Reeves was assigned to the cruiser USS " San Francisco " ( Cruiser No . 5 ) . He served in the battleship USS " Oregon " ( BB - 3 ) during the Spanish - American War , taking part in the action against Admiral Pascual Cervera y Topete ' s fleet at Santiago in June and July 1898 . Start of the 20th century Through World War I . After the start of the 20th century , Reeves served in San Francisco and on the battleships USS " Wisconsin " ( BB - 9 ) and USS " Ohio " ( BB - 12 ) in addition to tours ashore at Newport and Annapolis , where he was an instructor in the Naval Academy ' s Department of Physics and Chemistry , 1906 - 08 . He served as the Academy ' s Head Football Coach in 1907 , guiding the team to a 9 - 2 - 1 record and a 6 - 0 victory over Army . Following duties as ordnance officer on board the battleship USS " New Hampshire " ( BB - 25 ) , Reeves served as ordnance officer in the staff of the Commander in Chief , U . S . Atlantic Fleet . He followed this with assignment to the Board of Inspection and Survey and a tour as Commanding Officer , Naval Coal Depot , Tiburon , California . In April 1913 , Commander Reeves assumed command of the collier USS " Jupiter " ( AC - 3 ) , the Navy ' s first electrically propelled vessel . The ship was recommissioned in 1922 as USS " Langley " ( CV - 1 ) , the Navy ' s first aircraft carrier . Detached from " Jupiter " in April 1914 , he commanded the cruiser USS " St . Louis " ( Cruiser No . 20 ) and various other ships until assigned to " Oregon " , June 1915 , as Commanding Officer . Detached for shore duty at the Mare Island ( California ) Navy Yard , in June 1916 , he commanded the battleship USS " Maine " ( BB - 10 ) during World War I , earning the Navy Cross for " exceptionally meritorious service " during that tour . Post - World War I Assignments . After the war , he served as Naval Attaché at Rome and in April 1921 assumed command of USS " Pittsburgh " ( ACR - 4 ) . Captain of the Mare Island Navy Yard at the end of that year , he commanded the battleship USS " North Dakota " ( BB - 29 ) , 1922 – 23 , then attended the Naval War College at Newport . After completing his coursework , he spent a year as a member of the staff . Entering Naval Aviation . Upon completing his tour at the War College , Captain Reeves decided to enter the new world of Naval Aviation . In order to hold a command post , however , he needed to receive aviation training . Like other older officers — notably , RADM William A . Moffett , Chief of the Navy ' s new Bureau of Aeronautics — Reeves qualified as a " Naval Aviation Observer " rather than as a " Naval Aviator " ( i . e . , a pilot ) . He received his qualification in 1925 , and assumed the post of Commander , Aircraft Squadron , Battle Fleet . Though a captain by rank , his position as squadron commander permitted him to fly a commodore ' s pennant . His flagship was the experimental carrier USS " Langley " — his old ship , " Jupiter " , modified for aviation operations . The wooden flight - deck was installed over the " Langley ' s " existing deck structures , giving the vessel the nickname of " Covered Wagon . " While in this command , Reeves worked hard to develop carrier aviation tactics , seeking to increase sortie rates and the use of dive - bombing . He proved these concepts by the success of his pilots and aircrew during the Navy ' s annual fleet exercises ( known as " Fleet Problems " ) . Reeves served on the Navy ' s General Board , June 1929 - June 1930 . Fifteen months later he became Senior Member of the Board of Inspection and Survey , Pacific Coast Section . Another tour at Mare Island followed and in June 1933 he became Commander , Battleships , Battle Force , with the rank of vice admiral . In July , he was assigned as Commander , Battle Force , U . S . Fleet , with the rank of admiral . On February 26 , 1934 , Admiral Reeves was designated Commander - in - Chief , U . S . Fleet . He held this command until June 1936 , when he was ordered to Washington , D . C . , to serve on the General Board . He held the Board position until November 23 , 1936 , and retired seven days later . Recall during World War II . The admiral ' s retirement was short - lived , as his nation again needed his services to fight another World War . Reeves was recalled to active duty May 13 , 1940 , advanced to vice admiral on the retired list , and served in the Office of the Secretary of the Navy from May 21 , 1940 until December 23 , 1946 . He then retired a second time , and spent his last years living in Maryland . He died at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda , Maryland , on March 25 , 1948 . Reeves ' Legacy . A warship and two airfields have been named in honor of Vice Admiral Reeves . Awards and decorations . Here is the ribbon bar of Admiral Joseph M . Reeves :