J. William Kime
Encyclopedia
John William Kime was a United States Coast Guard
admiral
who served as the 19th Commandant
of the United States Coast Guard
from May 31, 1990 to June 1, 1994.
. At the age of 10, he moved with his family to Baltimore, Maryland. In 1951, he graduated from Baltimore City College
, and was accepted into the School of Pharmacy at the University of Maryland
, but declined the admission offer for financial reasons.
Soon thereafter, he accepted a job at the local General Motors
plant, installing glove boxes in Chevrolet
s. The following year, he saw a television advertisement on Coast Guard careers, which inspired him to enroll at the United States Coast Guard Academy
in New London, Connecticut
.
In 1957, he graduated second in his Academy class. Upon graduation, he served aboard USCGC CASCO before assuming command of LORSTA Wake Island in 1960. Continuing his education, he graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
with a Master's degree in naval architecture and marine engineering and the professional degree of naval engineer in 1964. He also was in charge of the structural design of the Polar Class icebreakers and was the first engineer officer on USCGC BOUTWELL, home ported in Boston, Maassachusetts. In 1977, he became a distinguished graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and was assigned to Headquarters as Assistant Chief of the Merchant Marine Technical Division. His other assignments included command of MSO Baltimore in 1978-81, Deputy Chief of the Office of Marine Environment and Systems, 1981–82; Chief of the Seventh Coast Guard District Operations Division, 1982–84; Chief of Headquarters Office of Marine Safety, Security, and Environmental Protection, 1986-1988.
Prior to becoming Coast Guard Commandant, he served as Commander of the Long Beach, California
-based 11th Coast Guard District and Pacific Regional Coordinator for the Office of National Drug Control Policy
. It is noteworthy that Kime was promoted from rear admiral
(a two-star rank) to admiral
(a four-star rank), never having held the three-star rank of vice admiral
.
He died of cancer in Towson, Maryland
on September 14, 2006 at age 72. A memorial service was held at the Fort Myer Memorial Chapel, Arlington, Va. September 29 followed by interment in Arlington National Cemetery
on Coast Guard Hill.
Sources: ALCOAST 464/06 (R 142239Z SEP
06), ALCOAST 469/06 06 (R 152010Z SEP
06), ALCOAST 475/06 (R 202141Z SEP 06),
and L.A. Times obituaries, September 20, 2006.
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
admiral
Admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, admiral is a four-star flag officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health...
who served as the 19th Commandant
Commandant of the Coast Guard
The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United...
of the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
from May 31, 1990 to June 1, 1994.
Early life and career
Kime was born in Greensboro, North CarolinaGreensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
. At the age of 10, he moved with his family to Baltimore, Maryland. In 1951, he graduated from Baltimore City College
Baltimore City College
The Baltimore City College , also referred to as The Castle on the Hill, historically as The College, and most commonly City, is a public high school in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A. The City College curriculum includes the International Baccalaureate Programme and emphasizes study in the classics...
, and was accepted into the School of Pharmacy at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
, but declined the admission offer for financial reasons.
Soon thereafter, he accepted a job at the local General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
plant, installing glove boxes in Chevrolet
Chevrolet
Chevrolet , also known as Chevy , is a brand of vehicle produced by General Motors Company . Founded by Louis Chevrolet and ousted GM founder William C. Durant on November 3, 1911, General Motors acquired Chevrolet in 1918...
s. The following year, he saw a television advertisement on Coast Guard careers, which inspired him to enroll at the United States Coast Guard Academy
United States Coast Guard Academy
Founded in 1876, the United States Coast Guard Academy is the military academy of the United States Coast Guard. Located in New London, Connecticut, it is the smallest of the five federal service academies...
in New London, Connecticut
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
.
In 1957, he graduated second in his Academy class. Upon graduation, he served aboard USCGC CASCO before assuming command of LORSTA Wake Island in 1960. Continuing his education, he graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
with a Master's degree in naval architecture and marine engineering and the professional degree of naval engineer in 1964. He also was in charge of the structural design of the Polar Class icebreakers and was the first engineer officer on USCGC BOUTWELL, home ported in Boston, Maassachusetts. In 1977, he became a distinguished graduate of the Industrial College of the Armed Forces and was assigned to Headquarters as Assistant Chief of the Merchant Marine Technical Division. His other assignments included command of MSO Baltimore in 1978-81, Deputy Chief of the Office of Marine Environment and Systems, 1981–82; Chief of the Seventh Coast Guard District Operations Division, 1982–84; Chief of Headquarters Office of Marine Safety, Security, and Environmental Protection, 1986-1988.
Prior to becoming Coast Guard Commandant, he served as Commander of the Long Beach, California
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
-based 11th Coast Guard District and Pacific Regional Coordinator for the Office of National Drug Control Policy
Office of National Drug Control Policy
The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy , a former cabinet level component of the Executive Office of the President of the United States, was established in 1989 by the Anti-Drug Abuse Act of 1988...
. It is noteworthy that Kime was promoted from rear admiral
Rear admiral (United States)
Rear admiral is a naval commissioned officer rank above that of a commodore and captain, and below that of a vice admiral. The uniformed services of the United States are unique in having two grades of rear admirals.- Rear admiral :...
(a two-star rank) to admiral
Admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, admiral is a four-star flag officer rank, with the pay grade of O-10. Admiral ranks above vice admiral and below Fleet Admiral in the Navy; the Coast Guard and the Public Health...
(a four-star rank), never having held the three-star rank of vice admiral
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
.
Commandant
As Commandant, he was passionate about maritime safety and environmental protection issues, and oversaw implementation of the landmark Oil Pollution Act of 1990, and established the position of Drug Interdiction Coordinator. In the wake of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, he pioneered how the Coast Guard prevents and responds to oil and hazardous chemical spills, significantly minimizing environmental damage. The groundwork he laid can also be seen in how the Coast Guard responds to a broad range of threats and hazards to maritime, homeland, and national security interests. His vision set the stage for the Coast Guard’s transition to focused organizational competencies in prevention and response. He led the service during the end of the Cold War, collapse of communism, operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, as well as increasing operations in traditional mission areas.Later life
Upon his retirement in 1994, he brought his leadership to the maritime industry, serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Management Companies in the United States, United Kingdom, Norway and Sweden. Until 2005, he served as the U.S. representative to BIMCO, the world’s largest private shipping organization.He died of cancer in Towson, Maryland
Towson, Maryland
Towson is an unincorporated community and a census-designated place in Baltimore County, Maryland, United States. The population was 55,197 at the 2010 census...
on September 14, 2006 at age 72. A memorial service was held at the Fort Myer Memorial Chapel, Arlington, Va. September 29 followed by interment in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
on Coast Guard Hill.
Sources: ALCOAST 464/06 (R 142239Z SEP
06), ALCOAST 469/06 06 (R 152010Z SEP
06), ALCOAST 475/06 (R 202141Z SEP 06),
and L.A. Times obituaries, September 20, 2006.