A 1905 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, MD, Chester W. Nimitz served with the U.S. submarine force in World War I. He was in command of the Pacific Fleet early in World War II and directed the U.S. victories at the battles of Midway in 1942, the Philippine Sea in 1944, and Leyte Gulf in 1944. Adm. Nimitz was promoted to fleet admiral and was a signer of the Japanese surrender document. From 1945 to 1947 he was chief of naval operations.