J. William Kime - Early Life and Career

Early Life and Career

Kime was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. 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 Chevrolets. 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.