Ivan Wettengel

Ivan Cyrus Wettengel (1876 – February 19, 1935) was an American naval officer and politician. A United States Navy captain, he served as the 25th Naval Governor of Guam.

Born in Illinois, he served in World War I and received the Navy Cross. During his tenure as governor, he attempted to assemble a bull-mounted Guam Cavalry. A number of locations in Guam are named for him.

Biography Wettengel was born in 1876, in Illinois. At the time of his appointment to the Naval Academy he lived in Colorado.

Military career Wettengel graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1896. Ensign Wettengel served aboard . He commanded in 1900. In 1902, while a lieutenant, he saw duty aboard . He served aboard in 1905 and in 1906. In 1914, he served aboard as a lieutenant commander. He commanded during World War I, for which he received the Navy Cross. On April 12, 1918, he assumed command of the . thumb Wettengel served as Naval Governor of Guam from July 7, 1920, to February 27, 1921. He overturned many of the policies of William Gilmer, the widely criticized and disliked governor prior to him. During his tenure, the Navy opened the first naval aviation station on the island, at Orote Peninsula. He endorsed increasing medical aid to the island in an effort to in improving the "civilizing and Americanization" of the Chamorro people by making health care and sanitation more widespread.

After serving as Governor, Wettengel commanded from May 22, 1924, until September 28, 1925, when he became commander of Naval Training Station Hampton Roads. He retired in 1926, at the rank of captain.

Personal life and death Wettengel's first wife died on December 13, 1927, while he was stationed at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard. He then married to Janet Buchanan Wettengel. Wettengel died on February 19, 1935 in San Diego, from a muocardial infraction. According to The San Diego Sun, he was 58 years old.