Lloyd Chalker

Lloyd Toulmin Chalker (December 4, 1883 – March 12, 1981) was an American naval officer who served as vice commandant of the United States Coast Guard and is credited as the "father of Coast Guard aviation".

Early life and education Chalker was born in Mobile, Alabama and entered the United States Coast Guard Academy, from which he graduated, in 1903.

Career During his early Coast Guard career, Chalker served on three Bering Sea ice patrols.

From 1931 to 1934 Chalker was chief of personnel of the Coast Guard. Four months later he was made head of Coast Guard Aviation.

During World War II Chalker served as Vice Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. During this time he resisted the acquisition of helicopters by the Coast Guard, a position supported by the Coast Guard's Engineer-in-Chief Rear Admiral Harvey Johnson, due to the expense of the aircraft and the limited utility of nascent helicopters in the prosecution of the war effort versus their significant cost.

He retired in 1946 and was advanced to the rank of vice admiral. In the year of his retirement he was invested into the Legion of Merit.