William N. Cogan

William Neal Cogan (21 May 1856 - 4 October 1943) was a dentist, educator, and a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy from Washington, D.C. His professional achievements include co-founding the Washington Dental College, being the first dental officer to serve on active duty in the United States Navy, being the first Chief of the United States Navy Dental Corps, and holding the deanship of the Georgetown University School of Dentistry twice.

Early career William N. Cogan was born in Washington, D.C., on 21 May 1856. Before picking up dentistry, he tried his hand at business. He graduated from Columbian University, then co-founded the Washington Dental College in 1897 and served as the dean and treasurer of that school. After the college was acquired by Georgetown University in 1901, he served as the first dean of Georgetown's new dental school.

Naval career President William Taft signed legislation creating the United States Navy Dental Corps on 22 August 1912. Dr. William N. Cogan resigned his deanship at Georgetown, and was appointed to the fledgling corps on 24 October of that year. He became the first active duty dental officer in the United States Navy on the 30th. Dr. Cogan's first duty station was the Washington, D.C., Naval Dispensary. Along with fellow Dental Corps officer Dr. Emory A. Bryant and Medical Corps officer Lt. Cmdr. Richmond C. Holcomb, Dr. Cogan served on the first examining board to select additional dentists for naval service. From April 1918 to 7 June 1919, he served as the first Chief of the United States Navy Dental Corps. After her death, he remarried to Sallie E. Zimmerman of Washington, D.C., on 4 November 1922, while he was stationed at Mare Island.

Later career Dr. William Cogan retired from the Navy on his 70th birthday as a Lieutenant Commander, and was once again appointed as the Dean of the Georgetown University School of Dentistry. In 1927, the Dean Cogan Dental Society was founded and named in his honor. On 8 June 1932, he received an honorary Doctor of Laws (LL.D) from Mount St. Mary's College for his role in establishing the Dental Corps of the United States Navy. He retired from his deanship at Georgetown on his 82nd birthday, 21 May 1938. Between the two periods of deanship, Dr. Cogan had been dean at Georgetown for 25 years. A memorial service was held at St. Matthew's Cathedral, and he was interred with military honors at the Arlington National Cemetery.