During
World War I, he served on the Board of Devices and Plans connected with Submarines in Warfare, the Board of Standardization of Submarines, and the staff of Admiral
William S. Sims, who commanded all U.S. naval forces in European waters. Land played a key role in the design of the
S-class submarines from 1917 to 1919, the
United States Navy's first attempt to build a submarine capable of operating with the battle fleet. Land was vice chairman of the Navy's postwar
V-boat Plans Committee in 1920. He was awarded the
Navy Cross for his work on submarine design and construction and for work in the war zone.
Interwar years and World War II In July 1922, Land qualified as a naval aviation observer in
Pensacola, Florida. Land subsequently earned a private pilot's license at the age of 49. His interest in aviation was partly spurred by his wife's cousin
Charles Lindbergh. From October 1, 1932, until April 1, 1937, Land was Chief of the
Bureau of Construction and Repair. In this position, he played a major role in submarine development leading to the highly successful fleet boats of
World War II. Land retired as a rear admiral in 1937, but on February 18, 1938, he became Chairman of the U.S.
Maritime Commission, overseeing the design and construction of the more than 4,000
Liberty ships and
Victory ships that flew the U.S. flag during
World War II. Land concurrently served as Administrator of the
War Shipping Administration (WSA), established by Executive Order 9054 on February 7, 1942. Thus Land exercised authority over both construction and allocation of non-combatant maritime assets to Army, Navy and commerce. In July 1944, he was advanced to vice admiral on the retired list by a special act of Congress. Land was also instrumental in overseeing the establishment of the
United States Merchant Marine Academy, located in
Kings Point, New York as a commissioning source for officers entering the
Merchant Marine and
Naval Reserve in World War II. Land Hall, located at the Academy, is named in his honor.
Post-war activities On January 15, 1946, Land resigned as Chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission. For his outstanding services he was rewarded with both the
Army Distinguished Service Medal and the
Navy Distinguished Service Medal by the
War Department. ==Later life and death==