Emory S. Land

Emory Scott Land (January 9, 1879 – November 27, 1971) was an officer in the United States Navy, noted for his contributions to naval architecture, particularly in submarine design. Notable assignments included serving as Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Construction and Repair during the 1930s, and as Chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission during World War II.

From Cañon City, Colorado, Land graduated from the University of Wyoming with an A.B. degree in 1898. He then entered the United States Naval Academy, graduating on May 21, 1902. Though only 135 to 140 pounds, he played football as a halfback for four years in Laramie and four years at Annapolis. In 1900, he scored the game-winning touchdown in the Army-Navy game after recovering a blocked kick.

Following two years of sea duty, he became a naval architect specializing in submarine construction. In 1907, Land earned a master's degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wyoming and an M.S. degree in naval architecture and marine engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In June 1939, he returned to the University of Wyoming to receive an honorary doctor of laws degree.

On April 15, 1909, Land married Elizabeth Catharine Stiles in Newton Centre, Massachusetts. In her honor, Admiral Land created the Betty Styles Land Memorial Fund to finance the Ships Literary Club, known as “the public library of the seas,” which provided free books for merchant seamen.

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.

In July 1922, Land qualified as a naval aviation observer in Pensacola, Florida. In January 1923, he was promoted to captain. 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. He served as assistant chief of the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics for about two years and then on extended leave as vice president and treasurer of the Daniel Guggenheim Fund for the Promotion of Aeronautics for over a year until 1930.

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.