John Theodore Koehler (March 14, 1904 – September 23, 1989) wasUnited StatesAssistant Secretary of the Navy from 1949 to 1951.
John T. Koehler was born inNorth Braddock, Pennsylvania, on March 14, 1904. After high school, he enrolled atGrove City College and then transferred toPrinceton University, where he majored inpolitics and graduatedPhi Beta Kappa in 1926. He then enrolled atHarvard Law School, from which he received hisLL.B. in 1930.
From 1933 to 1934, Koehler worked as a Special Attorney at theUnited States Department of the Treasury. From 1934 to 1935, he was Special Assistant toUnited States Attorney GeneralHomer Stille Cummings. He left public service in 1935, setting up alaw practice inBaltimore.
With the outbreak ofWorld War II, in 1941 Koehler enrolled in theUnited States Navy as alieutenant commander. (He would rise to the rank ofcommander by the time he left the navy.) During the war, Koehler saw service in both theEuropean andPacific Theatres. He was awarded theSilver Star for his work with theUnderwater Demolition Team in theMarshall Islands. Koehler left the Navy in 1945.
Upon leaving military service, Koehler joined theUnited States Department of the Navy's Office ofGeneral Counsel, serving as counsel of theBureau of Ships, and Assistant General Counsel of the Navy.
In 1949,President of the United StatesHarry S. Truman nominated Koehler asAssistant Secretary of the Navy and Koehler held this office from February 18, 1949, to October 3, 1951. In 1950, he briefly served as acting chairman of theUnited States Federal Maritime Board. In 1951, Koehler became chairman of theRenegotiation Board.
Leaving public service in 1953, Koehler joined Henry F. Butler'slaw firm. He practiced law there until his retirement in 1985. Koehler served as a member of theboard of directors ofWoodward & Lothrop for a number of years.
Koehler died ofcancer at his home inChevy Chase, Maryland, on September 23, 1989.
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| Preceded by | Assistant Secretary of the Navy February 18, 1949 – October 3, 1951 | Succeeded by |
