O'Connell, James D., 1899-1984

James D. O'Connell (b. Sept. 25, 1899, Chicago, Ill.-d. July 29, 1984, Washington, D.C.), U.S. Army officer, graduated from West Point in 1922 and from Signal School in 1925. He served as an instructor at the Signal School, earned a master's degree in Communications Engineering at Yale, and returned to the School as instructor until 1936. During World War II, he was assigned to the Office of the Chief Signal Officer, was executive officer of the Signal Supply Service, and served at Headquarters, 12th Army Group, in England, France, and Germany. After the War, he served as Signal Officer, 8th Army, in Japan; Chief Signal Officer, 2nd Army; and again in the Office of the Chief Signal Officer until 1959 when he retired from active duty. He joined the White House staff in 1964 as Special Assistant to the President for telecommunications, and retired again in 1969.