Which U.S. admiral was commander in chief of the Pacific Fleet during the Pearl Harbor attack?

Admiral Husband E. Kimmel was commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He held the post from February 1, 1941, until shortly after the Japanese assault.

Kimmel was at his headquarters in Honolulu when news of the attack arrived. He went to the harbor and observed the destruction, reportedly wearing a white uniform that became marked with oil and debris. His position made him one of the senior American officers responsible for the Pacific naval command.

The Army commander in Hawaii was Lieutenant General Walter Short, so Kimmel and Short held separate responsibilities. Both were relieved of command later in December 1941 and were criticized in subsequent investigations for failing to prepare adequately for the attack.

Kimmel was reduced in rank to rear admiral after being relieved, although later reviews debated the fairness of assigning blame to him. He was replaced as Pacific Fleet commander by Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who arrived in Hawaii in December 1941.