Bruce McCandless I (August 12, 1911 – January 24, 1968) was an officer of United States Navy who received the Medal of Honor during World War II for his heroism on board USS San Francisco during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal on November 13, 1942.

Additionally, Admiral McCandless was the great-grandson of David Colbert McCanles of the Rock Creek Station, Nebraska, shoot-out with Wild Bill Hickok.

He was serving as communications officer of the cruiser USS San Francisco when the Empire of Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

On November 13, 1942, during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, Japanese gunfire killed Rear Admiral Daniel J. Callaghan[3] and his staff, including Captain Cassin Young and all other officers on San Francisco's bridge, except Lieutenant Commander McCandless, who took the conn for the rest of the battle.

McCandless continued to serve on San Francisco until 1944, when he took command of the newly commissioned destroyer USS Gregory on July 29 of the same year.

San Francisco in combat with enemy Japanese forces in the battle off Savo Island, 12–13 November 1942.