George Washington Littlehales (October 14, 1860, in Pottsville, Pennsylvania – August 12, 1943) was an American oceanographer and civil engineer, known for his work with the United States Hydrographic Office.
Littlehales graduated from the United States Naval Academy on June 9, 1883, but resigned from the Navy two years later to join the United States Hydrographic Office, with which he was associated until his retirement.
From 1919 until retirement, Littlehales represented the United States at numerous hydrographic congresses and councils throughout the world.
Littlehales died on August 12, 1943, in Washington, D.C.[2] Three U.S. Navy hydrographic survey ships have been named in his honor.
The most recent was USNS Littlehales (T-AGS-52) serving 1992–2003 before being transferred to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and renamed.