William Sterling Cole (April 18, 1904 – March 15, 1987) was an American politician, lawyer, and civil servant who served as the first Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 1957 to 1961.

Before his appointment to the IAEA he was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from New York.

[1] As a Republican, Cole was elected to Congress in 1934 and served from January 3, 1935, until his resignation on December 1, 1957.

[2] He resigned to become the first Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency and remained at that post until 1961.

[1] After leaving the IAEA Cole resided in Arlington, Virginia and practiced law in Washington, D.C.