Walter Stratton Anderson (October 4, 1881 – October 24, 1981) was a Vice Admiral of the United States Navy, who served as the Executive officer of USS Arizona in World War I and as Commander Battleships, Battle Force in the Pacific Fleet, and of the Gulf Sea Frontier, during World War II.

As part of his required sea service as a midshipman, he served on board USS Brooklyn, flagship of the European Squadron.

On board Galveston Anderson sailed to France as part of the squadron under the command of Rear Admiral Charles Dwight Sigsbee, USN, to retrieve the body of John Paul Jones for interment in the crypt under the Naval Academy Chapel.

[1] From December 1905 until May 1907, Anderson enrolled in postgraduate instruction in ordnance at the Washington Navy Yard, and at the plants of various private industries.

Following his completion of the program, he was ordered to Asiatic Station as an aide and flag secretary to Rear Admiral Joseph N. Hemphill, USN, Commander, Third Squadron, Pacific Fleet.

He joined USS Nebraska at Manila, Philippine Islands in November 1908, and made the remainder of the cruise around the world with the Great White Fleet.

From April 1912 to January 1913, he served as aide and flag lieutenant on the staff of Rear Admiral Hugh Osterhaus, USN, Commander in Chief, Atlantic Fleet.

Following that assignment, Anderson served in USS Des Moines from June 1913 to December 1914, seeing action in Santo Domingo and also at the occupation of Vera Cruz.

While serving in Arizona, he cruised out to sea from Portland, England, in November 1918 to meet USS George Washington, then carrying President Woodrow Wilson, and escorted that transport to Brest, France.

Additionally, he organized the first of all Naval Reserve Officer's Training Corps Units at St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland.

West Virginia won the battle efficiency pennant for the entirety of his command, a record that stands unique for a battleship and for a captain.

Upon his return to the United States, he assumed command of (heavy) Cruiser Division 4, Scouting Force, with USS Northampton as his flagship.

In that capacity, Anderson collaborated with the Cuban and Mexican Navies, and with the Royal Air Force in the Bahamas for cooperative operations in the waters of the Gulf Sea Frontier.