William Alexander Glassford (6 June 1886 – 30 July 1958) was a United States Navy officer with the rank of vice admiral, who is most noted for his service during World War II.

Glassford attended the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland and graduated on February 12, 1906.

He was given the rank of Passed midshipman and ordered for sea duty aboard destroyer USS Preble (DD-12).

Glassford commanded naval forces of the United States Asiatic Fleet during the first month of World War II, and then relocated to Java in the Netherlands East Indies to combine his forces with the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command ("ABDA").

After the campaign, Glassford returned to the United States where he held a variety of positions in the 6th Naval District and the Eighth Fleet.