William Signius Knudsen, born on March 25, 1879, in Denmark, former president of General Motors who was pressed into service during World War II because of his production skill, was appointed a lieutenant general in the Army on January 28, 1942 and assigned as Director of Production in the Office of the Under Secretary of War. In July 1944 he became Director of the Army Air Forces Material and Services (later, Army Air Forces Technical Service Command), with headquarters at Patterson Field, Ohio. He earned the Distinguished Service Medal for “expediting the production of aircraft, guns and other munitions.” Knudsen returned to industry on June 1, 1945 and died April 27, 1948 at Detroit, Michigan.
Reference:
Dupre, Flint O., Col. USAFR., USAF Biographical Dictionary – Knudsen, p. 130.