William Edward Cole (February 22, 1874 – May 18, 1953) was a Major General in the United States Army. Cole graduated from the United States Military Academy with the class of 1898. He served in military assignments in New York and Panama over the next two decades. He rose to the rank of Brigadier General during World War I, commanding the 351st Field Artillery Regiment and the 20th Field Artillery Brigade. He attended the United States Army War College and later advanced to the rank of Major General. He retired from the military in 1938, but returned to active duty between 1941 and 1944 to serve on the War Department Personnel Board.