Walter Samuel Carpenter Jr. (1888–1976) was a prominent American corporate executive best known for his long-standing leadership at the DuPont company. Born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, Carpenter studied mechanical engineering at Cornell University before leaving during his senior year to manage DuPont's nitrate interests in Chile. In 1919, at the age of 31, he became the youngest person elected to DuPont's board of directors and the first member who was not part of the founding du Pont family.
Throughout his extensive career at DuPont, Carpenter held several key executive positions, including treasurer, chairman of the finance committee, and eventually president from 1940 to 1948. Under his presidency, he oversaw DuPont's critical involvement in the Manhattan Project, which produced the atomic bomb during World War II. He also facilitated major corporate moves, such as the 1933 acquisition of Remington Arms and partnerships for producing war supplies. Beyond DuPont, he served on the board of directors for General Motors for over three decades.
Carpenter was also a dedicated benefactor to his alma mater, Cornell University, where he served as a trustee. His philanthropic contributions funded major campus landmarks, including the Lynah Rink and Carpenter Hall, which houses the university's engineering library. He remained associated with DuPont in honorary roles until 1974, just two years before his death.
