The Graduate Minneapolis was the site of an extraordinary event on March 31, 2022. The evening was introduced by the Color Guard from Naval Sea Cadet Corps Twin Cities Squadron.
Following colors, five African American submariners spoke to an engaged audience relating their personal and profound journeys as they navigated Naval careers following desegregation of the military and the opening of all jobs in the Navy to African Americans.
Vice Adm. (SS) retired, Bruce Grooms, opened the event recounting how he is part of the “Centennial Seven”. He was the last of the seven to serve as a commanding officer of United States submarines in the 20th century. He related that he feels lucky to have had the opportunity as there were a lot more capable folks who never got the chance to advance. He feels the submarine force gave him the opportunity to advance. Vice Adm. Grooms related that since he made flag officer in 21005, there has not been another African American Submarine Flag officer. “In our experience, it's about us being the best that we can possibly be in the Submarine Force and in every endeavor. And it's so wonderful to have these opportunities to be able to talk to audiences like this and to talk in a benign way, but it's nice to hear it from someone real perspective that you might not get otherwise” said Vice Adm Grooms. During his illustrious career, Vice Adm. Grooms served in nearly every capacity aboard a variety of submarines, including a tour as executive officer of USS Pasadena (SSN-752), where he twice deployed to the Persian Gulf.
EMCM (SS) retired Early Vincent was one of the first African American nuclear trained Electrician’s Mates. Master Chief Vincent related how different his experience in the Navy was to Vice Adm. Grooms. Master Chief Vincent entered the Navy in the early stages of desegregation. He came from a poor background and initially did not feel he would succeed. Even his instructors did not feel that he would succeed. Master Chief Grooms said he learned early on that you have to apply yourself and if you do you can be anything you want to be. “What that taught me in my naval career is if you treat people the way that you would like to be treated, they may not like you, but they have to respect you. And I never remember anyone in the Navy that I disliked. We all got along together. I knew that there was some prejudice there, but I was born and raised in the south. And as I told the young people, if when you graduate from high school, if you don't know what you would like to do, join a branch of the military,” said Master Chief Vincent. He indicated that the Navy had been good to him and that submariners work together. That discipline helped him to achieve the top rank of Master Chief.
STCM (SS) retired, Ronald Ross was the first African American to qualify as an Acoustic Intelligence (ACINT) Specialist. Starting as a Sonar Technician, he wanted to advance into the special program of Acoustic Intelligence. This highly specialized career field requires the most competent candidates. Master Chief Ross said his outgoing personality and not letting a setback during his early years allowed him to advance and to make the Navy his career. During his 20 plus years in the Navy he advised Commanding Officers and their tactical teams on matters concerning threat acoustic signatures, foreign intelligence, tactical sensor and combat system employment against adversarial foreign navies.
Our most senior speaker, HMCS (SS) retired, James Mosely, (First African American "Nuke", Author of Life under the Microscope as an African American) graduated from boot camp in June 1948, one week before Executive Order 9981 was signed. Senior Chief Mosely became the first African-American Medical Corpsman to graduate from the Naval Nuclear Power Engineering School. Senior Chief Mosely was in the first desegregated company at Great Lakes and was denied entry into the aviation cadet corps. Hospital Corpsman was his second choice. He endured and thrived in his military career through perseverance.
Our final attendee was unable to address the group, but she has had her own firsts. Lieutenant (SS) Nsombi Roberts was the first African American woman selected for submarine service from NROTC. Lieutenant Roberts completed her Junior Officer tour on the USS Georgia Blue (SSGN 729) where she qualified Submarines and served as the Electrical Assistant, the Damage Control Assistant (DCA), Information Security Systems Manager, Information Warfare Officer, and as the Assistant Operations Officer. She is currently serving as the Assistant Operations Officer at COMSUBRON SIXTEEN in Kings Bay GA.
Following the evening presentation, the following morning, the speakers visited the University of Minnesota Reserve Officer Training Corps and addressed the midshipmen. The staff and students appreciated the opportunity to talk to the group and to hear their stories and gain their perspective in order to garner more interest in the submarined community.
The experiences of this unique cadre of African Americans speakers have paved the way toward a more inclusive submarine force and inclusive Navy. The wealth of experience and the “first” these men and woman experienced paved the way for others to follow in their footsteps.
