Barry Black

Barry C. Black is the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate. He was elected to this position on June 27, 2003, becoming the first African-American, the first Seventh-day Adventist, and the first military chaplain to hold the office of chaplain to the United States Senate. The Senate elected its first chaplain in 1789.

He previously served for over 27 years as a chaplain in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral (UH) and ending his career as the Chief of Navy Chaplains. He officially retired from the Navy on August 15, 2003.

Naval career

Commissioned as a Navy Chaplain in 1976, Chaplain Black’s first duty station was the Fleet Religious Support Activity in Norfolk, Virginia. Subsequent assignments include:
*Naval Support Activity, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
*U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland;
*First Marine Aircraft Wing, Okinawa, Japan;
*Naval Training Center, San Diego, California;
*USS BELLEAU WOOD (LHA 3) Long Beach, California;
*Naval Chaplains School Advanced Course, Newport, Rhode Island;
*Marine Aircraft Group THIRTY-ONE, Beaufort, South Carolina;
*Assistant Staff Chaplain, Chief of Naval Education and Training, Pensacola, Florida; and
*Fleet Chaplain, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Norfolk, Virginia.

As Rear Admiral, his personal decorations included the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, the Legion of Merit Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (two medals), Meritorious Service Medals (two awards), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals (two awards), and numerous unit awards, campaign, and service medals.

Personal information

Chaplain Black is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and an alumnus of Oakwood College, Andrews University, North Carolina Central University, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (Now Palmer Theological Seminary), Salve Regina University, and United States International University (now Alliant International University). In addition to earning Masters degrees in Divinity, Counseling, and Management, he has received a Doctorate degree in Ministry and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Psychology.

Chaplain Black has been selected for many outstanding achievements. Of particular note, he was chosen from 127 nominees for the 1995 NAACP Renowned Service Award for his contribution to equal opportunity and civil rights. He also received the 2002 Benjamin Elijah Mays Distinguished Leadership Award from The Morehouse School of Religion. In 2004, the Old Dominion University chapter of the NAACP conferred on him the Image Award, "Reaffirming the Dream -- Realizing the Vision" for military excellence.

Chaplain Barry C. Black is married to the former Brenda Pearsall of St. Petersburg, Florida. They have three sons: Barry II, Brendan, and Bradford.

Facts

*Chaplain Black was the first African American to serve as the United States Navy Chief of Chaplains
*Chaplain Black has recently written a book titled, From the Hood to the Hill, which was released on August 22, 2006

External links

* [http://www.senate.gov/reference/common/person/barry_black.htm United States Senate - Barry Black]
* [http://www.chaplain.navy.mil/Attachments/speeches/Black_ret_speech.pdf United States Navy Chaplain Corps - Rear Admiral Black's Remarks at His Retirement as Chief of Navy Chaplains]
* [http://www.adventistreview.org/article.php?id=938 Excerpt from From the Hood to the Hill]