BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : REAR ADMIRAL BARRY C.B. BLACK : CHAPLAIN OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY AND 62nd CHAPLAIN OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUE "

Barry C. Black (born November 1, 1948) is the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate. He was elected to this position on June 27, 2003, becoming the first African-American and the first Seventh-day Adventist to hold this office. The Senate elected its first chaplain in 1789.
He served for over 27 years as a chaplain in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral and ending his career as the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy, the senior chaplain of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. He officially retired from the Navy on August 15, 2003.

Commissioned as a Navy Chaplain in 1976, 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;
• USS Belleau Wood, 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.
• Chief of United States Navy Chaplain Corps

His military awards include 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.