AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE

CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 5 LaSHON P. WHITE
First African American to be Command Chief Warrant Officer, U.S. Army Reserve Command

White currently serves as the principal advisor to the commanding general on warrant officer matters. Committed to enhancing individual Soldier and unit readiness, he leads a comprehensive warrant officer mentorship program aimed at developing leaders at all levels.

Official biography

LT. GEN. A.C. ROPER
First African-American lieutenant general in the U.S. Army Reserve

Now retired, Roper was the deputy commander of United States Northern Command, United States Element, North American Aerospace Defense Command at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. He previously served as deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve Command.

WWI Centennial: Honoring a Legacy of Bravery and Sacrifice »

A legacy to emulate »

CAPT. BENJAMIN SPENCER
First African-American dean of William & Mary Law School

Spencer is the first African-American dean hired by the oldest law school in the country and a U.S. Army Reserve captain and lawyer who works for the Government Appellate Division. Spencer graduated from Harvard Law School and joined the Army when he was almost 41 because he felt a calling to serve people and serve his nation.

In pursuit of excellence: Army Reserve lawyer first Black dean of country’s oldest law school »

RETIRED CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 5 PHILLIP M. BRASHEAR
Son of the first African-American master diver in the U.S. Navy

Brashear's father, Carl Brashear, was the first African-American master diver in the U.S. Navy’s history, who lost his leg during a tragic accident on a mission off the coast of Spain in 1966. His story was portrayed in the film "Men of Honor," starring Cuba Gooding Jr.

A time of honor: Legacy begun by U.S. Navy legend continues with Army Reserve pilot and beyond »

LT. COL. FREDERICK MOSS
Honors Vietnam War service members killed in action

On the pages of a white binder he carries while running in military-oriented races are the names of 58,000 American military members who died serving in Vietnam. He originally printed the book to remember his father, Terry Leon Williams, after he died in 2012. Williams had survived Vietnam, but he rarely talked about the war.

Carrying the names: Army Reserve officer runs to honor father’s Vietnam generation »

MAJ. GEN. MARCIA M. ANDERSON
2011: The Army's first Black female reserve officer to obtain the rank of major general

Anderson was promoted during a ceremony at Fort Knox, Ky., Oct. 1, 2011. 

HRC deputy becomes Army's first female African-American major general »

Women continue to prove themselves in uniform »
 

GEN. COLIN L. POWELL
1989: First Black chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Powell made history by becoming the 12th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - the highest military position in the Department of Defense, Oct. 1, 1989, to Sept. 30, 1993. At age 52, he became the youngest officer to serve in this position. Powell made history again when he became the first appointed black Secretary of State, Jan. 20, 2001.

Biographies of the Secretaries of State: Colin L. Powell »

 

CLIFFORD L. ALEXANDER JR.
1977:  First Black secretary of the Army

Alexander became the 13th secretary of the Army, Feb. 11, 1977, appointed by President Jimmy Carter. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University and attended Yale Law School. In 1958, he enlisted and served in the National Guard.

African Americans in the U.S. Army Profile »

COMMAND SGT. MAJ. LUTHER THOMAS JR.
2013: U.S. Army Reserve Command Sergeant Major, 2013-16

“What I'm most proud of are the Soldiers of the U.S. Army Reserve. The men and women, 199,000-plus strong, who stand ready to mobilize and deploy anywhere in the world,” Thomas said.  Command Sgt. Maj. Luther Thomas Jr. served as the 12th command sergeant major of the Army Reserve.

Command Sergeant Major Luther Thomas Jr. Bio »
U.S. Army Reserve top enlisted Soldier honored with farewell dinner »
Army Reserve's 12th command sergeant major takes helm »
 

COMMAND SGT. MAJ. LEON CAFFIE
2010: 10th U.S. Army Reserve Command Sergeant Major

 Retired Command Sergeant Major who served our Nation in the Army and Army Reserve for 39 years. He was drafted into the Army in 1970 during Vietnam and served as a U.S. Army Reserve Ambassador to Florida.

COMMAND SGT. MAJ. MICHELE S. JONES
2003: First Black female command sergeant major of the Army Reserve

Jones was selected by Army Reserve Chief Lt. Gen. James R. Helmly to become the ninth command sergeant major of the Army Reserve in September 2003. As a result, she became the first woman in U.S. Army's history to serve as a division command sergeant major. Jones is also the first woman to be selected as the top noncommissioned officer in the Army Reserve, as well as the first to be chosen as the senior noncommissioned officer in any of the Army's components.

African-Americans in the U.S. Army Profile »