Oral History of Adm. Joseph Paul Reason, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Joseph P. Reason was the first African-American to become a four-star admiral in the United States Navy. The son of a Howard University professor and high school science teacher, he was accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy and graduated with the Class of 1965. After successfully completing the Navy’s nuclear propulsion program, he first served in USS Truxtun (DLGN 35), one of the Navy’s nuclear-powered surface ships. He subsequently earned a Master of Science degree in computer systems management from the Naval Postgraduate School in 1970 and then returned to sea in the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65). In 1976, he was assigned to the White House as the naval aide to President Jimmy Carter. After a highly successful tour as executive officer of USS Mississippi (CGN 40), then- Commander Reason took command of USS Coontz (DDG-40) in September of 1981, followed by command of the nuclear-powered cruiser USS Bainbridge (CGN 25) as a captain. In 1986, he was promoted to rear-admiral and began a series of flag-assignments, including command of Cruiser-Destroyer Group One and Naval Surface Force, Atlantic, as well as a Pentagon tour in Plans and Policy. His capstone assignment was as Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Retiring in 1999, Admiral Reason has served in several prestigious roles in industry, has chaired the board at the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation and served on the Naval Studies Board of the National Academy of Sciences.

Paul Stillwell is an independent historian and retired naval officer. He worked for thirty years at the U.S. Naval Institute as an oral historian and editor of Naval History magazine. He is the author or editor of fourteen books, including four on battleships and an award-winning volume on the Navy’s first African American officers, The Golden Thirteen. His 2021 book Battleship Commander: The Life of Vice Admiral Willis A. Lee Jr. also received acclaim. He lives in Arnold, Maryland.