J. Paul Reason Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Joseph Paul Reason
Admiral Joseph Paul Reason (1996)
Born	(1941-03-22) March 22, 1941 (age 84) Washington, D.C.
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Years of service	1965–1999
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	USS Coontz (DDG-40), USS Bainbridge (CGN-25), Naval Base, Seattle, Washington, Cruiser-Destroyer Group One, Battle Group Romeo, Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, United States Atlantic Fleet
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit
Other work	Vice President for Ship Systems at SYNTEK Technologies, Inc., President and COO, and Vice Chairman of Metro Machine Corp, Secretary of the Navy's Advisory Subcommittee on Naval History

Joseph Paul Reason is an important figure in the United States Navy. He was born on March 22, 1941, in Washington, D.C.. From 1996 to 1999, he served as the Commander in Chief of the United States Atlantic Fleet. This was a very high-ranking position. In 1996, Admiral Reason made history. He became the first African-American officer to reach the rank of four-star admiral in the U.S. Navy. Earlier in his career, he even worked for President Jimmy Carter as his naval aide.

Growing Up and Learning
- Joining the Navy
A Career at Sea
Life After the Navy
Awards and Recognition
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Growing Up and Learning

Joseph Paul Reason grew up in Washington, D.C.. His father, Joseph Reason, was a professor and library director at Howard University. His mother, Bernice, taught high school biology. Joseph lived in a diverse neighborhood and was part of an integrated Boy Scout troop. He also attended McKinley Technology High School. Every summer, he enjoyed spending time at a camp in New Hampshire.

Joining the Navy

In his last year of high school, Joseph became interested in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps. This program helps students become officers in the Navy. He applied but was not chosen at first. He then attended a few different colleges: Swarthmore College, Lincoln University (Pennsylvania), and Howard University.

While at Howard, a Congressman named Charles Diggs, Jr. encouraged him to apply to the United States Naval Academy. This is a special school where future Navy officers train. Joseph was accepted and started at Annapolis in June 1961. He graduated in 1965 with a degree in naval science. He also became an ensign, which is a junior officer rank. Soon after, he married Dianne Lillian Fowler. They have two children.

A Career at Sea

After graduating, Joseph Paul Reason began his long and successful Navy career. He served on many different ships and held important roles.

Early Assignments and Training

His first job was as an operations officer on the USS J. Douglas Blackwood. He then went to special schools to learn about nuclear power for ships. After this training, he joined the USS Truxtun (CGN-35). He sailed with this ship to Southeast Asia in 1968 during the Vietnam War. Later, he went back to school at the Naval Postgraduate School. There, he earned a master's degree in computer systems management.

Serving on Aircraft Carriers and Destroyers

In 1970, Reason was assigned to the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN-65). He served on this huge ship for two years. He sailed to Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean. After more training, he returned to the USS Truxtun as a combat systems officer. This role involved managing the ship's weapons and sensors.

Working at the White House

From 1976 to 1979, Joseph Paul Reason had a very special job. He was the Naval Aide to the President of the United States, Jimmy Carter. This meant he worked directly with the President.

Leading Ships and Fleets

After his time at the White House, Reason continued to rise through the ranks. He became the executive officer of the USS Mississippi (CGN-40). This role is like a ship's second-in-command. In 1981, he took command of his first ship, the USS Coontz (DDG-40). Later, he commanded another nuclear-powered ship, the USS Bainbridge (CGN-25). During this time, he was promoted to captain.

As he gained more experience, he took on bigger leadership roles. He became a rear admiral (lower half) and commanded the Naval Base in Seattle, Washington. This meant he was in charge of all Navy activities in Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. He then commanded a group of cruisers and destroyers. He also led Battle Group Romeo, which operated in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

In 1991, he became a Vice Admiral. He commanded Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. This involved leading all the surface ships (not submarines or aircraft carriers) in the Atlantic Fleet.

Becoming a Four-Star Admiral

In November 1996, Joseph Paul Reason was promoted to four-star admiral. This is the highest rank an officer can achieve in the Navy. He was then assigned as the Commander in Chief of the United States Atlantic Fleet. He led this large fleet until he retired from active duty in 1999.

Life After the Navy

After retiring from the Navy, Admiral Reason continued to work in important leadership roles. He became a vice president at SYNTEK Technologies, Inc., a company that works with ship systems. From 2000 to 2006, he was the president and chief operating officer of Metro Machine Corp., a company that repairs ships.

He also served on the boards of several large companies, including Amgen, Inc. and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. In 2008, he was appointed to an advisory group for the Secretary of the Navy, focusing on naval history.

In 2019, Admiral Reason made a generous donation. He gave his 42-foot fishing boat, the Sea Dog, to the Potomac Riverkeeper Network. This group uses the boat to test the water quality of the Potomac River in his hometown of Washington, D.C.. This shows his continued care for his community and the environment.

Awards and Recognition

Admiral Joseph Paul Reason received many awards for his dedicated service. These include the Navy Distinguished Service Medal and the Legion of Merit. These medals recognize his outstanding leadership and achievements throughout his career.