BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS go Colors:
ated: 382 -100-0
Professional Achievement - Government
WILHELMINA PIERCE, P.E. Resident Engineer/ Supervisory Civil Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Professional Achievement - Government
RADM BRUCE GROOMS Assistant Deputy, Operations, Plans & Strategy (N3/5B), U.S. Navy
Bruce Grooms joined the Navy to become a submariner. He graduated from the Naval Academy with a bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering in 1980. Following comple- tion of nuclear power
Ms. Wilhelmina Pierce joined the Corps in 1992, and over her 18 years of service, she has worked in shipyards, sailed on dredges, negotiated with South Korean contractors and advised Japanese buyers on Air Force projects. She has also held responsibility for qual- ity assurance requirements for heating, air conditioning, plumbing, fire protection and other mechanical systems at Fort Bragg. Ms. Pierce has supported the Army, Air Force and Special Ops during peace time and war in three countries, culminating in a career milestone, in 2008, as Savannah District’s first African American woman resident engineer. In this post, she has facilitated construction for special ops facilities, a blood donor center, weapons training facilities, a military dog train- ing center, and museum-type building additions. Her team’s work got exceptional feedback as she increased diversity in her office: 60 percent veterans/reservists/ prior military, 30 percent women, and 40 percent minor- ity engineers and quality assurance specialists. Before departing for South Korea, she served as a member of a women’s organization committed to enrich and sustain the cultural develop- ment of African Americans. She is also a longterm supporter of a scholarship fund administered by North Carolina’s state Indian tribe, Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, based in her hometown in Alamance County. She is a member of the Regional Council for the Advance- ment of Minorities in Engineering and she’s also a member of MATHCOUNTS.
training, he served in nearly every capacity aboard a variety of subma- rines. In the first century of the Silent Service (1900-2000), only seven African Americans have commanded a submarine. Rear Admiral Grooms has not only achieved this, but has continued to rise. In 2006, he was ap- pointed the 81st commandant of midshipmen at the Naval Academy, the first African American to hold this position. As commandant he admin- istered operations of the battalion and served as a primary mentor for tomorrow’s leaders. The same year, RADM Grooms, and the first black Naval Academy graduate, retired LCDR Wesley Brown, broke ground for the Wesley Brown Field House at the Academy. In 2008, all nine of the serving black submarine commanding officers were present at the Black Engineer of the Year Awards STEM Conference to mentor 30 mid- shipmen and junior officers. RADM Grooms also takes time to meet with educators such as Hampton University’s Dr. William R. Harvey to build on partnerships that Hampton can use in its curriculum to train future of- ficers as nuclear engineers. Throughout his leadership roles, Grooms has continued to focus attention on mentoring others. He believes that, “It is critical that these young people see that higher goals are attainable. We did it. So can they, and we’re here to give them guidance.”
30 USBE&IT I WINTER 2011
www.blackengineer.com
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