He was the first African American commissioned as an Officer and the first to graduate from a Navy Midshipman's school. He was the first Black Officer to serve aboard a Navy fighting ship and in 1962 became the first Black to command one--the radar picket ship USS Falgout.
He was also the first Black Line Officer to rise to the rank of Commander and the first to become Captain. In 1971, he became the first to earn the rank of Admiral.