Rear Admiral Reubin Bookert | SC African American History Calendar - Episode 2

Rear Admiral Reubin B. Bookert is a native of Columbia, S.C. He graduated from C.A. Johnson High School in 1968 and North Carolina A&T State University with a B.S. degree. He also earned degrees in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College and a M.S. in Management from Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I. He commissioned in to the United States Navy in February of 1975.

Rear Admiral Bookert reported to his first fleet assignment in March of 1976 as Communications Officer aboard the U.S.S. Truett. Subsequent sea tours include Communications Officer in Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Four, Weapons Officer in U.S.S. Joseph Hewes, Operations Officer in U.S.S. La Moure County and Executive Officer aboard the U.S.S. Blakely. His command-at-sea tours include: Commanding Officer, U.S.S. La Moure County and Commanding Officer of the amphibious assault ship, U.S.S. Kearsarge.

Ashore Bookert served at the Navy Recruiting District in Atlanta, Ga. and at Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base in Fla. In July 1995, Bookert assumed duties as Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Personnel and Director, Professional Relationship Division. In 1996, he was selected as Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations. In 2001, he served as Deputy Director of Expeditionary Warfare in the Pentagon. Bookert was promoted to the rank of Rear Admiral in 2002.

In 2004 Bookert assumed duties as Commander of Amphibious Group Two in Norfolk, VA. He commanded all Amphibious Forces on the East Coast. His command included 27 warships, 38 shore commands and 15,000 sailors and Marines. He has been awarded numerous decorations, including three Legion of Merit Medals, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, three Meritorious Service Medals, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Medal, and the Humanitarian Service Medal among others. His last assignment was serving as the Commander of Maritime Forces, which consisted of 45 multinational warships that provided relief for the victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, La.

He served on the Board of Directors for the Tidewater Virginia Area Urban League. He is a member of Richland School District One Hall of Fame, the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and the Spann Watson Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen, Inc. He retired from the Navy in 2006.

Admiral Bookert and his wife Marvis reside in Blythewood, S.C. They have two sons, Brian and Russell (wife, Samantha) and a granddaughter, Hannah. He is currently employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs as the Chief of Support Services in the Columbia Regional office.

To learn more about other honorees, visit the South Carolina African American Calendar.

Standards

• This indicator was developed to promote inquiry into how the lifestyles of those living in capitalist countries differed from those living in communist countries. This indicator was also designed to promote inquiry into how the rights of citizens differed in capitalist and communist countries.
  • This indicator was developed to promote inquiry into how social changes such as suburbanization, the Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944 (i.e., G.I. Bill), and the move to desegregation affected life in America.
• 8.5.E Utilize a variety of primary and secondary sources to analyze multiple perspectives on the cultural changes in South Carolina and the U.S.

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