Submariners Recognized as Black Engineer Award Winners

By Kevin Copeland, Commander, Submarine Force Atlantic Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Five submariners were recognized at the 2011 Black Engineer of the Year Awards (BEYA) in Washington, D.C., Feb. 19.

Rear Adm. Bruce E. Grooms, Lt. Cmdr. James Mahoney, Lt. Michael Paisant, Lt. Thomas Dotstry and Lt. j.g. Cameron Lindsay were all recognized at the awards ceremony for demonstrated technology leadership contributions within the African-American community.

Two award competitions are held annually for BEYA recognition, one for Professional and Career Achievement, and one for the organization's Modern Day Technology Leaders. Sponsored by the Career Communications Group, the BEYA awards program recognize men and women from around the country who demonstrate outstanding performance in a technical field and show great potential for shaping the future course of science, technology, engineering and math.

Grooms was recognized for with the award for Professional Achievement in Government. This award is presented to a highly professional past the midpoint of their career which signifies achievements in government as a role model and leader for other minorities.

110218-N-ZB612-090 WASHINGTON (Feb. 18, 2011) Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead delivers the keynote address at the 2011 Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA) Stars and Stripes dinner. The event is part of the BEYA Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Global Competitiveness Conference. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Tiffini Jones Vanderwyst/Released)

Grooms is currently assigned as the Assistant Deputy, Operations, Plans and Strategy (N3/N5B) on the Chief of Naval Operations staff in Washington, D.C. Mahoney, Paisant, Dostry and Cameron were recognized as Modern Day Technology Leaders. Mahoney, a native of Sumter, S.C., is currently assigned as deputy assistant chief of staff for Resources and Requirements for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain; Paisant, an Atlanta native, is currently assigned as navigator and operations officer aboard Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Montpelier (SSN 765); Dotstry, a native of Newport News, Va., is currently assigned as admissions advisor at the U.S. Naval Academy; and Lindsay, a Kernersville, N.C. native, is currently assigned as assistant engineer, sonar officer, and dive division officer on Virginia-class attack submarine USS Texas (SSN 775) homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Capt. Richard R. Bryant was also announced as a recipient of the Professional Achievement in Government award and will be recognized as the 14th recipient of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Golden Torch Award for Lifetime Achievement in Government at the 37th Annual NSBE Conference in St. Louis March 26.

"I am very humbled, and internally pleased to be recognized for this award," said Bryant. "Just to be considered is an immense honor, but to be selected is something more touching. I am glad that I am able to bring the message about the Navy's nuclear propulsion program to some who do not understand the program and may not have the opportunity to see it. It is a challenge to maintain a diverse work force in the Navy's nuclear program, because individuals who qualify for nuclear engineering are certainly qualified for other civilian occupations."

"It is poignant and very spiritual for me to receive this award in my hometown of St. Louis, because I grew up in the rough section of Kinlock and not many nuclear engineers come from there," continued Bryant. "Presentation of the award there sends a strong message that hard work and determination can be springboards to future success. Once again, I am extremely humbled by my selection, and having known previous recipients, it is tough for me to realize I belong in their company."

NSBE is the premier organization serving African-Americans in engineering and technology, and are the link between the African-American community and the world of technology. The Golden Torch Awards link the accomplishments of distinguished African-American engineers and technical professionals with college bound dreams of pre-college students.

Bryant is currently the Special Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Chairman's Action Group at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. He will soon assume command of Commander, Submarine Squadron Three in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

For more news from Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, visit www.navy.mil/local/sublant/.