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National Naval Officers
Association Origin
NNOA is an
organization composed of active duty, reserve and retired officers, academies,
midshipmen and cadets, and interested civilians. The organization is sanctioned
by the Secretaries of the Navy and Transportation and is a member of the Navy
and Marine Corps Council. NNOA has members of all ranks and ethnic groups.
NNOA had its beginnings in 1970, when LT Kenneth H. Johnson, while serving as
Advisor for minority Affairs at the U. S. Naval Academy, sought methods to
improve minority interest in recruitment efforts and participation in the Naval
Academy Blue and Gold Program. In 1971, faced with finding qualified naval
officer candidates from minority communities, CAPT Emerson Emory, CAPT Claude
Williams, CDR Emmanuel Jenkins, CWO James Harris and LT Johnson began to discuss
forming an organization to assist minority officer recruitment. It was noted
that fewer than 100 officers of every known minority could be identified and
less than 50 of these were African American.
In 1972, an organizational meeting was held at the Hilton Inn in Annapolis,
Maryland and NNOA was founded. The objectives of the Association were adopted
and subsequently annual meetings during the month of July ensued. The
Superintendent of the Naval Academy gave his full support to NNOA, and that
support is still present today. CAPT Emerson Emory was elected the first
president of NNOA. The first annual meeting was held in San Diego, CA in 1973.
Rear Admiral Charles Rauch, Assistant Chief of Naval Personnel for Human Goals
and Mr. John Borroughs, Special Assistant Equal Opportunity the Assistant
Secretary of the Navy were the principal guests. The first chartered chapter was
the Annapolis, Maryland chapter.
The National Naval Officers Association's National Conference, held annually
during July, includes many hours of educational and professional development
workshops, seminars, and exhibits designed to enhance the professional knowledge
of attendees while increasing overall awareness of issues affecting the sea
service. The conference offers an excellent opportunity for all officers to
benefit from the open dialogue and career enhancing information The National
Naval Officers Association presents awards annually at the National Conference
to recognize and acknowledge the appreciation for chapter and individual efforts
in accomplishing the mission and goals of the Association.
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Site last updated: 12/04/01
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