View source for Anthony Watson (admiral)

{{short description|American naval officer}}
{{Cleanup|reason=Format Citations properly|date=July 2020}}
[[File:Rear Admiral (lower half) Anthony J. Watson, USN.jpg|thumb|Rear Adm. Watson in 1995]]
'''Anthony John "Tony" Watson'''<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fDeJ5cmF--YC&pg=PA84 |title=Register of Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Reserve Officers on Active Duty |date=October 1, 1976 |page=84 |publisher=Bureau of Naval Personnel |access-date=2021-03-11}}</ref> (born May 18, 1949<ref name="VA Marriage">{{cite news |title=Marriage Return |date=July 30, 1984 |issue=84–030039 |publisher=Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records and Health Statistics |location=Richmond, Virginia}}</ref> in [[Chicago]]) is a retired 31-year Navy veteran and a graduate of the [[United States Naval Academy|Naval Academy]] (1970). He is one of the "Centennial Seven" African-American sailors who served as commanding officers of United States [[submarine]]s in the 20th century. He was the first black submariner to be promoted to [[rear admiral]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-07-01-1994182150-story.html|title='Black Admirals' exhibit is tribute to achievement|first=Phil|last=Greenfield|website=baltimoresun.com}}</ref> He served on five different submarines and became the second African-American naval officer to command a nuclear submarine in December 1987.<ref name="Chicago Tribune">{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1990-05-21-9002110356-story.html |title=Black Navy Captain is Honored |first=John W. |last=Fountain |date=May 21, 1990| newspaper=Chicago Tribune |access-date=2021-03-11}}</ref> He was raised in the public housing community of [[Cabrini–Green Homes|Cabrini-Green]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6GntfRruQ7IC&q=admiral+tony+watson+ebony&pg=PA84|title=Ebony|first=Johnson Publishing|last=Company|date=June 12, 1994|publisher=Johnson Publishing Company|via=Google Books}}</ref> on the near north side of Chicago, where he graduated from [[Lane Tech College Prep High School|Lane Technical High School]] in 1966.<ref name="Chicago Tribune"/><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sittingbull1845.blogspot.com/2013/04/black-social-history-rear-admiral-tony.html|title=THE BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY:: BLACK SOCIAL HISTORY : REAR ADMIRAL TONY WATSON OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY (RETIRED) AN EXCELLENT SUBMARINER : GOES INTO THE " HALL OF BLACK GENIUS "|date=April 23, 2013}}</ref>
At the U. S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, he was twice elected class president and was the first African American to achieve the rank of Brigade Commander as a third year [[midshipman]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://1970.usnaclasses.com/Class%20Info/Class%20History.html|title=USNA '70 Class History}}</ref>
He was Commanding Officer, [[USS Jacksonville|USS ''Jacksonville'']], a [[Los Angeles-class submarine|Los Angeles Class fast-attack nuclear submarine]], where he conducted the first live-fire, at-sea depth charge test of a submarine since {{USS|Thresher|SSN-593|6}} in 1963. From 1989 to 1992, he was Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen at the Naval Academy. In 1992, he was commander of  [[Submarine Squadron 7|Submarine Squadron Seven]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.csp.navy.mil/css7/|title=Submarine Squadron 7 &#124; COMSUBRON SEVEN &#124; COMSUBPAC|website=www.csp.navy.mil}}</ref> in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, with 13 fast attack nuclear submarines under his command.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fO3EJKjXSI0C&q=Submarine+Squadron+SEVEN+in+Pearl+Harbor%2C+Hawaii+tony+watson&pg=PA27|title=USBE/HE Professional|first=Career Communications|last=Group|date=July 12, 1996|publisher=Career Communications Group|via=Google Books}}</ref>
As rear admiral he was assigned to [[the Pentagon]] where he worked under General [[Colin Powell]] who was then Chairman of the [[Joint Chiefs of Staff]]. Following that tour of duty, he was also Commander of the [[Navy Recruiting Command]], an operation with a recruiting team of 6000 people nationwide.
His military awards include the [[Defense Superior Service Medal]], the [[Legion of Merit]], four [[Meritorious Service Medal (United States)|Meritorious Service medals]], three [[Navy Commendation Medal]]s, the [[Navy Achievement Medal]].
== Personal ==
Watson is the son of John David Watson and Virginia Hortence (Smith) Watson. On July 21, 1984, he married his second wife Sharon Gray (Shires) Waddell in [[Norfolk, Virginia]].<ref name="VA Marriage"/>
== References ==
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[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Chicago]]
[[Category:United States Naval Academy alumni]]
[[Category:African-American United States Navy personnel]]
[[Category:United States submarine commanders]]
[[Category:United States Navy rear admirals]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Legion of Merit]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Meritorious Service Medal (United States)]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American military personnel]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American military personnel]]