Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By
	110k	The Department of the Navy announced September 12 2006 that the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will be USS Gravely, honoring the late Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr. Chief of Naval Personnel, Vice Adm. John Harvey announced the honor during remarks at the National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Conference. Samuel Lee Gravely Jr. was born in Richmond, Va., June 4, 1922. After attending Virginia Union University, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve in September 1942. In 1943, he participated in a Navy program (V-12) designed to select and train highly qualified men for commissioning as officers in the Navy. Dec. 14, 1944, Gravely successfully completed Midshipman training, becoming the first African American commissioned as an officer from the Navy Reserve Officer Training Course. He was released from active duty in April 1946, but remained in the Naval Reserve. Gravely was recalled to active duty in 1949. As part of the Navy's response to President Harry Truman's executive order to desegregate the armed services, his initial assignment was as a Navy recruiter, recruiting African Americans in the Washington, D.C. area. Gravely went on to a Navy career that lasted 38 years and included many distinguished accomplishments. Gravely was a true pathfinder whose performance and leadership as an African American naval officer demonstrated to America the value and strength of diversity. Gravely’s accomplishments served as watershed events for today’s Navy. He was the first African American to command a warship (USS Theodore E. Chandler (DD 717)); command a major warship (USS Jouett (DLG 29)); to achieve flag rank and eventually vice admiral; and to command a numbered fleet (U.S. 3rd).		Fabio Peña/Gary Priolo/Tony Cowart/Bill Gonyo
	49k	Artist's conception of the Gravely as built by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource.		Navy Yard Associates
	184k	Undated, under construction.		Bill Gonyo
	152k	Undated, under construction.		Bill Gonyo
	43k	090516-N-5549O-202. Pascagoula, Miss., May 16 2009, Ship's sponsor Alma Bernice Clark Gravely, wife of the late Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, escorted by Cmdr. Douglas Kunzman, commanding officer of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Gravely (DDG-107), takes a moment to admire the ship following her christening ceremony at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss.		Tony Cowart
	116k	The cover of the Christening pamphlet.		Robert M. Cieri
	103k	The commerative coin honoring the Christening of the Gravely.		Robert M. Cieri
	109k	March 2009 just after her launching.		Tom Glickman
	92k	As above.		Bill Gonyo
	177k	100507-N-6274T-010. Pascagoula, Miss., May 7 2010, the Arleigh Burk-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) is surrounded by an oil containment booms to prevent oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill from reaching it's hull while pierside in Pascagoula, Miss. Deepwater Horizon was an ultra-deepwater oil rig that sank April 22, causing a massive oil spill threatening the U.S. Gulf Coast. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Corey Truax.		Bill Gonyo
	140k	Pascagoula, Miss., May 16 2009, the Aegis guided-missile destroyer pre-commissioning unit (PCU) Gravely (DDG-107) is prepared for christening at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Miss. Gravely honors Samuel L. Gravely, the first African American to command a warship (USS Theodore E. Chandler); to command a major warship (USS Jouett); to achieve flag rank and eventually vice admiral; and to command a numbered fleet (Third). Photo courtesy Northrop Grumman.		Bill Gonyo
	161k	Pascagoula, Miss., May 16 2009, from left to right, (Ret.) Adm. J. Paul Reason, Mrs. Diane Reason, President Northrop Grumman Shipbuilders Mr. Mike Petters, Ship’s sponsor Alma Bernice Clark Gravely, wife of the late Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Acting Secretary of the Navy BJ Penn, Loretta Penn, Commander U.S. 2nd Fleet Vice Adm. Mel Williams Jr., and the ship’s Commanding Officer Cdr. Douglas Kunzman, pose for a group photo following the christening ceremony of the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer pre-commissioning unit (PCU) Gravely (DDG-107) at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss. The Navy’s newest destroyer is the 57th in her class, and honors Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, who was the first African American to command a major warship, achieve flag rank, and command a numbered fleet. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin S. O’Brien.		Bill Gonyo
	109k	Pascagoula, Miss., May 16 2009, Ship’s sponsor Alma Bernice Clark Gravely, wife of the late Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, christens the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer Gravely (DDG-107) named in honor of her husband, at Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, Pascagoula, Miss. The Navy’s newest destroyer is the 57th in her class, and honors Vice Adm. Gravely who was the first African American to command and major warship, achieve flag rank, and command a numbered fleet. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kevin S. O’Brien.		Bill Gonyo
	218k	Pascagoula, Miss., June 29 2010, the Northrop Grumman Corporation-built Aegis guided missile destroyer Gravely (DDG 107) returned successfully from her first-ever sea trial last week in the Gulf of Mexico. Reaching this milestone paved the way for delivery to the U.S. Navy later this summer. The destroyer is being built by the company at its Gulf Coast facilities in Pascagoula, Miss. Photo courtesy of the Northrop Grumman Corporation		Bill Gonyo
	219k	August 24 2010, Commander Doug Kunzman greets the eager Gravely (DDG-107) crew aboard ship while Shipbuilders, support staff and SupShip personnel look on. Photo by Ron Elias.		Bill Gonyo
	132k	Monday, November 1 2010, when a U.S. Navy ship leaves the shipyard a complete and finished product, it normally turns into a very triumphant day for everybody involved. It was no different on Friday, Oct. 29 when our company's 27th Aegis guided missile destroyer Gravely (DDG 107) departed the Pascagoula facility. It's a day shipbuilders and sailors can come together, thank each other and celebrate a monumental day after working together. Local media turned out for the event and interviewed shipbuilders, sailors and the commanding officer of DDG 107, Douglas Kunzman. The common theme in Kunzman's remarks dealt with the strength of the collaborative teamwork between Northrop Grumman shipbuilders, Supervisor of Shipbuilding, Gulf Coast and his eager and energetic crew. The media interviews allowed the sailors and shipbuilders to share final moments together before departure. All smiles, all around.		Bill Gonyo
	140k	101112-N-3737T-166. Wilmington, NC, November 12 2010, the guided-missile destroyer Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Gravely (DDG 107) navigates the Cape Fear River near Wilmington, N.C. Gravely is in Wilmington for the ship's commissioning ceremony Nov. 20 and follows USS North Carolina (SSN 777) as the second Navy vessel commissioned there. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric Tretter.		Bill Gonyo
	166k	The Gravely's flag flying over the bridge.		Ron Reeves
	118k	Cover of the Gravely's Commissioning program.		Ron Reeves
	142k	101120-N-3737T-230. Wilmington, NC, November 20 2010, from left, U.S. Navy Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead, U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Cmdr. Douglas Kunzman, commanding officer of the guided missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107), answer questions following the ship's commissioning. Gravely is the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer and is named for the late Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr., the first African-American to command a Navy warship, to achieve flag rank and the rank of vice admiral, and to command a Navy fleet. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric Tretter.		Robert M. Cieri
	188k	101120-N-3737T-200. Wilmington, NC, November 20 2010, the commissioning ceremony for USS Gravely (DDG 107), the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class destroyer begins. The new destroyer honors the late Navy Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr., who was the first African American to command a warship, USS Theodore E. Chandler (DD 717); to command a major warship, USS Jouett (DLG/CG-29); to achieve flag rank and eventually vice admiral; and to command a numbered fleet, the U.S. 3rd Fleet. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric Tretter.		Robert M. Cieri
	156k	101120-N-3737T-185. Wilmington, NC, November 20 2010, during the commissioning ceremony for the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107), the Ship's Sponsor commands "Bring the Ship to Life!". The crew on the pier runs to the brows to man the rails, as the ship's equipment begins to operate; the radars, the CIWS, running lights and finally the ship's whistles blow. The ship is now the Navy's newest Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, named for the late Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr., the first African-American to command a Navy warship, to achieve flag rank and the rank of vice admiral, and to command a Navy fleet. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric Tretter.		Robert M. Cieri
	182k	101120-N-FI224-097. U.S. Sailors man the rails during a commissioning ceremony for the guided missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107), the Navy’s newest Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer, in Wilmington, N.C., Nov. 20, 2010. The ship is named for the late Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr., the first African-American to command a Navy warship, to achieve flag rank and the rank of vice admiral, and to command a Navy fleet. U.S. Navy photo by Tiffini Jones Vanderwyst.		Bill Gonyo
	88k	Broken mast December 2 2010.		Ron Reeves
	147k	130211-N-BY172-221. Norfolk, Virginia, February 11 2012, the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) gets underway from Naval Station Norfolk on its first operational deployment. Gravely is en route to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility to participate in ballistic missile defense escort operations. Gravely is named for Vice Adm. Samuel L. Gravely, the first African-American in the U.S. Navy to command a warship, achieve flag officer rank, and command a U.S. Navy fleet. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class William E. Blake, USN.		Robert M. Cieri
	185k	Rigid-hull inflatable boats (RHIBs) with Sailors from the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG-107) approach the Egyptian navy frigate ENS Toushka (FFG-906, ex-USS Lewis B Puller) during a passing exercise in the Mediterranean Sea, 20 May 2013. Gravely, homeported in Norfolk, Va., is on a scheduled deployment supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility. U.S. Navy News Service photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class James Turner. ID: # 130520-N-KA046-341.		Robert Hurst
	93k	131026-N-QL471-333. Mediterranean Sea, October 26 2013, an MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter from the Swamp Foxes of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74 flies by the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107). Gravely is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Billy Ho.		Ron Reeves
	134k	131118-N-ZY039-105. Norfolk, November 18 2013, the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) returns to Naval Station Norfolk after a scheduled deployment. Gravely deployed to the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the eastern Mediterranean Sea and conducted missions in support of Operations Sharp Sentry, Atlantic Sentry, and Active Endeavor. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Justin R. DiNiro, USN.		Robert M. Cieri
	114k	140214-N-XQ474-052. Norfolk, February 14 2014, the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) departs Naval Station Norfolk to conduct a training exercise. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Schneider.		Robert M. Cieri
	131k	140214-N-XQ474-049. Norfolk, February 14 2014, the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) departs Naval Station Norfolk to conduct a training exercise. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Andrew Schneider.		Robert M. Cieri
	130k	140221-N-DQ840-015. Atlantic Ocean, February 21 2014, sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) prepare to man the distance lines for a replenishment-at-sea with the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO-196). USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98) steams behind her. Gravely is conducting an exercise as part of independent deployer certification. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Adam Austin.		Robert M. Cieri
	120k	140224-N-DQ840-182. Atlantic Ocean, February 24 2014, Boatswain's Mate Seaman Rodney Wiley, from Oakland, Calif., prepares to secure the wheels of a U.S. Army MH-60 Blackhawk helicopter during deck landing qualifications with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107). U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Adam Austin.		Robert M. Cieri
	151k	150922-N-MW280-048. Atlantic Ocean, September 22 2015, the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) pulls alongside the Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Kanawha (T-AO 196) for a replenishment-at-sea. Gravely is underway participating in a composite training unit exercise with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class C. A. Hawley.		Gary Priolo
	158k	160109-N-JE250-199. Gulf of Oman. January 9 2016, sailors from guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107) approach Gravely in a rigid hull inflatable boat. Gravely is deployed as part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class D. C. Dillon.		Ron Reeves
	180k	A cache of weapons is assembled on the deck of the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely (DDG 107). The weapons were seized from a stateless dhow which was intercepted by the Coastal Patrol ship USS Sirocco (PC 6) on March 28 2016. US Navy Photo.		Tommy Trampp
	590k	USS Gravely (DDG-107) moored at Punta Delgada in the Azores, 07 May 2018. Photo copyright Carlos Manuel Estrela		Carlos Manuel Estrela
	39k	Ship's patch.		Ron Reeves
	84k	Ship's patch.		Mike Smolinski

CDR Douglas W. Kunzman    Nov 20 2010 - Dec 14 2011

CDR David W. Dry    Dec 14 2011 - Jul 7 2013

CDR Kevin M. Kennedy    Jul 7 2013 - Dec 19 2014

CDR Alysa L. 'Alyse' Ambrose Mansfield    Dec 19 2014 - Jul 10 2016

CDR Ted W. Carlson    Jul 15 2016 - Jan 29 2018

CDR Justin Reese Hodges    Jan 29 2018 - Aug 10 2019

CDR Michael Thomas O'Reilly    Aug 10 2019 - present

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This page was created by Fred Willishaw (ex ARG-4, AS-11 & DD-692) and is maintained by David L. Wright

Last Updated 03 May 2020