Admiral batteries Chambers

Born in Bedford, VA, Rear Admiral Lawrence C. Chambers ’52, USN (Ret.), lost his Navy veteran father at age four and grew up with his four siblings in Washington, DC, under the nurturing influence of his maternal grandparents. While in high school, Admiral Chambers, taking his cue from fellow Dun- bar High School alumnus Wesley Brown, honed his academic and leadership skills, turned down offers from Harvard and MIT, and joined Brown at the Naval Academy—a move that culminated with his becoming the first African American Naval Academy graduate promoted to flag rank.

After a tour of duty in Columbus, Admiral Chambers reported to flight training and received his wings in 1954. Chambers flew vari- ous fixed-wing aircraft, including the AF Guardian, the A-1 Sky Raider, the A-4 Skyhawk, and the A-7B Corsair II. Admiral Cham- bers’ early command tours included Attack Squadron VA-15 and USS White Plains. Under Chambers’ leadership, the White Plains earned the Ney Award for Best Small Ship Mess Afloat and the Type Commander’s “E.” In 1975, Admiral Chambers assumed com- mand of the USS Midway, becoming the first African American to command an aircraft carrier. Under his command, the USS Midway played a critical role in rescuing South Vietnamese Air Force Major Bung Ly (Lee), his wife, and five children.

In December 1977, following a successful tour as skipper of Midway, Admiral Cham- bers was promoted to rear admiral. Admi- ral Chambers’ later naval career included command of Carrier Strike Groups 3 and 4 and assignment as Vice Commander, Naval Air Systems Command. He retired from active duty in 1984 and began a second career in industry. Working for Unisys Cor- poration, he managed the Federal Aviation Administration and international weapons systems programs. Fol- lowing retirement from Unisys, he embarked on a third career with Kinnevik AB, taking assignments in developing countries worldwide. Recently, he has focused on community service, including supporting the Midway Museum.