During Navy Week, ships will dock at the Port of Cleveland.

Rear Admiral Bruce Grooms comes home

By JAMES W. WADE III
Staff Reporter

Navy Week has started in Cleveland with many visiting the city and enjoying this special occasion. One of the highlights will be the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. Navy week  began Monday, August 27.

Rear Admiral Bruce Estes Grooms, a native of Cleveland,  is excited about returning to his hometown. A graduate of Maple Heights High School he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering.

Grooms have been with the Navy for 32 years and, in a phone interview, he talked about a lot of the events planned for Cleveland.

“I can’t wait to get back home and show off my city,” said Rear Adm. Grooms.

Grooms also shared how his command tours included service as commanding officer of USS Asheville (SSN 758). During this tour, the ship received the Battle Efficiency “E” award, the Golden Anchor and Silver Anchor for the highest retention in the Submarine Force.

Asheville twice earned the Engineering Excellence Award, won the Fleet Recreational Award for best quality of life programs, and twice won the Submarine Squadron Three Commodore’s Cup.

Grooms subsequently served as commander, Submarine Squadron Six and later as commander, Submarine Group Two.

Rear Adm Grooms informed us that around 10,000 Ohioans are enlisted and close to 10,000 retirees live in Ohio with about 1,000 reservists in the state as well. From 2012 through 2015, the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard are commemorating the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and The Star Spangled Banner.

The Navy has partnered with the International Council of Air Shows, the Navy League, the Naval Historical Foundation, and Operation Sail (OpSail) to create world-class events around the country.

“The battle of Lake Erie is going to be a chance for many to learn how important the Navy was,” said Grooms. Along with Cleveland, other places like New York, New Orleans, Chicago, Baltimore, Boston and Norfolk will have events during 2012.

Grooms has served as a company officer and, later, as the commandant of Midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy. He served as the senior military assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Policy. He was the senior inspector for the Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board. He served as deputy director, then director, of the Submarine Warfare Division (N87) and as vice director, Joint Staff.

Grooms said he grew up reading the Call & Post Newspaper.

“My parents  always purchased the paper every week,” said Grooms. “I am really pleased to know that the Call and Post Newspaper is still around. It’s a great testament to the great job you have been doing over the years providing a great news source for everyone who reads it," he said,

Admiral Grooms's siblings Aloi, Julie, and Gilbert all still reside in Cleveland.

Grooms was selected as the Vice Admiral Stockdale Inspirational Leadership Award winner for 1999. He earned a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, graduating with distinction, and he attended Stanford University as a National Security Affairs Fellow. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, and various campaign as well as unit awards.

During Navy Week, ships will dock at the Port of Cleveland.

Visitors to ships should plan on wearing comfortable clothing and should be aware that handbags and camera cases will be searched prior to entering. A ship is an industrial environment and guests are encouraged to wear flat, rubber soled shoes. Guests should avoid high-heels, open toe shoes, necklaces that can get caught on ship equipment and bags that will be too heavy to carry comfortably.

Visitors should look for clearly marked entrances. Everyone must go through a security check prior to accessing any ship. The security check is similar to what is present at most airports and consists of a walk-through metal detector and/or wand scan.

All adults should present a photo I.D. when going through security. Tours are open on a first come-first served basis; no reservation is required or accepted. There is no age requirement to tour U.S. Navy ships.

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Rear Admiral Brice E. Grooms