▁be ▁promoted ▁to ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁captain . ▁▁ 1 9 7 8 ▁- ▁M anson ▁K . ▁Brown ▁US CG A ▁' 7 8 ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁black ▁regiment al ▁commander ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 0 1 - year ▁history ▁of ▁the ▁Coast ▁Guard ▁Academy . ▁▁ 1 9 8 0 ▁- ▁Joseph ▁Jones , ▁US CG A ▁' 7 2 ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁pre - com ▁& ▁CO ▁of ▁the ▁newly ▁constructed ▁US C GC ▁NE A H ▁B A Y ▁( WT GB ▁ 1 0 5 ) ▁▁ 1 9 8 3 ▁- ▁Ang ela ▁Dennis ▁and ▁D aph ne ▁Re ese ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁black ▁female ▁gradu ates ▁of ▁the ▁Coast ▁Guard ▁Academy . ▁▁ 1 9 8 8 ▁- ▁Commander ▁Mer le ▁Smith ▁US CG A ▁' 6 6 ▁and ▁Lieutenant ▁Commander ▁London ▁Ste vers on ▁US CG A ▁' 6 8 ▁became ▁the ▁first ▁African - American ▁Coast ▁Guard ▁Academy ▁gradu ates ▁to ▁ret ire ▁from ▁the ▁Coast ▁Guard . ▁Smith ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁African ▁American ▁gradu ate ▁of ▁the ▁Coast ▁Guard ▁Academy ▁while ▁Ste vers on ▁was ▁the ▁second ▁African - American ▁gradu ate ▁of ▁the ▁Academy . ▁▁ 1 9 9 0 ▁- ▁Joseph ▁Jones , ▁US CG A ▁' 7 2 ▁became ▁the ▁CO ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 1 0 - foot ▁cut ter ▁US C GC ▁RE LI ANCE ▁( W ME C ▁ 6 1 5 ) ▁▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁- ▁Joseph ▁Jones , ▁US CG A ▁' 7