Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Business Systems Center (BSC) sponsored an African-American/Black History Month Program for military and civilian personnel, Feb. 13, in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.

Capt. Douglas Bridges, Jr., commanding officer for NAVSUP BSC, began the program sharing how celebrating National African-American History Month came about and how this year's theme "African-Americans in Times of War" commemorates the centennial of the end of World War I in 1918, and highlights the service and sacrifice of African-Americans during wartime from the Revolutionary War to present.

Keynote speaker, Rear Admiral Keith M. Jones, deputy commander, Naval Supply Systems Command, shared stories from notable African-Americans to include Jesse L. Brown ,the first African-American naval aviator, and Master Chief Carl Brashear, the first African-American to become a U.S. Navy master diver.

"The movie "Men of Honor" tells Brashear's story in a moving, impactful way," stated Jones. "I could not [fathom] enduring what he endured and survived. This made me think he was 'one of one' and still excelled."

Bridges concluded the program with, "Our inclusive culture is built on mutual trust, respect and the value of diverse ideas. We are one NAVSUP team with a diverse, worldwide workforce."

NAVSUP Business Systems Center is the Navy's premier logistical support information technology provider with responsibility to design, sustain, rationalize, integrate and implement best value logistics & financial business solutions.

For more information, visit http://www.navsup.navy.mil/bsc/, http://www.facebook.com/NAVSUPBSC/, or http://twitter.com/NAVSUPBSC.