Captain Richard R. Bryant
was born in Kinloch, Missouri in 1966. He is the son of Jonathan Bryant and the late Audrey Crouch Bryant. He attended and grew up in Ward Chapel AME Church. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering. ". In May 1995, Captain Bryant earned a Masters of Engineering Management from the George Washington University. . He also graduated from the National War College in 2005 with a Masters of Science in National Security Affairs.
Following graduation, Captain Bryant attended Naval Nuclear Power School in Orlando, Florida, Naval Nuclear Prototype Training in Windsor, Connecticut, and Naval Submarine School in New London, Connecticut. He reported to USS DANIEL BOONE (SSBN 629)(BLUE) in January 1990, where he served as Reactor Controls assistant, Assistant Weapons Officer (Strategic) and Chemistry and Radiological Controls Assistant. He also qualified Nuclear Engineer Officer, as well as Strategic Weapons Systems Officer. In September 1992, he was named the COMSUBRON SIXTEEN JUNIOR OFFICER OF THE YEAR, while USS DANIEL BOONE was awarded the 1992 COMSUBRON SIXTEEN Battle "E", a Meritorious Unit Commendation and presented the Omaha Trophy for Strategic Excellence by USSTRATCOM.
In December 1992, Captain Bryant reported to the U.S. Naval Academy as 30th Company officer becoming the first member of his class to hold that position. In 1994, his company won COLOR COMPANY and MOST IMPROVED COMPANY. Additionally, he served as a voting member on the admissions board, and was commended for attaining zero attrition for the class of 1997 in his company. Captain Bryant then served as the Flag Aide to COMNAVCRUITCOM in Washington, D.C. from June 1995-July 1996. While attending the Submarine Officers Advanced Course in the fall of1996, he won the DAVID LLOYD AWARD for leadership and was named the winner of the Naval Submarine League Essay Contest for his submission "Caution: The door opens both ways".
Captain Bryant served as the Navigator and Operations Officer in USS MONTPELIER (SSN 765), where he qualified for Command of Submarines. In 1996, he made a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf with the THEODORE ROOSEVELT Battle Group. In 1998, USS MONTPELIER completed a five-month Northern Atlantic deployment. USS MONTPELIER was awarded the 1997 COMSUBRON SIX Battle "E" and the 1998 COMSUBRON SIX Navigation Red and Green "N".
Captain Bryant served in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition as the Assistant for Submarine Programs 1998-2000. He then served as the Executive Officer of the USS HYMAN G RICKOVER (SSN 709). RICKOVER was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation, the 2001 COMSUBRON EIGHT Engineering Red “E” and the 2002 COMSUBRON EIGHT Battle “E” and the Navigation Red and Green "N".
Captain Bryant served as the Deputy Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Resources, Requirements and Assessments, and as Special Assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations from 2003-2004.
Captain Bryant most recently served as the Commanding Officer of the USS MIAMI SSN-755 from 2006-2008, where he completed a six month deployment to the Mediterranean and the Middle East. MIAMI was awarded the 2007 COMSUBRON FOUR Engineering Red “E” and the 2008 COMSUBRON FOUR Battle “E”. Additionally, he was recognized for Career Achievement in Government at the Black Engineer of the Year Awards in 2008.
In 2008, he reported into the Joint Staff, J-3, where he served on Operational Team 4 in the National Military Command Center. He currently serves as Special Assistant to the Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Chairman’s Action Group. In 2011, he will take command as COMSUBRON THREE in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
He is entitled to wear the Meritorious Service Medal with three gold stars, the Navy Commendation with silver star, and Navy Achievement Medal with two gold stars. He is married to Stephanie Gaines-Bryant, a part-time news anchor for WTOP in Washington, DC. They have four children: Richard Jr., twins Christian and Kendall, and Gabriel.