An Unforgettable Journey

Walter R. Somerville Jr. rose from humble beginnings to build an extraordinary 54-year career in military and civil service. Starting in the newly integrated Air Force, he went on to serve in key leadership roles, ultimately becoming chief of civil rights for the U.S. Coast Guard. His journey reflects resilience, purpose, and a steadfast commitment to service.

In this powerful memoir, Somerville shares how he championed equality, opened doors for women and minorities, and made a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals. His story is both a tribute to a life of quiet leadership and a call to continue the work of justice and inclusion.

Walter R. Somerville Jr. did not let growing up relatively poor prevent him from becoming assistant commandant for civil rights in the United States Coast Guard. In his fifty-four years of public service, he supported a Coast Guard culture that values diversity, a twenty-first century recruiting initiative, the creation of the Coast Guard JROTC program, and other initiatives. He is a graduate of the University of Maryland University College and a program for senior managers in government at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.