In 1977, Alma M. Grocki became the first woman from Hawaii to enter the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA). She was also part of this service academy’s second class of women. Grocki, who had been born in Honolulu as Alma Lau, recalled nearly four decades later what led her to pursue a naval career. “I decided to join the Navy for the opportunities in education, leadership, and a career,” she said in a 2016 interview with Defense Media Activity. “My dad worked for 39 years as a General Foreman supervisor at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, and I liked being around ships and submarines.”
In a 2021 interview with the non-profit organization ThinkTech Hawaii, Grocki shared a few memories of her years at USNA. One of these memories involved the time she was told to run a mile. “All at once?” she recalled saying. “Well, usually when I have to go a mile, I just drive.” Grocki also recalled in this interview how, as someone of Chinese descent, she was the first person of color that several of her fellow USNA cadets had ever met. One of the cadets who was in the same company (unit) as her at USNA was somebody named Russ Grocki. They never dated each other, however, until after they met up again and renewed their acquaintance in 1991; they were married the following year.
Alma M. Grocki, who has noted that an ample supply of “aloha spirit” helped get her through her time at USNA, graduated from there in in 1981 with a bachelor of science degree. Her first posting was as non-nuclear ship superintendent of the submarine USS Tullibee (SSN-597) at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.in Kittery, Maine. Grocki served in that same role at the shipyard for the experimental submarine designated as Deep Submergence Vessel NR-1. It was also during her tour of duty at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard that she earned her master of science degree in mechanical engineering at the University of New Hampshire.
Grocki subsequently made it back to her home state, where she served as billeting officer at Naval Station Pearl Harbor in the vicinity of Honolulu. She was eventually both ship superintendent and senior ship superintendent for several ships and submarines at this naval station. During her time there, Grocki had the distinction of being the first woman to accompany a vessel on seal trials. Moreover, after completing the Nuclear Ship Superintendent School, she served as both shipyard docking officer and nuclear ship superintendent for the decommissioning ceremonies for the submarines USS Skate (SSN-578) in 1986 and USS Sargo (SSN-583) in 1988.
It was also in 1988 that Grocki transferred to the U.S. Navy Reserve. She served as commanding officer of shore maintenance facilities at both Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and — in Washington State — Naval Station Everett. Grocki carried out the same responsibilities at the Navy Reserve shipyard at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (likewise located in Washington State). In addition, she commanded the Navy Reserve Naval Submarine Support Command at Naval Station Pearl Harbor; the Naval Undersea Warfare Command in Keyport, Washington; and the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) at Bremerton, Washington.
Grocki’s other assignments included serving as deputy operations officer of the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and director of submarine maintenance for the U.S. Pacific Fleet. She served as well as director of fleet maintenance for the U.S. Pacific Fleet. During her naval career, Grocki was awarded the Legion of Merit a total of three times; the Meritorious Service Medal five times; and the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal four times.
Grocki retired from military service in 2016 at the rank of rear admiral. At this time, she was also the Navy Reserve’s senior engineering duty officer. As a civilian, Grocki has worked for CACI International Inc. Her assignments on behalf of this multinational professional services and information technology company have included shipyard training and also audits of NAVSEA dry docks. Grocki has also been on the board of several non-profit organizations focusing on goals such as the promotion of STEM programs for Hawaiian students; quality-of-life assistance for veterans; and the preservation of military historic sites.
During her 2016 interview with Defense Media Activity, Grocki described not only her time in the military but also what leadership means to her. “Being a leader in the Navy means accomplishing the ‘mission’ and taking care of your people while doing that,” she stated. “Being a leader means interacting with your people so when you move out to accomplish your mission, you turn around, and there are people following you that respect and trust you.”
Photo Credit: Public Domain
For more information on Alma Grocki, please check out #VeteranOfTheDay Navy Veteran Alma Grocki – VA News and Alma M. Grocki – Wikipedia
Transportation History 
Leave a comment