Joseph Paul Reason | |
|---|---|
 Admiral Joseph Paul Reason (1996) | |
| Born | March 22, 1941 Washington, D.C. |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1965–1999 |
| Rank |  Admiral |
| Commands | USS Coontz (DDG-40), USS Bainbridge (CGN-25), Naval Base, Seattle, Washington, Cruiser-Destroyer Group One, Battle Group Romeo, Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, United States Atlantic Fleet |
| Battles / wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Navy Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit |
| Other work | Vice President for Ship Systems at SYNTEK Technologies, Inc., President and COO, and Vice Chairman of Metro Machine Corp, Secretary of the Navy's Advisory Subcommittee on Naval History |
Joseph Paul Reason (born March 22, 1941, in Washington, D.C.) was Commander in Chief, United States Atlantic Fleet from 1996 to 1999. Earlier in his career, as a commander, he was naval aide to the President of the United States, Jimmy Carter, from December 1976 to June 1979. In 1996, Reason became the first African-American officer in the United States Navy to become a four-star admiral.