Historian

CAPT Roosevelt “Rick” Wright, USN (Ret)

CAPT Roosevelt “Rick” Wright’s, Jr., Ph.D., USNR (Ret) military career started in January 1966 as a Private E-1 in the U.S. Army, where he served as Hawk Missile Electronics Specialist after basic training at Fort Gordon, Ga., and advance missile engineering electronics training at Ft. Bliss, Texas.  He served active duty in the 32AADC Command Europe and TDY with the Army/Air Force Motion Picture Service Europe.  In 1981, CAPT Wright received a direct commission in the U.S. Naval Reserves as a LCDR working with Command Naval Recruiting Command, Chief of Naval Education and Training Command, and Chief of Naval information.  CAPT Wright performed many ADSW projects for the U.S. Navy, such as consultant to the Assistant Secretary of the Navy, and Public Affairs Leadership for the Navy’s Annual Great Lakes Cruise – years 1984 – 2000.  In 1992, CAPT Wright was named Campus Liaison Officer of the Year by the Naval Recruiting Command.

CAPT Wright joined NNOA in 1981, while attending the Annual Conference in Norfolk, Va., and during this NNOA Conference, CAPT Wright was elected to the Board of Directors as the NNOA Public Affairs Officer/Editor of the “NNOA Newsletter.”

CAPT Wright is Professor Emeritus of Radio, Television, and Film in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.  He joined the Newhouse faculty in 1975, and retired in 2013.  During his tenure at Syracuse University CAPT Wright taught his many students in such areas as Radio/Television Announcing and Performance, Broadcast Management, Programming, Finance, Sales, Writing, Promotions, Engineering, and Media Digital Interface Systems.  Before joining the Syracuse Newhouse Faculty in 1975, CAPT Wright served as Adjunct Professor of Radio, Television and Film at Howard University, Assistant Professor of Educational Media at North Carolina Central University, Director of the Educational Media Center and Instructor at Delaware State University, and Associate Director of the Audiovisual Center and Instructor at Elizabeth City State University.

CAPT Wright received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Industrial Arts Technology from Elizabeth City State University, Master of Science Degree in Educational Media and Commerce from North Carolina Central University, Certificate of Graduate Studies in Educational Media from Virginia State University, and Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Instructional Technology-Radio from Syracuse University.

CAPT Wright is also active in professional broadcasting, where he is presently Broadcast Announcer/Consultant for I Heart Media Syracuse, and host a weekly radio show called “Old Skool Sunday” on WHEN-AM/WSYR-FM HD2 – on line at power620, 1300 – 1900 EST Sunday’s.  The radio program features News making guest, Legendary R&B music, Historical educational stories, and a platform for telling the many stories of Naval, Marine Corp., and Coast Guard Officers of The National Naval Officers Association.  In 2009, CAPT Wright received the “2009 Community of Color Award for Social Conscience,” for his efforts in presenting and producing this radio show.  Further, CAPT Wright’s broadcasting career has taken him to various markets such as Washington, D.C., Trenton, N.J., Raleigh/Durham, N.C., Norfolk, Va., Richmond, Va., Dover, Delaware, El Paso, Texas, and Elizabeth City, N.C.

CAPT Wright’s academic research and writing areas are in the field of Military/Naval/Sea Services History, History of African-Americans in Broadcasting, and Mass Communications.  His latest project is contributing writer for Book – “The Peacetime Draft,” where he wrote stories About African-American Naval and Coast Guardsmen who served between the Korean and Vietnam War.  His hobbies include, Photography, Aviation,  Radio DXing, Syracuse University Sports, Collecting Historic Books, Audiovisual Equipment, and working with various community Organizations.  CAPT Wright is a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, and received the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award For Outstanding Service to the Community and Fraternity.