The SEC welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Michael L. Gragg as the keynote speaker at the agency’s African American History Month celebration on
Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. The event was hosted by the SEC’s African American Council, Veterans Committee and Office of Minority and Women Inclusion.
Regardless of our state in life, the African American has always demonstrated his willingness, or her willingness, to fight for the idea of freedom and equality, even if it wasn’t necessarily for themselves.
Command Sgt. Maj. Gragg
Command Sgt. Maj. Gragg is the senior enlisted adviser to U.S. Army Surgeon General Nadja Y. West, who is the first black female lieutenant general and the highest-ranking woman to graduate from the U.S. Military Academy.
The theme of this year’s African American History Month is “African Americans in Times of War.” The theme was chosen to commemorate the centennial of the end of World War I and to focus on the roles of African Americans in every American war, from the Revolutionary War era to the war on terror.
“Regardless of our state in life, the African American has always demonstrated his willingness, or her willingness, to fight for the idea of freedom and equality, even if it wasn’t necessarily for themselves,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Gragg. “They were willing to fight for the idea of freedom and equality of somebody else. They were willing to fight and sacrifice themselves for the idea of freedom and equality for somebody else.”
The SEC was honored to host Command Sgt. Maj. Gragg, who has devoted 28 years in the military protecting our country and has demonstrated commendable leadership and dedication to our servicemen and women in the U.S. Army.
See Chairman Jay Clayton's remarks for the SEC African American History Month Celebration.
Modified: April 6, 2023