Paul C. Culver

Paul C. Culver

USNA ’74

I was nominated by Congressman Frank Thompson and commissioned by President Richard Nixon, both of whom resigned just before being forced from office. It was never clear if that held any significant portent for my time at USNA. While at the academy I majored in Analytical Management and participated on the Indoor and Outdoor track teams for three years. I originally wanted to become a pilot until my vision went in youngster year. I then thought I would be a Radar Intercept Officer on F4's. That ended due to an accident in wrestling class in which I fractured some vertebrae in my neck and was declared Not Physically Qualified (NPQ) for the line. I applied for the Excess Leave Law program to get my Law Degree and join the JAG Corps, but that program was canceled midway through my First Class year. I ended up very happily in the Supply Corps on Service Selection night.

Things went much better after graduation. I served as Assistant Supply Officer on USS DECATUR (DDG 31) (so much for ships being too dangerous to serve on) and then as Commissary Officer and the Naval Station San Diego store the largest in the Navy. During that time I realized I was gay and decided a career of hiding was not the dream career I had planned. I resigned my commission after six years and was encouraged to apply for a Civil Service appointment with NAVRESSO who at the time ran commissaries. I was picked up to be the Merchandising and Operations Manager at the Pearl Harbor Region and three years later was promoted to the same position at the Oakland Region. I was subsequently promoted to GS-14 Region Director in Oakland.

I was a member of the transition team as we stood up the Defense Commissary Agency and returned to Oakland as the District Director then Zone Manager for DeCA, with responsibility for 18 stores in Northern California and Nevada. I took a disability retirement in January 1997.

Since then I have busied myself with photography. I have done some travel photography in developing countries but focus primarily on portraiture. My photos have been on magazine covers several times. For those interested, my website is www.culverphotography.com.

Please feel free to contact Paul here at USNA Out.