Celebrating a Navy Veteran’s Legacy
From a young age, Adele Moore knew her life’s goal was to work in the military. She was inspired by the sense of purpose that came with a life of service and the military’s core values of hard work, commitment, and dedication. The military provided Adele a unique opportunity where her personal values and professional ambitions seamlessly aligned, leading to a distinguished 20-year career in the Navy.
“I’m a workaholic, so when I go into anything, I want to go as high as I can and do the best that I can,” she says. “If I wanted to do something, if something interested me, I never let anything stop me. I went for it.”
Committed to Serving
Adele began her career in the federal government, eventually entering civil service and specializing in supply chain logistics. Driven by a greater desire to serve, she set her sights on joining the US Navy. After completing her exams, Adele was brought to the Navy board.
“They said, ‘What’s the lowest grade you will accept?’ And I said an E6. And they kind of looked at me and said, ‘That’s pretty high.’”
But with her extensive history, Adele knew her worth. She eventually received the rank of Petty Officer First Class (E6) and began working as an aviation storekeeper in the Naval Reserve. Adele was responsible for organizing supplies and directing her team in supplying stationed sailors. Because of her work, she received her first Navy Achievement Medal in March 1988, followed by a second medal for her service as a controller in Washington, DC.
“They really didn’t know what to do with me because my grade was too high, and they couldn’t give me a mop and pail, so they were trying to figure out what assignment I could have. But I enjoyed every minute I was there.”
Adele primarily worked in Norfolk, Virginia, where she eventually served as the Personnel Department Head and Command Chief of the Naval Supply Center. Her career allowed her to see the world, including visits to Iceland and Japan, the latter where she was tasked with working alongside Russians to test how quickly they could load planes, offload personnel and supplies, and return to base.
“That’s when we were working together,” she laughs. “But I had a job to do, and I did it.”
Overcoming Barriers
This sense of determination helped Adele overcome any obstacles she faced throughout her career. As a Black woman, working in the Navy in the 1980s and 90s wasn’t without its challenges. At the start of one mission, Adele and her team were traveling by plane when the master chief wanted to see all chiefs at the front of the aircraft.
“So I went up,” she says, “and he looked at me and said, ‘This is for the chief's meeting.’ And I said, ‘Look at my collar.’” She laughed, recalling this memory, adding, “Look at my collar, not my color.”
During a separate mission in Iceland, Adele became aware that the rest of her unit didn’t know a female chief was on board. When she visited the local chiefs' club and ordered a cocktail, she immediately felt tension.
“They all kind of looked at me, and they were trying to tell me in a nice way, ‘You don’t belong here.’”
After she introduced herself as Chief Moore to a fellow chief, the demeanor in the room completely changed, and Adele was accepted as an equal.
“Barriers and all of that never bothered me,” she says about those experiences. “If I wanted to do something, I did it. I stood my ground, and I did my job.”
Continuing to Inspire
After retiring from the Navy at age 60, Adele faced health challenges that made daily life more difficult. She first moved to a senior living community, but five months later, she found a Watermark community that offered everything she wanted. Adele made the move nearly two years ago — and has thrived here ever since.
Even in retirement, Adele continues to inspire others. She encourages young adults to embrace the values that guided her throughout her career.
“Go in and have a positive attitude, have an idea what you want to do, what you want to accomplish, and set your goal. And don’t let anyone stop you from it.”
Every Story Connects Us
Our communities are filled with people like Adele—each with stories of courage, creativity, and perseverance. These stories connect us, remind us what’s possible, and inspire us to keep growing. We can’t wait to hear yours.
