Freddie Jeffries
NOAA Heritage Oral History Project
NOAA Heritage Oral History Project aims to document the history and legacy of NOAA through compelling interviews with its leaders. These firsthand accounts provide an invaluable resource that preserves NOAA's significant contributions to environmental research and management, fostering a deeper understanding of NOAA's vital role in shaping our understanding of the Earth's oceans and atmosphere.
Molly Graham
Biographical Sketch
Born on April 12, 1939, in Ripley, Tennessee, RADM Freddie Jeffries grew up in a family of subsistence farmers who transitioned from sharecropping to farm ownership. He attended Tennessee State University, earning a degree in civil engineering, and subsequently joined the Coast and Geodetic Survey. Jeffries holds the distinction of being the first African-American officer in the NOAA Corps and the first to attain the rank of Admiral. Throughout his career, he navigated the challenges of segregation and racial barriers, particularly in the field of engineering and surveying.
Scope and Content Note
On June 27, 2024, Molly Graham interviewed Rear Admiral Freddie Jeffries, NOAA Corps, for an oral history project. The interview covers Jeffries' early life growing up on a farm in rural Tennessee and his experiences with segregation in education. He discusses his time attending Rosenwald schools and his path to higher education, including his decision to study civil engineering at Tennessee State University. Jeffries details his career in the Coast and Geodetic Survey, where he worked on airport and nautical surveys, and later, his transition to the NOAA Corps. He reflects on his experiences as the first African-American NOAA Corps officer, encountering racial discrimination in the field and within the organization. Jeffries shares significant anecdotes about his work in photogrammetry, civil engineering, and field surveys from Maine to Florida, emphasizing his leadership roles and the technological advancements he witnessed. He also discusses his service aboard the Surveyor and the leadership challenges he faced as he rose through the ranks to Rear Admiral.
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