Doris Hull is a native of Miami, Florida.  While working as a civilian for the Coast Guard I later enlisted in the Coast Guard Reserves and fulfilled all the requirements and Servicewide Examinations to be promoted to Yeoman First Class (E-6).  Four years later, I requested to integrate into active duty and my daughter and I were transferred to Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C.  A difficult challenge came with leaving the reserve, the Coast Guard approved the integration to active duty but only with being forced to take a reduction in rank.  This meant having the rank of E-5 (Petty Officer Second Class) in lieu of E-6 (Petty Officer First Class).  Starting my active duty career at a lower grade reduced my pay and was a setback.  My demotion did not change my determination to lead with confidence.

As a divorced parent with a young daughter, I focused on supporting each other even with the setback on receiving lower pay.  By God’s grace we weathered life storms with our heads held high.  I implemented an aggressive study plan in pursuit of higher earnings along with higher rank.  Even though I was competing against peers with more time in service as well as more time in pay grade I was also testing for.  Through it all, with God’s blessings and my tenacity I was able to achieve a very high level of success.

In the military my career field (Personnel Administration), I was the first Black woman on active duty to be promoted to Yeoman Chief Petty Officer (E-7) and went on to be the first Black woman on active duty to be promoted to Chief Warrant Officer (CWO2),  I retired as the first Black woman to attain the highest Warrant Officer rank of Chief Warrant Officer 4 (CWO4).  During my career I also proudly received a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology.

I met my husband, Chief Warrant Officer Ronald G. Hull, USCG, Retired while on active duty and we have a combined family of 4 children, Lisa, Ronya, Stefani and Andre.  Our daughter Stefani and Son Andre also proudly served on Active Duty in the Coast Guard.  I retired in 2005 after 27 years in the Coast Guard and settled in Zephyrhills, Florida.  My husband and I are members of First Baptist Church of College Hill, Tampa, Florida where we serve as Deacon & Deaconess.  Since retiring I volunteer at the church, The Spring of Tampa Bay, serve on the church’s Domestic Violence Ministry as well as mentor women at church and in the community.