Barry C. Black (born November 1, 1948) is the 62nd Chaplain of the United States Senate. He was elected to this position on June 27, 2003, becoming the first African American and the first Seventy-day Adventist to hold this office. The Senate elected its first chaplain in 1789.
He served for over 27 years as a chaplain in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Rear Admiral and ending his career as the Chief of Chaplains of the United States Navy, the senior chaplain of the United States Navy Chaplain Corps. He officially retired from the Navy on August 15, 2003.
Below is an interview with MSNBC followed by clips of his prayers opening the Senate since the shutdown began.