Yes, the new face of Navy leadership would look more like America. It would include African Americans like Bingham, Gordon, and Dugan - and every other race, for that matter. These new officers would fly technologically advanced jet fighters, command thousands of sailors on aircraft carriers, and operate $2 billion submarines - "nuclear power plants under the sea," Roughead says.

They'd be among the best and the brightest and most sought after. At least, that is Roughead's vision for the officers.

The Valley Forge Military Academy grad, who happens to be the military's top naval adviser and a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been on a mission to increase the number of minorities in the Navy, especially in the officer ranks. He has put together a diversity plan that includes more recruiting efforts and mentoring programs in cities.

And he started this mission two years before his black commander-in-chief took office.

Now it looks like some of the seeds he has planted are bearing fruit. Of the 1,200 plebes sworn into Annapolis a few weeks ago, almost 30 percent are minorities - making the Class of 2013 the most diverse in Naval Academy history.

Which gives Roughead a tremendous sense of satisfaction.

What he's doing is politically prudent, but it is not what motivates him.

"I believe the military has to reflect the nation it serves," Roughead said, momentarily at ease before speaking at the Philadelphia Council of the Navy League's annual dinner in Drexel Hill last month. "And if you look at our leadership, it is very male and very Caucasian."

Roughead took advantage of his time in Philadelphia to meet and administer the naval oath to Bingham, Gordon, and Dugan, who also attended the dinner.

Dugan, who graduated from Penn Wood High School in Lansdowne in 2008, has already left for the Naval Academy after spending a year at Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, R.I.

Bingham, a 2009 graduate of the Philadelphia High School of Engineering and Science, and Gordon, an '09 West Catholic High School grad, are also headed to NAPS for a year's training.

"I wouldn't have ever known about the Naval Academy if I hadn't done the research," said Gordon, who plans to become part of the Marine Commando Force. "I got a break because I went to a great Catholic school, but kids in Philly aren't being encouraged to look [at the Academy]. They just go to school and do whatever."

Truth is, many Philly kids go through high school with no direction, no career goals. Their paths stray far from Roughead's, who grew up in Buffalo and patterned himself after an uncle who had served in World War II and another who had served in Korea.

By the time Roughead finished at Valley Forge and went on to Annapolis, where he graduated in 1973, he knew his career was set.

That was 36 years, six operational commands, and a slew of awards ago.

"Fewer young people come from families that have a connection to the military anymore," Roughead said. "In my mind, what needs to be done is to make them aware of opportunities that exist."

He met with administrators at Drexel to figure out a way to mentor science and math-loving students in the city. He has also expanded Junior ROTC programs and offered scholarships earlier so prospective candidates can make choices sooner.

Predictably, the admiral's ambitious agenda hasn't come without a backlash.

For a lot of folks, diversity is code for quotas. It conjures up that dreaded affirmative action, reverse discrimination, and all that other unfair stuff.

In fact, a Naval Academy professor went a step further, writing that increased minority enrollment has "dumbed down" the officer corps.

But in a nation whose population is quickly turning the color wheel, Roughead gets it. He has a multicolored view.

"Diversity of thought and opinion from different people makes leadership stronger and makes for a stronger, smarter Navy," he said.

"I know this is something that won't change overnight, but I have the opportunity to influence change."

He already has.

at 215-854-4986 or Ajohnhall@phillynews.com. Read her work: http//go.philly.com/annette