Coast Guard Academy
U.S. Coast Guard
News Release
Command Master Chief earns the title "Doctor"
U.S. COAST GUARD ACADEMY, Conn. - Master Chief Petty Officer John F. Niece receives his doctorate during a Ph.D Degree and Hooding ceremony at the Academy June 23, 2010.
Niece completed his college program earning a doctor's degree of philosophy in business administration with a specialization in Homeland Security while serving as Command Master Chief for the Coast Guard Academy.
The hooding ceremony is a special recognition ceremony during which a Dean of the school places the doctoral hood over the head of the graduate, signifying his or her success in completing the graduate program.
Today's academic regalia has its origins in the clerical dress that medieval scholars used for warmth in unheated buildings.
Tradition dictates that doctoral gowns have bell-shaped sleeves, velvet trim down the front and three velvet strips across the sleeves. Head wear is also an important component of the cap-and-gown.
The headwear varies with the level of academic achievement. The black velevet tam is the traditional cap worn by the doctoral stutdents. The doctoral hood worn with the gown and tam was originally a head covering for bad weather. Later it was dropped to the shoulders in the form of a small cape. Eventually, the hood became a separate piece of apparel bearing even more symbolism than the gown. The hood's facing is colored velvet trimming denoting the wearer's discipline - in Niece's case - dark blue to signify a Doctor of Philosophy.
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