His last duty station before retirement was as Deputy Chief of Staff for Capability Development at Allied Command Transformation.

On March 1, 2013, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced that Grooms is nominated for appointment to the rank of vice admiral and for assignment as Deputy Chief of Staff for Capability Development at Allied Command Transformation by President Barack Obama.

Originally from Maple Heights, Ohio, Grooms graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering.

Following completion of nuclear power training, he served in nearly every capacity aboard a variety of submarines, including a tour as executive officer of USS Pasadena (SSN-752), where he twice deployed to the Persian Gulf.

He is also the seventh member of the navy's "Centennial Seven", which are the seven African-American sailors to serve as commanding officers of United States submarines in the 20th century.

Grooms was selected as the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership winner for 1999.