During his undergraduate education, he was a member of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity, California Eta chapter.

Black's first duty assignment as a judge advocate was at Fort Bliss, Texas, where he served as the chief of the Legal Assistance Branch, as a trial counsel and chief of the Criminal Law Branch, and as a contract attorney.

In 1990, Black was assigned as the deputy staff judge advocate, 7th Infantry Division (Light), Fort Ord.

In October 2005, Black was appointed the 37th judge advocate general of the United States Army.

On December 8, 2008, the United States Senate voted to confirm the nomination of Black for promotion to the rank of lieutenant general.