31 Jan AA&F Morning Paper

Friday, January 31, 2025

1962 - Reflecting President John F. Kennedy's emphasis on unconventional warfare and counterinsurgency operations, the Navy creates two Sea Air Land (SEAL) teams. The SEALs are successors to the Underwater Demolition Teams formed during World War II.

1979 - LT Robert Hughes '67, USN was lost when the jet aircraft he was piloting collided with another off the coast of Southern California. He was a member of Fighter Squadron (VF) 126. Robert was a recipient of the Silver Star and credited with an air-to-air victory over a MiG-21 over Vietnam in 1972.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

Read about the incredible life lived by President Jimmy Carter, read more about our four new Distinguished Graduate selectees, take a journey back to Vietnam with our Legacy of Valor Series and introduce yourself to the Tulsa, OK Chapter. That and more in the latest edition of the very best Alumni Magazine there is. Found something in SHIPMATE that needs to be shared? Now you can! With our new digital platform, every story is available anytime, anywhere. Your personal info is safe, and the incredible stories of our USNA alumni are ready to be shared with the world.

With an all-new digital reading experience, your AA&F Comms Team has worked with our IT staff to make opting out of the paper copy easier. We know many of you care about reducing your environmental footprint, as well. You can still stay connected to the alumni community. Access the magazine anytime, anywhere—on your phone, tablet, or computer—while helping us save paper and reduce waste. Or, you can keep receiving the paper copy of the best-in-class alumni Magazine AND read it online, too. Up to you. You have options!

Enjoy this special wrap-up video and go behind-the-scenes as volunteers from across our Enterprise teamed up to give a personal messages of gratitude to thousands of alumni, donors, parents, and friends throughout the week.

 

The Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation marked its annual Week of Gratitude Jan 13-17, 2025. We texted 1,544 young alumni donors to thank them for their support. We reached approximately 80,000 alumni, parents, and friends. Supporters and alumni participated in the annual photo mosaic to help further fill the week with memories and stories of their gratitude for the Academy.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

The Navy's new five-part plan to prepare new ships for deployment will require more maintenance time for the current fleet. However, the Naval Systems Command, or NAVSEA, strategy states the Navy must stay on schedule with maintenance to keep the service's vessels seaworthy and combat-ready. The new strategy, released Jan. 13, is key to Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti's ambitious goal of having 80% of the fleet ready to deploy at any given time by 2027.

In a post on the social media platform X, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk claimed Tuesday that the Biden Administration left two astronauts “stranded” and said President Donald Trump has asked SpaceX to step in to rescue them. But NASA already put such a plan in place months ago when it asked SpaceX to return astronauts Suni Williams '87 and Butch Wilmore from the International Space Station as part of its Crew-9 mission. A delay in that plan was then announced in December because mission teams said they needed more time to prepare a new SpaceX vehicle. “The @POTUS has asked @SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the @Space_Station as soon as possible. We will do so,” Musk's post reads. “Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.”

President Donald Trump blamed diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at the Federal Aviation Administration for a deadly midair collision between an Army helicopter and a passenger jet outside Washington, as authorities continue to investigate the worst U.S. aviation disaster in almost a quarter century. Speaking in the White House press briefing room Thursday, the president blamed air traffic controllers, as well as the helicopter pilot and Democratic policies at federal agencies for Wednesday night's collision, which occurred between an American Airlines jet and a Blackhawk helicopter at Ronald Reagan National Airport. Trump blamed previous administrations' efforts to promote diversity at federal agencies for contributing to the crash. Asked why he thought that was an issue with Wednesday's collision, he responded, “Because I have common sense.” During Thursday's briefing, Hegseth echoed Trump's remarks on DEI policies, stating, “The era of DEI is gone at the Defense Department.”

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

Legacy of Giving - Author Jim Paulk '57 gives back to the Naval Academy and AA&F with his book Shaking Up the World

As the author of Shaking Up the World: Stories of the Naval Academy Class of 1957, Jim celebrates the lives and achievements of his classmates. He's also secured his own legacy by naming the Naval Academy Foundation as a beneficiary of his retirement account and donating all book royalties to support its mission. “Giving back to the Naval Academy is a must for me,” Jim shares. “I owe everything I've enjoyed in life to attending the Naval Academy. Writing a book to honor my classmates was necessary because I remain in awe of them, just as I was when we met in 1953.” It's easy to leave your legacy. Name the Foundation as a beneficiary of an IRA, life insurance policy, or other account today.

John Maconi serves as a regional director of development on the Regional Development Team. In this role, he has the privilege of working with alumni, parents and friends to secure support for the U.S. Naval Academy and its mission. His focus includes cultivating and stewarding major gifts that enhance the institution and provide transformational opportunities for future generations of midshipmen. 

 

Maconi is a long-time Annapolitan and proud graduate of Severn School in Severna Park, MD. He earned a degree from Elon University, which landed him a position at Florida State University as a fundraiser for the Booster program. Thanks to the unwavering support of our dedicated donors, the Development Team is committed to advancing the U.S. Naval Academy's mission of becoming the nation's premier institution for undergraduate education, leadership, athletics, and character development. 

 

Partnering closely with alumni, parents, and friends from across the nation, the Development Team strives to deepen their connection to the Naval Academy through philanthropy. We achieve this mission by working directly with donors and engaging like-minded individuals through impactful events that showcase our esteemed faculty, staff, and accomplished alumni.

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

Weekend Matchups

 

Wrestling at Bucknell - Lewisburg, PA - 6 p.m.

 

 

Rifle v Army - Star Match - Annapolis, Md. - 9 a.m.

Men's Tennis v LIU - Annapolis, Md. - 9 a.m.

Women's Tennis at Liberty - Lynchburg, Va. - 10 a.m.

Men's Track & Field at Army - Star Meet - West Point, N.Y. - 11 a.m.

Women's Track & Field at Army - Star Meet - West Point, N.Y. - 11 a.m.

Men's Swimming & Diving at Bucknell Invitational - Lewisburg, Pa. - Noon

Women's Swimming & Diving at Bucknell Invitational - Lewisburg, Pa. - Noon

Men's Lacrosse at High Point - High Point, N.C. - Noon

Men's Gymnastics at Army - Star Meet - West Point, N.Y. - 1 p.m.

Men's Tennis v Saint Joseph's - Annapolis, Md. - 1 p.m.

Men's Squash v Rochester - Annapolis, Md. - 1 p.m.

Men's Basketball v Bucknell - Annapolis, Md. - 2 p.m.

Women's Basketball at Bucknell - Lewisburg, Pa. - 4 p.m.

 

 

Women's Tennis v George Washington - Annapolis, Md. - 11 a.m.

Men's Squash v Hobart - Washington, D.C. / Squash On Fire - 1:15 p.m.

Army Leads 9-3. (Navy - M Rugby, M Cross Country, Football; Army - Volleyball, Sprint Football, Golf, M Soccer, W Soccer, W Cross Country, W Rugby, Men's Swim and Dive, Women's Swim and Dive)

REMAINING STAR MATCHUPS

 

15 Feb - Women's Basketball - Annapolis - 11 a.m.

15 Feb - Men's Basketball - Annapolis - 1:30 p.m.

15 Feb - Wrestling - West Point - TBA

15-16 Mar - Baseball - Annapolis - TBA

5 Apr - Women's Outdoor Track & Field - Annapolis - TBA

5 Apr - Men's Outdoor Track & Field - Annapolis - TBA

5 Apr - Women's Tennis - West Point - 10  a.m.

12 Apr - Men's Tennis - West Point - 1 p.m.

12 Apr - W. Lacrosse - West Point - 12:30 p.m.

12 Apr - M. Lacrosse - Annapolis - TBA

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

FEBRUARY

6 Feb - USNA Ship Selection

15 Feb - Commissioning Week 101, Fluegel

21 Feb - 85th Brigade Boxing Finals

21 Feb - Louisville Chapter + NAPC of Kentucky Roadshow – Louisville, KY (**in support of Navy Men's Gymnastics competing at the Winter Cup Feb 21-23)

22 Feb - Indianapolis Chapter + NAPC of Indiana Roadshow – Fishers, IN)

23 Feb  Cincinnati Chapter + NAPC of Greater Cincinnati Roadshow – West Chester, OH

24 Feb  Columbus Chapter + NAPC of Central Ohio Roadshow – Dublin, OH

27 Feb - Naval Academy Entrepreneurs event, Fluegel, 5 - 9 p.m.

27 Feb - Astronaut Convocation, USNA

 

MARCH

7-16 Mar - USNA Spring Break

12-13 Mar - SACC Atlanta

21 Mar - Distinguished Graduate Award Ceremony and Dinner, USNA (T)

22 Mar - Distinguished Graduate Leadership Panel, Mahan, USNA

22 Mar - Annual Gathering for USNA Women - 1 p.m. @ Hopper Hall

22 Mar - Fencing (club) Alumni Meet - Dahlgren Hall

26 Mar - Alumni Mentoring Program (AMP) Class of 2025 enrollment

27-29 Mar - Naval Academy Minority Association, (NAMA) Leadership Forum

30-31 Mar - Volunteer Leader Summit

 

APRIL

5 Apr - Annapolis Cup - USNA v St. John's Croquet Match

5 Apr - Women's Lacrosse Alumni Appreciation Day (Home Game vs. Holy Cross)

10-12 Apr - Class of 1955 - 70th Reunion

11 Apr - Athletic & Scholarship Programs Spring Meeting - Fluegel Alumni Center

11-12 Apr - Men's Soccer Alumni Weekend

12 Apr - Navy Letterwinners Association Army/Navy Men's Lacrosse Tailgate

23 April - Bonds of Gold Ceremony

24 Apr - AA&F Vietnam Legacy of Valor Series Speaker Event - FAC

24-27 Apr - Class of 1970 - 55th Reunion

25 Apr - Council of Class Presidents Spring Meeting, Fluegel, TBD

25 Apr - USNA Dedication Parade, Worden Field

30 Apr - USNA Capstone Day

30 Apr - USNA Foundation Spring Board of Directors Welcome Reception

 

MAY

1 May - USNA Foundation Spring Board of Directors Meeting, Fluegel

6-8 May - Class of 1957 - 70th Reunion

7-9 May - USNA Alumni Association Spring Board of Trustees Meeting, Fluegel

8-9 May - SACC Washington DC

14 May - Class of 2028 Herndon Climb

21 May - Blue Angels CFR Event - Hospital Point, USNA

22 May - Color Parade, Worden Field

22 May - USNA Prizes & Awards, Alumni Hall, 2 p.m.

23 May - Class of 2025 Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony, NMCMS

 

17-18 Jun - Entrepreneur Summit - Fluegel Alumni Center

25 Jun - Athletic & Scholarship Program Pre-I Day Reception, Fluegel

26 Jun - USNA Induction Day, Class of 2029