Tuesday, February 11, 2025
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TODAY IN NAVY, MARINE CORPS
AND USNA MEMORIAL HALL HISTORY
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1922 - BGen John H. Russell, Class of 1892, was appointed U.S. High Commissioner and personal representative of the President to the government of Haiti. This nine-year assignment placed this future Commandant in supreme command of both the occupying American force and the Haitian Gendarmerie.
1965 - In the aftermath of the Viet Cong bombing of an Army enlisted barracks at Qui Nhon, South Vietnam, which killed 23 Americans and injured 21 others, carrier aircraft again struck targets in North Vietnam. Operation Flaming Dart II, launched from the decks of Hancock (CVA-19), Coral Sea (CVA-43), and Ranger (CVA-61), hit North Vietnamese barracks near Chan Hoa.
1969 - LT Jon Surratt '60, USNR was lost when the SP-2E patrol bomber he was aboard crashed in the Santa Ana mountains shortly after taking off from the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, California. All aboard were lost; they had been in the area for two weeks of antisubmarine training.
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ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS
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Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation update
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Over the last week, we have been working with the Naval Academy leadership to understand the impact of recent Department of Defense executive orders on USNA as well as our Enterprise. West Point announced last week the disbanding of a dozen Cadet affinity groups, an action that made news and resulted in a natural reaction from the public, our alumni, parents and Shared Interest Groups (SIGSs) about the way ahead at USNA and the Alumni Association & Foundation (AA&F).
As a non-Federal entity, we are not subject to the recent Department of Defense (DoD) directives. We are a tenant on federal property under a lease with the United States Navy, however. We also have a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Naval Academy that gives us some of our authority to perform our mission on, and in support of, the Naval Academy. For those reasons, we need to be aware of our environment.
Naval Academy leadership is working hard to ensure that they are aligned with all DoD directives. They are exercising prudent judgment and seeking clarification from their chain-of-command where necessary.
We are committed to ensuring that we continue to support the Naval Academy in every way possible, while continuing to stand behind our SIGs and other alumni organizations. We are grateful to have the wonderful Fluegel Alumni Center as a home for alumni gatherings at a time when the Naval Academy has to carefully consider what Brigade and public activities can be hosted on the Yard.
As an Enterprise, we connect and support our alumni and the U.S. Naval Academy community so that the Brigade and alumni lead and serve at their full potential for the good of the nation. That mission will continue.
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Enjoying the Jan/Feb issue of Shipmate?
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The January-February 2025 issue of Shipmate magazine is proud to partner with these generous sponsors: Academy Fund, Bath Iron Works, Blue Forge Alliance, Brayton Purcell, Cox Science Center, Lane Construction, Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, Otterson Wealth Advisors, Scott Shuetter Realtor and Crew, Sono 1420 Distillers, USAA, Weitz and Luxenberg and Zancan. We are truly grateful for their support—thank you for making this magazine possible for our alumni community! If you missed the digital version in our new Page Pro functionality, click the button below to check it out.
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Commissioning 101 happening Saturday
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One might ask … exactly what does the Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation do to connect and support our alumni and strengthen our members bonds? Let us count the ways. This Saturday at the Fluegel Alumni Center, the AA&F is hosting Commissioning 101. This annual event is designed for parents and provides valuable insights and recommendations related to Commissioning Week events. The Expo portion of the event will offer parents the chance to explore the many opportunities and support networks available to midshipmen after graduation. It's also an excellent opportunity to meet with local vendors who can assist in planning your Commissioning Week events and gifts. Additionally, sponsors and local vendors will be selling merchandise and offering exciting giveaways and raffle prizes during the Expo. Always a popular event, it is sold out this Saturday. Click the button below to check out the resources we make available.
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GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS
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Sea-Air-Space 2025 registration is now open
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The Navy League of the United States has officially opened registration for Sea-Air-Space 2025, the largest global maritime expo in North America. The event will once again take place at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, MD, from April 7-9, 2025, with the co-located STEM Expo kicking off on April 6. Sea-Air-Space remains the foremost gathering for maritime and defense professionals in the United States, bringing together government, military, industry, and academic leaders to share cutting-edge insights, discuss meaningful solutions, and showcase the latest advancements in defense technology. The three-day conference will showcase more than 400 prominent businesses, from innovative startups to global Fortune 500 companies, all playing a vital role in the maritime domain.
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Navy Yard traffic doubles as federal employees head back to the office
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Streets were gridlocked in Southeast D.C. Monday morning as thousands of federal workers returned in-person to offices. President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to bring employees back to in-person work in an executive order. It charged heads of departments and agencies to terminate remote work arrangements and submit a plan for returning employees to offices by Feb. 7. For many agencies, the plan starts Monday. In Navy Yard, more than double the amount of traffic than usual was expected, with the Department of Defense bringing nearly 17,000 employees back to the base there on Monday. They also anticipated 8,000 to 10,000 vehicles would be fighting for just under 4,500 parking spots.
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Army, Navy remove web pages highlighting women's military service
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In an effort to align with President Donald Trump's recent executive order that terminated diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives across the federal government, the Army and Navy have taken down web pages that highlight the history and myriad contributions of female soldiers and sailors. Last week, a page devoted to women's service in the U.S. Navy, as well as a page entitled “Navy Women of Courage and Intelligence,” was removed by the Navy History and Heritage Command, replaced by a “page not found” message.
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CNO cancels MOUs with three military affinity organizations
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The Navy canceled memorandums of understanding with three affinity organizations last week, according to Friday letters to each organization from the office of Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti and obtained by USNI News. The letters, dated Feb. 7, to the Sea Services Leadership Association, National Naval Officers Association and Association of Naval Services Officers were from Franchetti but directed by Vice Adm. Richard Cheeseman, chief of naval personnel. The letters terminate the memorandum of understanding between the Navy and each of the affinity groups. Sea Services Leadership Association is a nonprofit, established in 1978, to help mentor and develop women in the Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps. National Naval Officers Association focuses on promoting diversity in the officer ranks of the service so that it better reflects the demographics of the U.S. Association of Naval Services Officers and promotes the inclusion of Latino and Hispanic sailors in the Navy.
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LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS
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St. John's College and U.S. Naval Academy to compete in 41st Annapolis Cup croquet match
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The annual Annapolis Cup croquet match between St. John's College and the U.S. Naval Academy is set to take place on Saturday, April 5, 2024. Presented by PNC, the event marks its 41st anniversary, continuing a long-standing tradition that brings together students, alumni, and the Annapolis community. The rivalry began in 1983 after a conversation between a St. John's College freshman and the commandant of the Naval Academy led to a challenge. When the commandant claimed the Midshipmen could defeat the Johnnies in any sport, the student responded, “What about croquet?”
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Trump fires service academy boards that oversee morale, academics
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President Donald Trump said Monday he fired the boards of visitors at four U.S. service academies, claiming they had been “infiltrated by woke leftist ideologies.” Trump ordered the immediate dismissal of board members at the Military Academy in West Point, New York; the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland; the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado; and the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut. “We will have the strongest Military in History, and that begins by appointing new individuals to these Boards,” Trump wrote on his social network platform, Truth Social. “We must make the Military Academies GREAT AGAIN!”
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Who is the Naval Academy Board of Visitors?
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The duty of the Academy's Board of Visitors is to inquire into the state of morale and discipline, the curriculum, instruction, physical equipment, fiscal affairs, academic methods, and other matters relating to the academy which the Board decides to consider. The Board consists of six members appointed by the President, three appointed by the Vice President, four appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, one designated by the Senate Armed Services Committee and one designated by the House Armed Services Committee. The President of the United States receives an annual written report of the Board's findings and recommendations. The Board of Visitors is not part of or related to the Alumni Association & Foundation in any way.
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NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS
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The Star Series began 52 years ago (1972) and is a competition between the two academies' varsity sports programs that keeps track of how many times each academy has the most wins in an academic year against the other. Navy has won the Star Series 48 times in the last 52 years.
Army Leads 9-7. (Navy - M Rugby, M Cross Country, Football, Gymnastics, Rifle, Men's Indoor Track & Field, Women's indoor Track & Field; Army - Volleyball, Sprint Football, Golf, M Soccer, W Soccer, W Cross Country, W Rugby, Men's Swim and Dive, Women's Swim and Dive)
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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
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FEBRUARY
15 Feb - Commissioning Week 101, Fluegel Alumni Center
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 Alumni Center, 5-9 p.m.
27 Feb - Astronaut Convocation - USNA
MARCH
7-16 Mar - USNA Spring Break
7 Mar - A&SP Policy Review Committee Meeting - Fluegel Alumni Center (Bastian Conference Room)
12-13 Mar - SACC Atlanta
21 Mar - A&SP Executive Committee Meeting - Fluegel Alumni Center (Bastian Conference Room)
22 Mar - Annual Gathering for USNA Women - Fluegel Alumni Center
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 - Fluegel Alumni Center
APRIL
5 Apr - Annapolis Cup - USNA-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 - Akerson Tower
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 BOD meeting, Fluegel Alumni Center
6-8 May - Class of 1957 - 70th Reunion
7-9 May - USNA Alumni Association Spring BOT Meeting, Fluegel Alumni Center
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 Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony, NMCMS
JUNE
17-18 Jun - Entrepreneur Summit - Fluegel
25 Jun - Athletic & Scholarship Program Pre-I Day Reception, Fluegel
26 Jun - USNA Induction Day, Class of 2029
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