Dec 17 Daily Shipmate

Published on December 17, 2025

Official daily newsletter of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌
 
U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation logo
Wednesday, 17 December 2025
Welcome to the last week of Daily Shipmate before the Holiday Stand Down. Daily Shipmate will deliver for the last time of 2025 on Friday, 19 December. The product will return on 5 January 2026.
 
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Today in Navy, Marine Corps
and USNA Memorial Hall History
1927 - While surfacing off Provincetown, Massachusetts, the submarine S-4 (SS-109) collides with the Coast Guard cutter Paulding. S-4 goes down with the loss of all 39 crewmen despite rescue efforts by Navy divers, including Chief Gunner's Mate Thomas Eadie, who receives the Medal of Honor for rescuing a fellow diver who becomes entangled in an airline. The submarine is later raised and recommissioned, serving until 1933.
 
1941 - VADM William S. Pye '01, USN becomes Acting Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, relieving ADM Husband E. Kimmel '04, USN.
 
1992 - LCDR James Boyle '77, USN was lost when the F-16N fighter jet he was piloting crashed near Twin Falls, Idaho. He was a member of Fighter Squadron (VF) 126, which was the Pacific Fleet adversary fighter squadron for the Top Gun program. James had more than 3,600 flight hours and 600 carrier landings; 71 of those hours were in combat during the Gulf War. A native of Chicago, Illinois, James was president of his high school class and a member of the football team. He played varsity football at the Naval Academy, too. He earned his wings in 1979 and married his wife in December 1981. Together they had a daughter; he was survived by them, his stepson, parents, two brothers and a sister.
Photo Highlight
 
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In what could become an annual Army–Navy tradition, USNA AA&F President and CEO Jeff Webb '95 rejoined 13th Company for the 126th Army–Navy Ball Run—his second run with his former company. USNA AA&F followed along and shared behind-the-scenes moments on social media as the runners made their way through Severna Park, Maryland, where they were greeted by cheering students from St. John the Evangelist Elementary School. Be sure to visit the Run to Honor Shared Interest Group (SIG) social media accounts for additional photos and video.
Academy & Graduate happenings
Navy's new Rapid Capabilities Office pursues disruption, with caution
As the Navy's new Rapid Capabilities Office hustles to identify and field urgently-needed technologies at a speedier pace than ever before, senior leaders recognize how the plans have potential to introduce or magnify security, operational and ethical risks that can accompany experimental acceleration. “I actually think we have to be more disciplined,” VADM Seiko Okano '94 told DefenseScoop last week. “If we're going to go fast, then we can't do this recklessly — because, ultimately, if we do have catastrophic failures, that actually slows us down much more than if we were going to just go at our normal speed.” A 1994 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Okano was recently appointed as the NRCO's first chief by Navy Secretary John Phelan.

 

 
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Landon Robinson Named First-Team All-American by the Associated Press
Navy senior nose guard Landon Robinson '26 has been named a First-Team All-American by the Associated Press. Robinson is the first Navy player to be named an All-American by the AP in 40 years (Napoleon McCallum in 1985) and the first defensive player in 50 years (Chet Moeller in 1975). Ironically, Robinson (Fairlawn), McCallum (Cincinnati) and Moeller (Kettering) are all from Ohio. Robinson, who was also named the American Conference Defensive Player of the Year, has recorded 58 tackles, a team-high 8.5 tackles for a loss, a team-high 6.5 sacks and a team-high seven hurries for the Mids this season. He is second in the American in sacks per game, which is highly unusual for an interior defensive player.

 

Meet the University of Oklahoma's new Police Chief - A Naval Academy alum
It's only been two months, but Derek Fuller '89 is making himself right at home at the University of Oklahoma. As the new police chief at the university since 13 October, Fuller provides leadership for all police and public safety functions across OU in collaboration with deputy chiefs on each campus. Fuller describes his past decades of experience as "very broad," and that might be a modest understatement. He's a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and has served as a naval flight officer.
 
Government & Military News
 
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Navy Has 20,000 Gaps at Sea Due to Training Backlog, Past Recruiting Shortfall
Despite a historic recruiting year, the Navy will need to continue to bring in more junior sailors to fully man at-sea billets, a problem that will likely continue into the next two to three years and is compounded by delays in the training pipelines, a Navy official told USNI News. The Navy has a total of 20,683 gaps-at sea as of 3 December, Stacee McCarroll, a service spokesperson, told USNI News on Monday. The majority of the gaps at-sea are in the apprentice level, which covers E-1 through E-3. At the apprentice level, there are 16,369 gaps at-sea, followed by 3,301 among journeyman sailors (E-4 to E-6) and 1,013 in the supervisor level, which includes sailors at ranks E-7 and above, McCarroll said.

 

Future USS Idaho Delivered to U.S. Navy
The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the Submarine Force's newest fast attack submarine, the future USS Idaho (SSN 799), from General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) Dec. 15, marking the second delivery of a Virginia-class fast attack submarine this year. The delivery represents the official transfer of the submarine from the shipbuilder to the Navy. The submarine and crew will continue to undergo a series of tests and trials before being commissioned into active service, which is expected to take place in the spring. “Idaho represents the hard work and tenacity of shipbuilders, industry partners and Navy personnel to deliver the best undersea warfighting platform to the fleet,” said CAPT Mike Hollenbach '97, Virginia-class submarine program manager. “With each delivery, the Navy reinforces our Nation's superiority in the maritime domain.”
 
Local, Education & other academy news
 
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Remembering…RADM James Henry Flatley III USN (Ret.)
RADM James H Flatley III USN (Ret) '56, affectionately known to friends, colleagues and family as Jim, Skipper, Admiral and Pops, passed away in his sleep on December 12, 2025, weeks before celebrating his 92nd birthday. Born on January 9, 1934 in San Diego, CA to parents, James H Flatley Jr and Dorothy May McMurray, Jim lived a life devoted to his country, his community and most importantly to his family. As a decorated naval aviator, esteemed leader, devoted family man, he leaves behind a legacy of courage, sacrifice and an unwavering commitment to service. During his 31 years of active military service, he logged 4,460 flight hours in over thirty different aircraft and the first to complete 1,608 carrier landings. One of his most notable contributions to naval aviation occurred in 1963 when he impressed the community by successfully executing multiple carrier landings aboard the USS FORRESTAL (CV-59) while piloting the C-130 Hercules, the largest aircraft to ever land on a carrier.
 
Naval Academy Athletics News & Results
NSTR
USNA and AA&F Events
JANUARY
2 Jan - Navy v Cincinnati - Liberty Bowl - 4:30 p.m.
4 Jan - USNA Semester Leave ends
5 Jan - USNA Classes Begin, Spring Semester
10 Jan - Pensacola Chapter Congressional Academy Day - 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Fl.
14 Jan - Greater Southern Maryland Chapter Social & Business Mtg. - Brudergarten - 5:00PM EST -
22-26 Jan - AA&F Engagement Roadshows - Central Savannah River Chapter + NAPC of South Carolina & NAPC of Georgia; SC Lowcountry Chapter + NAPC of South Carolina; Charleston Chapter + NAPC of South Carolina; SC Midlands Chapter + NAPC of South Carolina
 
FEBRUARY
5 Feb - Class of 2026 Ships Selection, Alumni Hall
14 Feb - Commissioning 101, Fluegel
19 Feb - USNA Entrepreneurs event, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. - Fluegel - Guest Speaker: Bill Lehner, CSO of Independent Hydrogen
19-20 Feb - Service Academy Career Conference - Atlanta
20-22 Feb - AA&F Engagement Roadshows - Nashville Chapter + NAPC of Middle Tennessee; Chattanooga Chapter + NAPCs of Middle & Eastern TN; Knoxville-Oak Ridge Chapter + NAPC of Eastern Tennessee
27 Feb - Brigade Boxing Finals, Alumni Hall
 
MARCH
6 Mar - U.S. Naval Academy Athletic & Scholarship Policy Review Committee Meeting, Bastian
7 - 15 Mar - U. S. Naval Academy Spring Break
12-15 Mar - AA&F Engagement Roadshows - Arizona Chapter + NAPC of Arizona; Southern Arizona Chapter + NAPC of Arizona; Northern Arizona Chapter + NAPC of Arizona; New Mexico Chapter; Intermountain Chapter + NAPC of Utah
13 Mar - Alumni Association Travel Showcase
16 Mar - Beyond Commissioning Event, location TBD
23 Mar - Beyond Commissioning Event, location TBD
27 Mar - Council of Annual Giving Spring Meeting, TBD
27 Mar - U.S. Naval Academy Athletic & Scholarship Executive Committee Meeting, Bastian
 
APRIL
10 Apr - Athletic & Scholarship Program, Prizes & Review Committee Mtg, TBD
10 Apr - U.S. Naval Academy Spring Formal Parade, Worden Field
16 – 19 Apr - USNA Women's 50th Gala, Fluegel
17 Apr - U.S. Naval Academy Spring Formal Parade, Worden Field
18 Apr - Annapolis Cup Navy Croquet vs St Johns, St Johns College
24 Apr - U.S. Naval Academy Dedication Parade, Worden Field
24 Apr - Council of Annual Giving Spring Meeting
24-26 Apr - Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show
28 Apr - Council of Class Presidents Spring Meeting
29 Apr - AA & FDN Board of Directors & Trustees Joint Session
29 Apr - AA&FDN Board of Directors & Trustee Welcome Reception
29 Apr - USNA Capstone Senior Project Day, Various Location
30 Apr - U.S. Naval Academy Foundation Spring Board of Directors Mtg, Fluegel
30 Apr - U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustee Committee Meeting, Fluegel
30 Apr - U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustee Welcome Dinner
 
MAY
1 May - U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustee Spring Meeting
7– 8 May - Service Academy Career Conference, Washington, D.C.
11 – 12 May - Class of 2029 Sea Trials
13 May - Class of 2029 Herndon Climb
15 May - Class of 2026 1/ C out-processing, Alumni Hall
16 May - Class of 2027 Ring Dance, Dahlgren
17 – 22 May - U.S. Naval Academy Class of 2026 Commissioning Week
19 May - USMC Select Ceremony & Awards
19 May - Glee Club Concert, Main Chapel
20 May - Blue Angels Flight Show, Hospital Point
21 May - Class of 2026 Color Parade, Worden Field
21 May - Prizes & Awards Ceremony. Alumni Hall
21 May - President Circle Sip Sip Soiree, Fluegel
22 May Class of 2026 Graduation & Commissioning, NMCMS
 
JUNE
17 – 18 Jun - USNA Entrepreneurs Summit 2026, Fluegel Alumni Ctr
24 – 25 Jun - Class of 2030 I – Day Processing, TBD
25 Jun - Class of 2030 – I- Day Picnic, TBD

 

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The Daily Shipmate is a news product intended to share news about the Naval Academy, the Naval Services, and our members. We are apolitical as an organization and will strive to bring forward relevant news on a wide variety of issues. Just because we include an article does not mean we endorse its content, author, or news organization.