Dec 18 Daily Shipmate

Thursday, 18 December 2025

This week's editions of Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation Morning Paper are brought to you by Otterson Wealth Advisors and Naval Academy graduate Caleb Cronic '11. Otterson Wealth Advisors of Raymond James is not just a team. It's a vast resource of financial knowledge, with each member bringing their unique expertise to your financial success. Caleb Cronic '11, financial advisor and Naval Academy graduate, is a CIMA-certified pro. His strategic prowess is your asset working towards your financial goals. Ready to begin to your journey? Otterson Wealth Advisors … your goals, our expertise.

The Hampton Roads Chapter of the Alumni Association & Foundation hosted an Army/Navy watch party for 350+ alumni and Navy fans (and a few West Pointers) at Shorebreak Pizza & Taphouse in Virginia Beach.

1944 - A typhoon decimates the ships of the Third Fleet, under ADM William F. Halsey Jr. '04, USN, as they operate east of the Philippines. The destroyers Hull (DD-350), Monaghan (DD-354), and Spence (DD-512) capsize with heavy loss of life, and 21 other ships suffer damage.

 

Additionally during that year, 2LT George Dall '41, USA was killed in action when his B-29 Superfortress bomber went missing on a bombing mission near Nagoya, Japan. He left the Naval Academy “on account of physical disability” after his 3/c year and attended Cal Tech; he graduated there in 1941. In November 1942 he enlisted in the Army Air Corps; his draft card listed him as an employee of San Diego Gas & Electric, living in Los Angeles. It's unclear what he did prior to April 1944, when he started B-29 transition training in Kansas. In November 1944 he was assigned to the 871st Bomb Squadron at Isley Field on Saipan, and it was from there that he left on his final mission. No trace of the bomber or her crew was ever found. George was the flight engineer. He was survived by his parents and two brothers.

 

2023 - Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin announces that the U.S. Navy will take part in a multinational security initiative called Operation Prosperity Guardian to secure the shipping lanes in the Red Sea from Houthi terrorists.

Academy & Graduate happenings

Major General Austin E. “Sparky” Renforth '88, USMC (Ret.) has been appointed Vice Chairman of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees. He will assume the role in May 2026, bringing an exemplary record of service, leadership, and deep commitment to the Naval Academy community. Renforth's distinguished 40-year military career began with his enlistment in the U.S. Navy in 1982. After earning an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy, he commissioned as a Marine Corps second lieutenant in 1988.

Are you planning a little “Dry January?” It can wait a day. Join the Alumni Association & Foundation at Dry 85 on Main Street in Annapolis for an Alumni Takeover of Annapolis' best bourbon bar for the Jan 2nd game vs Cincy. A Buffalo Trace Old Fashioned? Yes, please. Some of the best burgers in Annapolis? Sign me up. A live Sing Second Pod from the bar? Of course. There will also be some “Beat Cincy” drink specials and great opportunities to connect with the AA&F staff and the local Annapolis Chapter. This will be a cash bar. Free drinks will be given away as part of a Sing Second Trivia Session pre-game and at halftime. Game starts at 4:30pm. The Watch Party takeover starts at 4:00pm. The Pod will run from 4:00pm to 4:30pm as part of a pre-game show and again at halftime with analysis and interviews. John Schofield will be joined by guest host Colin Schofield for the show. Will Chris Servello '99 make the trek from Florida to round out the Dynamic Trio? Show up and find out. Want to connect more with the Annapolis Chapter?

5 February 2026 - 6:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m. - Alumni Hall. Midshipmen assigned to become surface warfare officers (SWOs) upon commissioning, will select their first ship and homeport during the U.S. Naval Academy's annual ship selection night. Midshipmen select their ship in designated order by their overall order of merit (OOM), which is their overall rank within the Brigade, based on categories including academics, conduct, aptitude and physical readiness. Midshipmen are permitted to choose ships only from the placards remaining on the board at the time they are called. After graduation and commissioning, these midshipmen will report to their first ship and be in charge of any number of shipboard operations and activities while at sea.

The Alumni Association engagement team is hitting the road again in January as part of our multi-year initiative to connect with alumni and parents nationwide. We'll kick off the year in South Carolina, followed by visits to Tennessee in February. Each stop is designed to listen to your priorities, share AA&F and Yard updates, and collaborate on ways to revitalize quieter affiliates, strengthen engagement, and expand networking and mentoring through myUSNA and affiliate activities. Most importantly, we want to hear what we can do to better support all of you. Looking ahead, the roadshow will head to the Southwest and Midwest in the months to follow. For dates and details, check the AA&F calendar at the bottom of Daily Shipmate.

From the Podcast Fleet

Happy Holidays, teammates. The holidays are always brighter with a win vs Army in our pocket. The boys chat about the big game, the awesome alumni presence and what we're looking forward to for the Cincy Bowl Game. Hint - It's a live pod and watch party at Dry 85 in Annapolis. We also talk about a major $15 million gift from Ernst '55 and Sara Volgenau, and chat with Natalie Brianas from the USNA Alumni Foundation about that gift and the importance of alumni philanthropy. She also riffs on some unique family connections she has. And we chat with the amazing team at Synchrony...a company that has some great opportunities for alums, advice for transitioning out of the service and more. And we have a quick convo with an alum at Synchrony, Gabriel Ives '04 from the class of 2004. This is the last pod until January 6th, so happy holidays and safe travels! That and more on America's best Alumni Association Podcast. Beat Army.

Listen on

The 126th edition of the Army-Navy Game produced another thriller. Navy rallied from a nine-point deficit to beat Army, 17-16. We review every aspect of the Navy victory with Mike James, publisher of The Mid Report and color commentator for the Navy Football Radio Network. Also, we introduce the Anchors Aweigh listeners to newly-hired Navy men's soccer coach John Hackworth, one of the most respected figures in the sport.

Government & Military News

USS Nimitz (CVN-68) returned for what may be the last time to Bremerton, Wash., concluding its final deployment after nearly nine months at sea. Nimitz, the oldest carrier in the Navy's fleet — commissioned in 1975 — returned Tuesday to Bremerton after a stop in San Diego, Calif. The carrier departed Dec. 7 from San Diego, having disembarked elements of the strike group and Carrier Air Wing 17.

Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Daryl Caudle sits down with Military Times to discuss how the U.S. Navy aims to ensure maritime supremacy amid rapidly evolving strategic environments and surging competition from near-peer enemies.Caudle subsequently outlined his priorities as CNO in his “Foundry, Fleet, Fight” initiative, one that, factoring in personnel, platforms and industry, aims to ensure maritime supremacy amid an era of rapidly evolving strategic environments and fierce competition by near-peer nations like China and Russia.

The U.S. conducted a series of strikes this week against boats allegedly ferrying illicit narcotics, U.S. Southern Command late Monday. Members of the Joint Task Force Southern Spear, the name given to the operation of targeting and striking boats that the Pentagon says are carrying narcotics, hit three boats that same day in the Eastern Pacific, killing eight people. As of the latest announcement — the 23rd since President Donald Trump announced the first one in September — 95 people have been killed. This includes a man that initially survived a strike but was declared lost at sea after a search by the Mexican Navy.

Local, Education & other academy news

The Army-Navy Game is one of college football's great traditions. But it's one that seemed to slip the mind of ESPN lead analyst Kirk Herbstreit in a social media post. Herbstreit was promoting his Nonstop podcast with Joey Galloway on Monday. And in a tweet that has since been deleted, he posted a clip with the caption, “Saturday not having college football threw us for a loop” complete with a laughing face emoji. Of course, there was college football on Saturday, whether Kirk Herbstreit was aware of it or not. Herbstreit's tweet drew a direct response from the Naval Academy. Navy Athletics quote tweeted the message with a photo from the Army-Navy Game.

Just Announced - Brigade of Midshipmen Bowl Game Tailgate. Join the Brigade of Midshipmen Bowl Game Tailgate, presented by the Naval Academy Business Services Division in partnership with Navy Mutual Aid Association & Navy Federal Credit Union!

 

Enjoy food and beverages in a festive indoor tailgate location that will gear you up for a NAVY win.

 

Join Naval Academy leadership, the cheer team. two-legged Bill the Goat and the Drum & Bugle Corps along with midshipmen, Navy alumni, parents and fans to cheer Navy on to victory.

 

Tickets range from $55-$80 with special opportunities to reserve a full table for your guests comfort at the tailgate. Show your Navy spirit by sponsoring a midshipman for the tailgate - this will allow you the opportunity to be entered into a raffle to win a one-of-a-kind VIP bowl game experience.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

USNA and AA&F Events

2 Jan - AA&F Watch Party and Annapolis Chapter Takeover - Dry 85, Annapolis - 4:30 p.m.

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 -

22725 Duke St, Leonardtown, MD 20650 - Online event: https://meet.google.com/toh-nvgs-yvn

22 Jan - Roadshow Visit with Palmetto Chapter + NAPCs of SC & Eastern TN

23 Jan - Roadshow Visit with SC Midlands Chapter + NAPC of SC

24 Jan - Roadshow Visit with Central Savannah River Chapter + NAPCs of SC & GA

24 Jan - Roadshow Visit with SC Lowcountry Chapter + NAPC of SC

25 Jan - Roadshow Visit with Charleston Chapter + NAPC of SC

 

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 Feb - Roadshow Visit with Chattanooga Chapter + NAPCs of Middle TN & Eastern TN

21 Feb - Roadshow Visit with Knoxville-Oak Ridge Chapter + NAPC of Eastern TN

22 Feb - Roadshow Visit with Nashville Chapter + NAPC of Middle TN

27 Feb - Brigade Boxing Finals, Alumni Hall

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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