15 Jan Daily Shipmate

Thursday, 15 January 2026

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.

1815 - Damaged during a grounding the previous evening, the frigate President, under the command of Captain Stephen Decatur, Jr. encounters a squadron of four British frigates off New York and attempts to outrun them. President's gunners damage one enemy ship, the frigate Endymion and force it to retire. However, two other British ships draw within bombardment range of the American ship. With 24 members of his crew killed and 55 others wounded, and little hope for evading capture, Decatur strikes his colors. President is taken into the service of the Royal Navy and broken up in 1817.

 

1865 - LT Samuel Preston '62, USN was killed in action with Confederate forces during the Second Battle of Fort Fisher (North Carolina). He and his classmates had been ordered to active duty following the war's outbreak; he served on various vessels in the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron as Flag-Lieutenant to RADM Samuel Francis Du Pont and RADM John Dahlgren, until September 1863 when he was captured during an attack on Fort Sumter, South Carolina. He was exchanged in 1864, and ordered to the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron as Flag-Lieutenant to RADM David Dixon Porter. He participated in the earlier attacks on Fort Fisher. Preston was killed while leading the assault party. He was “described by a senior well qualified to judge as 'the most brilliant, the most gifted, the most promising man I have ever known. Had he been spared he would probably have been the first man in the Navy.'” Six ships were named USS Preston in his honor.

 

1925 - Renewed violence in Shanghai during the Chinese civil war necessitates the landing of the Marine detachment from the gunboat Sacramento (Gunboat No.19) to help protect the international settlement in the city. Five subsequent landings by Marines are made throughout the year.

Academy & Graduate happenings

Shipmate's coverage of 50 Years of Women at the Naval Academy continues with From the Yard: 1980s Alumnae. The first generation of female midshipmen share some of their experiences. This story is featured in the January-February issue which will arrive in mailboxes around 30 January, but is available online now.

 

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Anne Arundel County's largest celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday will return Friday, 16 January 2026 when the 38th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award Banquet is held at La Fontaine Bleue in Glen Burnie. The event runs from 6 to 9 p.m., with Governor Wes Moore scheduled as the keynote speaker and also among this year's honorees. Midshipman First Class Tymique D. Goodman will be awarded the Drum Major Award. Goodman is a senior and student leader who is set to commission in 2026.

From the Naval Academy to the Navy Foundation: Two helicopter pilots' parallel careers

In this special episode of The Naval Aviation Ready Room Podcast, CAPT Pat Everly '91, USN (Ret.) interviews fellow aviator CAPT Ryan Keys '95, USN (Ret.) tracing their parallel careers from early Naval Academy preparation through squadron command. Keys reflects on the influence of family, pivotal career decisions and the challenges of leading during demanding deployments. Together they explore leadership, mentorship, morale and crisis management in high pressure environments. The conversation also looks beyond active duty, as both now serve at the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, where they preserve aviation heritage and inspire future generations through education, storytelling and continued professional engagement within the naval aviation community.

From the Podcast Fleet

Academy Insider: Learn about forward-deployed naval forces (FDNF)

What if you could spend seven straight years living abroad while serving your country? In this episode, we explore the incredible world of FDNF through the eyes of someone who has made it their entire naval career. Marvil shares his remarkable experience of living and operating in Spain, Japan and Italy—not as temporary deployments, but as permanent duty stations. From sailing in the Black Sea alongside Russian naval forces to conducting Taiwan Strait transits in the South China Sea, his story reveals what it means to be truly "in the fight" as a surface warfare officer.

Navy men's basketball insider Mike Heary makes season debut

The Anchors Aweigh podcast is pleased to announce that Mike Heary returns as our Navy men's basketball insider. Heary is the longtime color commentator for men's basketball on the Navy Radio Network. He is one of Navy's all-time greatest players and provides outstanding analysis of the program. We also put the spotlight on Navy gymnastics through interviews with head coach Kip Simons and team captain Danilo Viciana.

Government & Military News

Navy must take risks, act like the U.S. is at war, says Phelan

Navy Secretary John Phelan urged the service to embrace speed, accountability, and risk-taking to stay prepared for potential conflict, speaking at the Surface Navy Association symposium in Arlington, Virginia. He said the Navy should act as if it is already at war, moving away from a “zero-defect” mindset and toward calculated risk and performance-based operations. Phelan criticized inefficient practices, encouraged transparency, and stressed that learning from failure can accelerate innovation and shipbuilding. He highlighted the need to outpace near-peer rivals like China and create a culture where problems are raised and addressed rather than avoided.

CNO Caudle teases new naval hedge force ahead of warfighting instructions

Chief of Naval Operations ADM Daryl Caudle previewed a new naval hedge force concept as part of the Navy's evolving strategy ahead of releasing formal Warfighting Instructions. The hedge force will leverage robotic, autonomous systems and forward-deployed capabilities to complement the core fleet, enhancing deterrence and crisis response across conflict spectrums. Caudle emphasized that this approach helps the Navy manage fiscal and operational realities while remaining lethal, agile and responsive. The broader strategy aims to guide future investments, posture, and operations by integrating these hedge forces into overall naval planning.

Dozens of military commissaries now offering doorstep delivery

Dozens of U.S. military commissaries are now offering a new doorstep grocery delivery service, expanding how service members and families access discounted groceries. As of 15 January, 32 commissaries have launched the benefit, with another 14 coming online soon and 70 expected to offer delivery under a new contract with provider OnPoint. The service delivers groceries within roughly a 20-mile radius of the store for a fee, and the contract gives the Defense Commissary Agency the option to expand to all 178 commissaries nationwide. The initiative aims to help customers who face challenges shopping in person.

Local, Education & other academy news

Maryland's 2026 session begins: What key issues will be taken up in the 2026 General Assembly?

The Maryland General Assembly's 2026 session is expected to focus on budget pressures, rising utility and energy costs, public safety, juvenile justice reform, healthcare and litigation involving the state. Lawmakers will also debate regulatory changes tied to electricity pricing and oversight of state agencies. While the agenda largely centers on civilian and fiscal issues, the session will shape how the state allocates resources and manages long-term policy challenges. Lawmakers are also considering measures that affect Maryland's military and veteran community, including proposals related to veterans' benefits, tax treatment of military retirement income and support for National Guard members and families.

University of Pittsburgh head football coach Pat Narduzzi has named Mike Priefer '89 as the new special teams coordinator for the Panthers. Priefer joins Pitt after serving as the special teams coordinator at the University of North Carolina during the 2025 season. He has more than 30 years of coaching experience, including 17 seasons as a special teams coordinator with the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns. Priefer is a graduate of the Naval Academy and served as a naval officer. He and his wife, Debbie, have four children and two grandchildren.

The St. Patrick's Day Parade Hooley is BACK and bigger than ever on 7 March 2026 here at the Fluegel Alumni Center. This year comes with a brand-new VIP Tent to level up your celebration.

This is your all-access pass to the most legendary party in Annapolis. Tickets are limited and disappearing fast, so don't be the one watching from Instagram.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

None

Women's Basketball vs. America - W - 86-68

USNA and AA&F Events