22 Jan Daily Shipmate

Thursday, 22 January 2026

1920 - Under an official program detailing enlisted personnel to flight training, Chief Quartermaster Harold H. Karr is the first to receive the designation Naval Aviation Pilot (NAP). The NAP program lasts until 1947.

 

1931 - The Navy orders its first rotary-wing aircraft, the XOP-1 autogyro, which the following September becomes the first aircraft of its type to land on board an aircraft carrier, Langley (CV-1).

 

1944 - A naval force under the command of Rear Admiral Frank K. Lowry lands British and American troops at Anzio on the Italian coast (Operation Shingle), suffering the sinking of a minesweeper and damage to a large infantry landing craft. German air attacks and mines damage three more ships on 24 January, with the air attacks intensifying over the following days.

 

1959 - 1LT Richard Smith '55, USAF was lost when the KB-50J refueling tanker he was co-piloting crashed shortly after takeoff from England Air Force Base, Louisiana. All five other crewmen aboard also perished; they were members of the 622nd Air Refueling Squadron. Smith was born in Wisconsin and lived in Cheyenne, Denver and Minneapolis before moving to Chicago. He attended Wright Junior College there for a year. Following graduation from the Naval Academy, he (along with roughly 25% of his classmates) accepted a commission in Air Force. He was survived by his wife, daughter and parents.

 

1969 - Operation Dewey Canyon, perhaps the most successful high-mobility regimental-size action of the Vietnam War, began in the A Shau/Da Krong Valleys when the 9th Marines, commanded by Colonel Robert H. Barrow, and supporting artillery were lifted from Quang Tri. By 18 March the enemy's base area had been cleared out, 1617 enemy dead had been counted, and more than 500 tons of weapons and ammunition unearthed.

Academy & Graduate happenings

NASA astronaut and USNA alumna CAPT Sunita “Suni” Williams '87, USN (Ret.) has concluded a remarkable 27-year career defined by leadership, resilience and record-setting achievement. A 2025 USNA Alumni Association & Foundation Distinguished Graduate Award recipient, Williams logged 608 days in space, completed nine spacewalks totaling 62 hours and 6 minutes and became the first person to run a marathon in orbit. NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called her “a trailblazer in human spaceflight.” Reflecting on her journey, Williams shared, “Anyone who knows me knows that space is my absolute favorite place to be… I hope the foundation we set has made these bold steps a little easier.” BZ to CAPT Williams and the incredible legacy she built, inspiring generations of explorers to follow.

Commissioning 101 is an annual informational event designed to help families prepare for Commissioning Week at the U.S. Naval Academy. The program features expert presentations covering key timelines, traditions and logistics, along with a Vendor Expo highlighting local businesses and services useful for the week.

 

Date: Saturday, 14 February 2026

Location: Fluegel Alumni Center (301 King George Street, Annapolis, MD 21402)

Times: Vendor Expo running 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

Presentation sessions start at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

 

*Note: This event is specifically set up for parents of 1/C and 2/C midshipmen only. Registration is required and space is limited.

Meet Susan Parker, executive director, enterprise events & operation. Parker began her career in the luxury hospitality industry at The Jefferson Hotel and the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, where she developed a gold standard of service that continues to guide her work. She later expanded her expertise at Visit Annapolis, managing business partnerships, transitioned to the client side at a Baltimore-based nonprofit and earned her Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation, reflecting her commitment to continuous learning. With a plebe son at the Naval Academy, she feels a strong personal connection to the mission of USNA A&AF, making her role a meaningful blend of professional passion and personal investment. She is excited to bring her experience to support impactful, memorable events, collaborate with an exceptional team and connect with the inspiring people she meets along the way. Outside of work, she enjoys books and films based on true stories that spark curiosity and learning and she is considering adding a full marathon to her bucket list after being inspired by her family's recent Marine Corps Marathon achievement.

From the Podcast Fleet

Naval Academy athletic director Michael Kelly joins the podcast to discuss President Donald Trump's announcement about the Army-Navy Game, possible College Football Playoff expansion and numerous other topics during this in-depth conversation that included Mike James, publisher of The Mid Report and color commentator for the Navy Football Radio Network. We also introduce our new Navy Women's Basketball Insider, Becky Vautier.

Government & Military News

U.S. military forces have boarded and taken control of the seventh oil tanker linked to Venezuela, the Motor Vessel Sagitta, in the Caribbean “without incident,” the U.S. Southern Command said. The vessel defied a U.S.-declared quarantine on sanctioned ships and was seized under an executive order tied to sanctions stemming from Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The action is part of the Trump administration's broader effort to control Venezuelan oil exports following the ouster of President Nicolás Maduro, with officials saying seizures help ensure only lawful oil leaves Venezuela and may generate revenue. The tanker is Liberian-flagged and managed by a Hong Kong firm.

The U.S. military is set to grow by more than 30,000 troops in 2026 after Congress passed defense legislation funding increased service sizes. The fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations bills allow expansions across the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force and Coast Guard. The Army will add about 11,700 active-duty soldiers and the Navy 12,300 sailors, with smaller increases for the Air Force and Space Force and a boost in Coast Guard personnel. Overall active-duty strength will be the largest since fiscal 2023, though some reserve and National Guard numbers will slightly decline.

The IRS has confirmed that the one-time $1,776 “Warrior Dividend” payment sent in December to about **1.5 million U.S. service members will not be subject to federal income tax. The payment, announced by President Trump, was framed by the Pentagon as a supplemental basic allowance for housing, which qualifies as a tax-excluded military benefit under IRS rules. Eligible recipients included active-duty troops in pay grades O-6 and below and certain Reserve Component members. The IRS clarified that this classification means the payment is excluded from gross income, allowing service members to keep the full amount.

Lawmakers from the House and Senate agreed on a $839 billion fiscal 2026 defense spending bill that increases funding for key military programs. It boosts investment in sixth-generation aircraft, providing about $3.9 billion for the Air Force's F-47 and the Navy's F/A-XX, significantly above the Pentagon's request. The bill preserves the Air Force's E-7 Wedgetail program, funds 47 F-35 fighters, and increases funding for the EA-37B and B-21 Raider. It also allocates $27.2 billion for 17 Navy ships, including ballistic missile and attack submarines, and fully funds the Sentinel ICBM program.

Local, Education & other academy news

Parking is available daily at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium located at 550 Taylor Ave, Annapolis, MD 21401. You can then access the Yard via the Stadium shuttle. The Stadium shuttle runs during most major events on the yard, where parking is restricted, throughout the year. The shuttle pickup point is near the Blue Angel plane on the Blue (West) side of the stadium. Enter the stadium parking lot through Gate 5, off Taylor Avenue. Parking rates begin at $10/car and special event parking begins at $20/car. Many thanks to USNA supporter Missy Smith for the intel.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

NSTR

Women's Basketball at Holy Cross - W 72 - 58

Men's Basketball vs Holy Cross - W 85 - 68

The Star Series schedule will return to the Daily Shipmate schedule 2 February as there are no Star matchups in January.

USNA and AA&F Events

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