Official daily newsletter of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation
Thursday, 29 January 2026
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Today in Navy, Marine Corps
and USNA Memorial Hall History
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1944 - Task Force 58, the Pacific Fleet's carrier striking force under RADM Marc A. Mitscher '10, USN (Ret.) begins launching air strikes against the Marshall Islands in preparation for U.S. landings. Commanded by the pioneer naval aviator throughout the entire war, Task Force 58 spearheads the Central Pacific offensive toward the Japanese home islands.
1947 - As part of Operation Highjump under the command of RADM Richard E. Byrd '12, USN (Ret.) six R4D Skytrain transport aircraft launch from the aircraft carrier Philippine Sea (CV-47) for a flight to Little America in the Antarctic. Equipped with skis to facilitate operating from the ice cap, the aircraft conduct aerial mapping flights covering some 150,000 square miles, completing their work in March.
1996 - LCDR John Stacy Bates '84, USN was lost when the F-14 Tomcat he was piloting crashed into a house near Nashville, Tennessee thirty years ago today. His radar intercept officer was also killed as were three people on the ground. “Stacy” spent most of his childhood growing up in Valdosta, Georgia, before moving to Chattanooga in 1977. He graduated from Tyner High School in 1980, where he was a star athlete; while at the Academy he played baseball, lightweight football and several intramural sports. He was survived by his wife and their 12-week-old daughter.
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Academy & Graduate happenings
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Sol Digital Enlists Former Rizing President Graves '88 for Next Phase of Growth
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Sol Digital, LLC, a technology-focused consulting and talent solutions partner, announced today that Carl Graves '88 has joined the company as its third Managing Partner. Graves joins Kaan Aslansan and Daniel Gavula in Sol's senior leadership team as the firm enters a new phase of growth, scale and operational maturity. He brings more than two decades of executive experience leading and scaling fast-growth services organizations. Prior to joining Sol, he co-founded and served as President of Rizing, a SAP Services Partner, where he helped grow the company from startup to more than 1,500 personnel and nearly $250 million in revenue. He also directly managed more than 10 M&A transactions, including Rizing's sale to WIPRO Ltd.
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Alumni Podcast - From Navy to Hospitality: Clinton Ramsden's Journey in Boutique Hotels
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What does a Naval Academy graduate and helicopter pilot know about luxury boutique hotels? Turns out–a lot. In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, hosts Matt and Luigi sit down with Clinton Ramsden '11, co-founder and principal of Severn Grove Hospitality Group. Ramsden shares his journey from flying helicopters in the Navy to managing a portfolio of boutique hotels in Annapolis, Maryland. They discuss the transition from residential real estate to commercial hospitality, the challenges of development in historic districts and why authenticity is key for success in boutique hotels.
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Sing Second Podcast featuring Petersen '76 and candidate interviews with Cronic '11 and Herbener '87
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The last full week of January was marked by some great stuff. Chris joined John in Annapolis for the Army-Navy Basketball doubleheader at Alumni Hall. Chris and John break down a great day from Pod Sponsor Dry 85 in Annapolis. We also chat more about our South Carolina roadshows (they just wrapped up) and other great updates from AA&F. Our feature interview this week is with Jim Petersen '76. Jim has stories!! And he's a published author. Petersen's books connect directly to themes important to today's midshipmen and alumni: decision-making under uncertainty, leading with integrity, navigating misinformation, personal growth and building teams that thrive under pressure. These insights draw from his Naval Academy experience, his career as a Navy Captain (Ret.), and his current work as CEO of Diversified Professional Coaching. And we finish off our interview series with our candidates in the Eastern and Central regions. Caleb Cronic '11 and Scott Herbener '87 introduce themselves to the alumni and talk about why they are running to be trustees. That and more on America's best Alumni Association Podcast. Beat Army.
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Anchors Aweigh Podcast - Previewing Navy men's lacrosse in advance of the season opener
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We preview Navy men's lacrosse ahead of Saturday's season opener against High Point in Annapolis (weather permitting). We interview head coach Joe Amplo along with senior attackman and co-captain Mac Haley. We also recap the Army-Navy basketball doubleheader with radio play-by-play announcer Matt Sabados. Matt broadcast both games of a Navy sweep of Army. Lastly, we report on an historic decision by the Touchdown Club of Annapolis regarding the prestigious Tony Rubino Memorial Silver Helmet Award.
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Government & Military News
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Navy won't decommission more Littoral Combat Ships, officials say
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The surface force will net a total of seven Littoral Combat Ships after the Navy shelved plans to decommission the hulls ahead of their expected service lives, USNI News has learned. Service officials speaking earlier this month at the Surface Navy Association said the Navy had reversed plans to decommission five Freedom-class and two Independence-class LCS. Acting LCS program manager Jay Iungerich told USNI News his office wasn't planning on moving ahead with decommissioning the seven ships, taking their cues from the larger Navy.
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CNO outlines vision for unmanned systems in Navy's new 'hedge strategy'
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The Navy is betting on one of the only certainties in future warfare: it is unpredictable. And the service's top officer offered new details this week on how tech will fit into that volatility. Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) ADM Daryl Caudle officially announced Tuesday the Navy's latest approach to investing in and then deploying capabilities for conflict called “hedge strategy,” a concept he previewed earlier this month. Under this framework, unmanned systems and autonomous platforms will complement “tailored forces,” or customized units intended to tackle “situations that are too consequential to ignore but too unlikely to drive our overall fleet design,” he said.
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Local, Education & other academy news
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U.S. Coast Guard Academy's Center for Counseling and Development earns prestigious IACS accreditation
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The U.S. Coast Guard Academy's (USCGA) Center for Counseling and Development (CCD) has been accredited by the International Accreditation of Counseling Services (IACS). The CCD was found to offer a high standard of competent and reliable mental health professional services to its cadet community. IACS' rigorous accreditation process involves detailed documentation, a comprehensive site visit evaluation and multiple peer reviews in five areas: relationships within the college/university community, counseling and clinical services, ethical standards, personnel and resources/infrastructure. Approval by IACS is also dependent upon evidence of continuing professional development as well as a demonstration of excellence in counseling performance. The CCD supports U.S. Coast Guard imperatives for mentally capable, service-ready ensigns to graduate from the Academy, by focusing on the developmental transitions and preventative mental health care of USCGA cadets.
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BlueMagnet — USNA's private career network
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BlueMagnet is a private, invite-only network built for Naval Academy alumni across every stage of service and career. Whether you're building a Navy career, navigating command challenges, balancing family or preparing for a career move, BlueMagnet connects you directly to mentors, hiring managers and peers who understand the path. Our Founding Cohort is capped at 1,000 members, with priority for those 0–24 months from a transition or career change — the most active users who deliver immediate outcomes for mentors, members and sponsors.
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Not within that window but want in? Join the waitlist and be first in line as we scale.
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Naval Academy Athletics News & Results
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Horvath named First-Team Academic All-American and Division I Football Team Member of the Year by College Sports Communicators
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Navy senior quarterback Blake Horvath is the first Navy football player to be named Division I Team Member of the Year, an award first presented in 1987, and the 13th to earn First-Team Academic All-American honors, which were first awarded in 1952. Horvath carries a 3.72 grade-point average while majoring in operations research. He has earned a perfect 4.0 GPA in each of the past three semesters.
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Men's Basketball at Boston University - W 58 - 50
Women's Basketball vs Boston University - W 57 - 47
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Men's Tennis vs Longwood - Annapolis, MD - 10:00 a.m.
Men's Tennis vs Morgan State - Annapolis, MD - 1:00 p.m.
Men's Squash at Haverford Haverford, PA - 6:00 p.m.
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Navy leads 7-4-1 (Army - Volleyball, Men's Soccer, Women's Rugby, Women's Cross Country. Navy - Men's Golf, Men's Cross Country, Sprint Football, Men's Rugby, Men's and Women's Swimming, Football. Tie - Women's Soccer)
Reminder - The Star Series schedule will return to the Daily Shipmate schedule February 2nd as there are no Star matchups in January. Beat Army!
Remaining Star Matchups:
7 Feb - Rifle - West Point - 9:00 a.m.
7 Feb - Gymnastics - Annapolis - 2:00 p.m.
7 Feb - M. Indoor Track & Field - Annapolis - TBA
7 Feb - W. Indoor Track & Field - Annapolis - TBA
20 Feb - Wrestling - Annapolis - 7:30 p.m. - Alumni Hall
21 Feb - W. Basketball - West Point - 11:00 a.m.
21 Feb - M. Basketball - West Point - 1:30 p.m.
27-29 Mar - Baseball - West Point - TBA
4 Apr - W. Tennis - Annapolis - 11:00 a.m.
11 Apr - M. Outdoor Track & Field - West Point - TBA
11 Apr - W. Outdoor Track & Field - West Point - TBA
11 Apr - M. Lacrosse - West Point - TBA
11 Apr - W. Lacrosse - Annapolis - 12:00 p.m.
18 Apr - M. Tennis - Annapolis - 1:00 p.m.
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JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
- 6 Mar – U.S. Naval Academy Athletic & Scholarship Policy Review Committee Meeting, Bastian
- 7–15 Mar – U.S. Naval Academy Spring Break
- 7 Mar – USNA Glee Club Spring Performance – USS Constitution - 11 a.m.
- 7 Mar – USNA Glee Club Spring Performance – St. Cecilia Parish Church, 18 Belvidere Street, Boston, MA – 7:30 p.m.
- 7 Mar - Naptown Events St. Patrick's Day Parade Hooley - Fluegel Alumni Center - 5:00 p.m.
- 8 Mar – USNA Glee Club Spring Performance – St Mary / St Catherine of Siena, 46 Winthrop Street, Charlestown, MA – 3 p.m.
- 10 Mar – USNA Glee Club Spring Performance – Naval War College, Spruance Auditorium, 686 Cushing Road, Newport, RI – 7 p.m.
- 12 Mar – USNA Glee Club Spring Performance – St. Ignatius Loyola, 980 Park Avenue, New York, NY – 8 p.m.
- 14 Mar – USNA Glee Club Spring Performance – St. Patrick's Church, 242 S 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA – 7 p.m.
- 11–15 Mar – AA&F Engagement Roadshows – St. Louis Chapter + NAPCs of Greater St. Louis, Eastern MO and So IL; KC Metro Chapter + NAPC of Kansas & Missouri; Wichita Chapter + NAPC of Kansas & Missouri; Omaha Chapter + NAPC of Nebraska; NAPC of Iowa
- 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, Spring Trustee Mtg, NMCMS
- 10 Apr – U.S. Naval Academy Spring Formal Parade, Worden Field
- 10 April – USNA Glee Club and Pipes and Drums Salute to America's 250th with Dallas Symphony Orchestra in Dallas, TX – 7:30 p.m.
- 11 April – USNA Glee Club and Pipes and Drums Salute to America's 250th with Dallas Symphony Orchestra in Dallas, TX – 7:30 p.m.
- 12 April – USNA Glee Club and Pipes and Drums Salute to America's 250th with Dallas Symphony Orchestra in Dallas, TX – 2 p.m.
- 16–19 Apr – 50 Years of Women at USNA Celebration Conference and Gala, Fluegel Alumni Center
- 17 Apr – U.S. Naval Academy Spring Formal Parade, Worden Field
- 18 Apr – Annapolis Cup Navy Croquet vs St Johns, St Johns College
- 22 Apr - Bonds of Gold Ceremony - FAC
- 23 - 26 Apr - AA&F Engagement Roadshows - Arizona Chapter + NAPC of Arizona (Phoenix); Southern Arizona Chapter + NAPC of Arizona (Tucson); Northern Arizona Chapter + NAPC of Arizona (Flagstaff); New Mexico Chapter (Albuquerque); Intermountain Chapter + NAPC of Utah (SLC)
- 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
- 26 Apr – Navy SEAL Foundation Annapolis Frogman Swim – Severn River – 8:30 a.m.
- 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 Locations
- 30 Apr – U.S. Naval Academy Foundation Spring Board of Directors Meeting, Fluegel Alumni Center
- 30 Apr – U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees Committee Meeting, Fluegel Alumni Center
- 30 Apr – U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees Welcome Dinner
MAY
- 1 May – U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees Spring Meeting
- 4-8 May - Naval Academy Great Class Challenge
- 7–8 May – Service Academy Career Conference, Washington, DC
- 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 Center
- 24–25 Jun – Class of 2030 I-Day Processing, TBD
- 25 Jun – Class of 2030 I-Day Picnic, TBD
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USNA AA&F resources & Links
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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.
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