16 Feb Daily Shipmate

Monday, 16 February 2026

1804 - Under the cover of darkness and disguised as a merchantman, the ketch Intrepid slips into Tripoli Harbor. Pretending to have lost its anchor, the ship is permitted to make fast to the captured frigate Philadelphia. Once it is close enough, Lieutenant Stephen Decatur, Jr., leads his men in boarding the American frigate. Overpowering the Tripolitan guards, the Americans set fire to Philadelphia before escaping on board Intrepid while under fire from enemy gunboats and shore batteries. Decatur is the second man to board and last to leave Philadelphia, which, ironically, is a ship once commanded by his father. For his heroic leadership in what Lord Horatio Nelson calls “the most bold and daring act of the age,” Decatur is promoted to the rank of captain. At 25 years of age, he is the youngest captain in the history of the U.S. Navy.

 

1953: LTJG Hubert Evans '50, USN was killed in action when the F9-F Panther jet he was piloting crashed while returning to USS Philippine Sea (CVA 47) from a combat mission over Korea; it seems the aircraft had been struck by anti-aircraft fire during the attack. He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions. He was a member of Fighter Squadron (VF) 93. A native of Jamestown, Ohio, Evans attended Denison University for a while before the Naval Academy. He was survived by his parents, three sisters and two brothers.

 

2001 - Aircraft from Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), the newest Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, join U.S. Air Force and British aircraft in attacking 25 targets in Iraq, including radar sites and air-defense command centers. The attacks are in response to the firing of surface-to-air missiles at American and British aircraft patrolling the northern and southern no-fly zones.

Academy & Graduate happenings

Happy Presidents Day from USNA AA&F!

Today, we proudly honor one of our own, President Jimmy Carter '47, a distinguished graduate whose lifelong commitment to service and leadership continues to inspire us. His example reminds us why we dedicate ourselves each day to advancing our mission and supporting the Naval Academy.

Over the weekend, USNA AA&F hosted its annual Commissioning 101 event, helping USNA parents, families and friends get ready for the milestone week in May. From awards ceremonies and formal events to the Blue Angels and the commissioning of the next generation of Navy and Marine Corps leaders, the session offered a full preview of what to expect. Attendees also learned about important security and logistical considerations on the Yard, including parking, access and scheduling realities. The goal is simple: keep families informed, set clear expectations and ensure a smooth, memorable experience during one of the most meaningful weeks of the year.

The four members of NASA'S SpaceX Crew-12 mission docked at the International Space Station on Saturday afternoon. The Crew-12 mission includes two NASA astronauts, Jessica Meir and CDR Jack Hathaway '04, USN, French astronaut Sophie Adenot, and Russian cosmonaut Andrey Fedyaev. During their eight-month mission, the crew will conduct scientific research to prepare for human exploration beyond earth's orbit and enhance food production in space.

USNA alum and rodeo enthusiast John Wroten '65 received the Lane Frost Award, one of rodeo's most meaningful honors. Named for legendary bull rider Lane Frost, the award recognizes individuals who significantly elevate the sport's image, values and growth. It goes beyond competitive success, celebrating character, sportsmanship and lasting impact on the rodeo community. Because Frost is remembered as a symbol of integrity and camaraderie, recipients are viewed as carrying forward his legacy. Wroten's recognition signals deep respect from peers and the industry, marking him as someone who has helped shape rodeo's culture and future, not just participate in it.

Government & Military News

Marine declared lost at sea after falling overboard from the USS Iwo Jima

A U.S. Marine assigned to the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima was declared dead after falling overboard in the Caribbean during operations. Chukwuemeka E. Oforah, 21, was reported missing and a large search and rescue effort lasting about three days was conducted by Navy and Marine Corps units before he was officially declared deceased. The incident occurred while the ship was deployed as part of a regional mission, marking the first known fatality tied to the ongoing operation. The loss underscores the inherent risks of maritime deployments and the close partnership between sailors and Marines during expeditionary missions at sea.

USS Gerald Ford the second aircraft carrier sent to Middle East: Report

The USS Gerald R. Ford is reportedly being deployed to the Middle East, where it would join another U.S. carrier already operating in the region, increasing American naval presence amid tensions with Iran over its nuclear program. The move would place two carrier strike groups in theater, signaling additional military leverage as diplomatic efforts continue. The deployment follows the ship's recent operations elsewhere and could extend the crew's time at sea to an unusually long stretch. Regional concerns remain that increased military activity could heighten the risk of broader conflict as negotiations and geopolitical pressures continue to evolve.

Military officers could soon find dozens of top colleges and universities across the United States abruptly off limits for tuition assistance. The policy was rolled out in a memo signed by Hegseth last week saying that beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, the Pentagon would be severing its relationship with Harvard University and discontinuing all graduate-level professional military education, fellowships and certificate programs there for active-duty service members. A preliminary list of at-risk schools compiled by the Army for troops enrolling in law school characterizes the following schools as being at “moderate to high risk” of being banned: American University, Boston College, Boston University, Brown University, Carnegie Mellon, Case Western University, Columbia University, College of William and Mary, Cornell University, Duke, Emory, Florida Institute of Technology, Fordham, Georgetown, George Washington University, Harvard, Hawaii Pacific University, Johns Hopkins University, the London School of Economics and Political Science, MIT, Northeastern University, Northwestern University, New York University, Pepperdine, Princeton, Stanford, Tufts, University of Miami, University of Pennsylvania, University of Southern California, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Washington University in St Louis and Yale.

Local, Education & other academy news

Lifelines from Alumni Support Service - As we move through February, USNA Alumni Support Services continues sharing resources to support your health and well-being—because strong careers, leadership, and service all start with taking care of yourself. This month's highlights include caregiver stories, a heart-health webinar, a new podcast, VA insights, and practical tools for mental wellness. Stay connected and explore resources:

Buddhist monks completed the final leg of their nationwide “Walk for Peace” in Annapolis, drawing large crowds despite cold weather. The journey capped a 2,300-mile trek that began in Texas and lasted about 110 days, with thousands lining the route from Navy‑Marine Corps Memorial Stadium to the Maryland State House. Supporters brought flowers, signs, and messages of gratitude as the monks shared themes of mindfulness, compassion, and personal responsibility for peace. The group also held a gathering at Lawyers Mall and received official recognition from state leaders. After concluding the symbolic walk, the monks planned to return to Texas, ending a journey that inspired communities nationwide.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

Capital Gazette - Fulls tory below (pw-protected)

By Bill Wagner

February 14, 2026

 

Michael Kelly has spent the past eight months evaluating the Navy athletic department with regard to how it operates and functions. Naturally, Kelly paid special attention to his role as athletic director in terms of responsibilities and how best to lead the department.

 

Kelly, who took over as president of the Naval Academy Athletic Association on June 4, quickly discovered that he was away from Annapolis quite a bit — whether attending NCAA or American Conference meetings, supporting various varsity sports for road contests or simply fundraising.

 

Being out of town so often made managing the day-to-day business of a Division I athletic department quite difficult. Kelly concluded that he needed a top lieutenant to assist him on that front.

 

Last week, Navy announced that Kris Pierce had been hired for the newly-created position of senior deputy athletic director and chief of staff. In announcing the new post, Kelly noted that Navy is tied with Ohio State and Stanford for fielding the most varsity sports (36) among Football Bowl Subdivision schools.

 

“Leading the largest athletic department in the country during a period of significant change in college athletics requires elite sports administration oversight and adaptive, forward-looking strategic planning,” Kelly said in a statement. “Kris is highly regarded at the national level and the ideal leader to help modernize our efforts within the NAAA.”

 

Kelly has maintained the model created by predecessor Chet Gladchuk of having members of the athletic department serve as varsity sports administrators. Those folks will now report to Pierce, who will address various issues and make certain decisions.

 

“We have administrators for every sport, but for them or the coaches to wait to get some information from me bottlenecks things up,” Kelly said. “I knew bringing aboard a capable and highly experienced sports administrator like Kris would be something that will make Navy athletics better.”

 

Pierce is someone Kelly knows extremely well, working together for 12 years. They were peers with the Atlantic Coast Conference from 2007 to 2013 as Kelly was the football administrator and Pierce was the Olympic sports administrator.

 

Kelly then hired Pierce as deputy athletic director, chief operating officer and senior woman administrator at South Florida in 2021. Her role at Navy will be similar to the one she held at USF for five years.

 

“Having Kris concentrate on the day-to-day allowed me to focus more of my time on gaining the resources we needed for capital projects,” Kelly said of their time together at South Florida. “It's that much more necessary here at Navy where we have double the number of sports. Just a person to be a close right hand to keep things moving along when I might be away. Someone the staff can rely on to keep the train moving at all times.”

 

This marks the first major athletic department personnel decision Kelly has made since succeeding Chet Gladchuk as president of NAAA.

 

“I have not made a single administrative change yet. I have been able to observe where people's strengths are and where we need to fill in collaboration among different silos,” Kelly said. “That is what Kris will help with. She has a great organizational mind and brings a thoughtful, steady, collaborative approach that will be a tremendous asset to our department and, most importantly, the midshipmen we serve.”

 

Pierce said it is an honor to join the Naval Academy athletic department, which has a national reputation for excellence. What was most attractive about the job is being part of the Naval Academy mission of developing leaders and officers.

 

Of course, Pierce also cited her long-term relationship with Kelly and the fact she appreciates his leadership style and vision.

 

“From afar, the academy has enjoyed a level of success that is very interesting to anyone that follows college athletics. Knowing Michael as well as I do, I was so happy to see him become the athletic director here,” Pierce said. “Working in this environment and helping the midshipmen find success was very motivating, while working with somebody that I admire and respect so much — it checked all the boxes.”

 

Pierce plans to spend the next few months learning the lay of the land, starting with meeting with all the members of the athletic department under her direction. She also wants to get to know all 36 varsity coaches and to hear about their respective programs.

 

“We're not rushing into anything because I want to spend a ton of time listening. I want to make sure I understand the culture and why we're doing things the way we are doing them,” Pierce said. “My background is heavily involved with overseeing sports and building relationships with coaches; I really enjoy supporting sports and mapping the competitive strategy with coaches.”

 

Kelly and Pierce will work together to determine whether any changes need to be made to how the Navy athletic department is structured and operated. She said they are aligned with regard to recognizing the standards and expectations in place.

 

“So the gist of this job is ensuring that the day-to-day operations of Naval Academy athletics continue at the elite level they are already on and finding new ways to do things in the future,” Pierce said. “I'm going to be listening and understanding then we will forge a plan and implement it with the ultimate goal of winning in all that we do.”

 

Pierce is a newcomer to a Navy athletic department filled with many long-term administrators. She is now second in command overtop numerous folks holding titles such as deputy director of athletics and senior associate athletic director.

 

Men's Golf vs Watersound Invitational - Panama City, Fl - 10:00 a.m.

Navy leads 11-4-1 (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, Men's and Women's Indoor Track & Field, Rifle, Gymnastics. Tie - Women's Soccer)

 

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.

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