17 Feb Daily Shipmate

Monday, February 17, 2025

1815 - The Senate ratifies the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812.

 

1862 - The Confederate ironclad Virginia is commissioned under Captain Franklin Buchanan, a former U.S. Navy officer and first superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. Virginia, constructed on the hull of the former U.S. Navy screw frigate Merrimack, was to encounter the Union ironclad Monitor during the Battle of Hampton Roads on 9 March 1862.

1969 - LT James McLendon '66, USN was lost when the P-2A he was piloting crashed at Meridian, Mississippi. He was a student; the instructor pilot was also killed. After commissioning and before pilot training he was an officer aboard a destroyer.

Academy & Graduate happenings

The wait is over! If you ordered a Register of Alumni as part of our contact information verification project last year, the hard-copy commemorative books will ship in April. These collector's items include Academy and AA&F history, iconic photos of USNA and of course a directory-like listing of your classmates and all alums since 1845. Apparel packages should have arrived last fall, and now we're thrilled to announce the book is almost done! Purchasers should expect to hear from PCI in the coming weeks to confirm shipping of the Register, which we expect to hit mailboxes in April 2025. We heard from 27,680 alumni respondents (45.53% overall response rate) as part of this data verification effort, and 5,200+ orders were made.

The Daily Shipmate incorrectly reported that the Kristensen Lecture at St. John's was happening Friday, 21 Feb.  It is taking place this Wednesday, Feb 19. The Kristensen special lecture series, jointly sponsored by St. John's College and the Naval Academy, honors LCDR Erik S. Kristensen ('95 USNA) ('00 AGI)—an alumnus of the Academy and the St. John's Graduate Institute. Kristensen, a Navy SEAL, was killed in the line of duty while leading a search and rescue mission in Afghanistan in 2005. General (Ret.) John R. Allen '76 will deliver the Kristensen Memorial Lecture February 19 at 7:30pm.

Lt. Brittney Payne was honored as Navy Talent Acquisition Group San Antonio's Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate (NUPOC) Officer Recruiter of the Year for fiscal year 2024. Payne received her award Jan. 30. Payne is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She graduated from Pembroke Pines Charter High School, Pembroke Pines FL. in 2014 and earned her commission at the U.S. Naval Academy in 2018. “I was introduced to the Navy through football,” Payne said. “My dad was my high school's football coach, and the Naval Academy recruited his players because he ran the triple option. When I looked more into it, I fell in love with the mission and aspired to serve in the Navy.”

Government & Military News

Just moments after a Navy EA-18G Growler jet crashed into San Diego Bay this week, members of the U.S. Navy's Marine Mammal Program sprung into action. The twin-engine electronic warfare jet plunged into the bay just about 200 yards from a set of pens holding several dozen bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions, which the Navy uses to help find and mark submerged mines that endanger vessels. The pens, one of several marine mammal enclosures along the bay at Naval Base Point Loma, are just across the busy waters from the runways at Naval Air Station North Island.

The Navy has retired its last EP-3E Aries II electronic reconnaissance aircraft after the type's 45 years of service to the fleet. In an informal Feb. 12, 2025, ceremony, at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington, Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron One (VQ-1), the sole remaining operator of the EP-3E, farewelled the last EP-3E. The aircraft was flown away on Feb. 13 for the last time. The aircraft, BuNo 159893, was the last of 26 EP-3Es that served the fleet beginning in 1970. Ten P-3A Orion patrol aircraft were converted to EP-3Es for operation by VQ-1 and VQ-1, joining two earlier EP-3B versions in service. This batch of EP-3Es were replaced beginning the 1990s by a new generation of EP-3Es converted from P-3C Orions, with ultimately 17 aircraft converted to sustain an operational fleet of 12 aircraft.

USS Tripoli (LHA-7) will switch homeports from Naval Base San Diego to Sasebo, Japan, and become the Navy's forward-deployed big-deck amphibious warship in the Indo-Pacific, Naval Surface Force said in a Thursday news release. “The forward presence of Tripoli supports the United States' commitment to the defense of Japan, enhances the national security of the United States and improves its ability to protect strategic interests,” the release reads. “Tripoli will directly support the Defense Strategic Guidance to posture the most capable units forward in the Indo-Pacific Region.”

CAPT Eddie J. Park is from Seoul, South Korea and is a native of New York City.  A 2000 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, he was designated a Naval Aviator upon completion of flight training in June 2002.

Local, Education & other academy news

"Waypoints" is the podcast of the Sisterhood of Mother B - a group of U.S. Naval Academy women graduates from the class of 1998. They share stories, ideas, and different perspectives in order to challenge and grow our shared understanding of leaders and leadership and to help midshipmen, graduates, and each other grow into the best leaders they can be.

Take a Seat! The Honor Chair Program is a tangible way to remember and honor special individuals at the time of a graduation, anniversary or other special occasion - or just in recognition of that individual. A $1,000 gift to the Naval Academy Fund allows the permanent placement of an engraved brass plate to a seat in Alumni Hall at the Naval Academy. The text of the plate is determined by the donor and can include up to 4 lines with 26 characters per line. Learn more from this amazing video.

Atlas Restaurant Group has announced it's opening a second location of The Admiral's Cup in Annapolis. The Admiral's Cup has been a Fell's Point staple since the 1980s, in a historic corner building on the waterfront. This second location expands Atlas' portfolio in Annapolis. The Admiral's Cup will open in the historic Stevens Hardware building on the City Dock and is set to open in summer 2025.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

Men's Tennis v Florida Gulf Coast University - L 3-4

Baseball at Richmond - L 2-1

Women's Tennis at Tampa - W 5-2

Men's Tennis v Hofstra - L 3-4

 

Men's Tennis v Hampton - W 4-3

Women's Track & Field v Liberty Invitational - No Team Score

Men's Track & Field v Liberty Invitational - No Team Score

Rifle at The Citadel - W 4726-4556

Women's Basketball v Army - STAR GAME - L 68-64

Men's Squash v Chatham - W 6-3

Baseball at Richmond - L 9-4

Men's Basketball v Army - STAR GAME - W 61-54

Women's Lacrosse at Villanova - W 17-16

Men's Tennis v Air Force - L 0-4

Women's Tennis v Air Force - W 4-2

Men's Gymnastics at All-Academy Championship - 2nd Place

 

Rifle at The Citadel - W 4726-3487

Men's Lacrosse v Towson - W 14-10

Wrestling at Army - STAR MEET - L 10-22

Army Leads 11-8. (Navy - Men's Basketball, Men's Rugby, Men's Cross Country, Football, Gymnastics, Rifle, Men's Indoor Track & Field, Women's Indoor Track & Field; Army - Women's Basketball, Wrestling, Volleyball, Sprint Football, Golf, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Women's Cross Country, W Rugby, Men's Swim and Dive, Women's Swim and Dive)

15-16 Mar - Baseball - Annapolis - 15 Mar - 1:00pm & 4:00 pm Doubleheader; 16 Mar - 3 p.m.

5 Apr - Women's Outdoor Track & Field - Annapolis - TBA

5 Apr - Men's Outdoor Track & Field - Annapolis - TBA

5 Apr - Women's Tennis - West Point - 10  a.m.

12 Apr - Men's Tennis - West Point - 1 p.m.

12 Apr - W. Lacrosse - West Point - 12:30 p.m.

12 Apr - M. Lacrosse - Annapolis - 2:30 p.m.

USNA and AA&F Events

FEBRUARY

15 Feb - Commissioning Week 101, Fluegel Alumni Center

21 Feb - 85th Brigade Boxing Finals

21 Feb - Louisville Chapter + NAPC of Kentucky Roadshow - Louisville, KY (**in support of Navy Men's Gymnastics competing at the Winter Cup Feb 21-23)

22 Feb - Indianapolis Chapter + NAPC of Indiana Roadshow - Fishers, IN)

23 Feb - Cincinnati Chapter + NAPC of Greater Cincinnati Roadshow - West Chester, OH

24 Feb - Columbus Chapter + NAPC of Central Ohio Roadshow - Dublin, OH

27 Feb - Naval Academy Entrepreneurs event, Fluegel Alumni Center, 5-9 p.m.

27 Feb - Astronaut Convocation - USNA

 

MARCH

7-16 Mar - USNA Spring Break

7 Mar - A&SP Policy Review Committee Meeting - Fluegel(Bastian Conference Room)

12-13 Mar - SACC Atlanta

21 Mar -  A&SP Executive Committee Meeting - Fluegel (Bastian Conference Room)

22 Mar - Annual Gathering for USNA Women - Fluegel Alumni Center

22 Mar - Fencing (club) Alumni Meet - Dahlgren Hall

26 Mar - Alumni Mentoring Program (AMP) Class of 2025 enrollment

27-29 Mar - Naval Academy Alumni Leadership Forum

30-31 Mar - Volunteer Leader Summit - Fluegel Alumni Center

 

APRIL

5 Apr - Annapolis Cup - USNA-St. John's Croquet Match

5 Apr - Women's Lacrosse Alumni Appreciation Day (Home Game vs. Holy Cross)

10-12 Apr - Class of 1955 - 70th Reunion

11 Apr - Athletic & Scholarship Programs Spring Meeting - Akerson Tower

11-12 Apr - Men's Soccer Alumni Weekend

12 Apr - Navy Letterwinners Association Army/Navy Men's Lacrosse Tailgate

23 April - Bonds of Gold Ceremony

24 Apr - AA&F Vietnam Legacy of Valor Series Speaker Event - FAC

24-27 Apr - Class of 1970 - 55th Reunion

25 Apr - Council of Class Presidents Spring Meeting, Fluegel, TBD

25 Apr - USNA Dedication Parade, Worden Field

30 Apr - USNA Capstone Day

30 Apr - USNA Foundation Spring Board of Directors Welcome Reception

 

MAY

1 May - USNA Foundation Spring BOD meeting, Fluegel Alumni Center

6-8 May - Class of 1957 - 70th Reunion

7-9 May - USNA Alumni Association Spring BOT Meeting, Fluegel Alumni Center

8-9 May - SACC Washington DC

14 May - Class of 2028 Herndon Climb

21 May -  Blue Angels CFR Event - Hospital Point, USNA

22 May - Color Parade, Worden Field

22 May - USNA Prizes & Awards, Alumni Hall, 2 p.m.

23 May - Class of 2025 Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony, NMCMS

 

17-18 Jun - Entrepreneur Summit - Fluegel Alumni Center

25 Jun - Athletic & Scholarship Program Pre-I Day Reception, Fluegel Alumni Center

26 Jun - USNA Induction Day, Class of 2029