11 Mar Daily Shipmate

Wednesday, 11 March 2026

As Annapolis wakes up for spring, it's the perfect time to return to the Yard. Fair Winds is a beautifully restored historic home in downtown Annapolis— just one block from USNA, Main Street and the waterfront.

 

Walk to coffee, the harbor and the Academy while enjoying the charm of DTA in bloom. Proudly owned by two USNA graduates.

Plan your spring weekend at fairwindsdta.com.

1778 - Marines participated in the action when the Continental Navy frigate BOSTON, enroute to France, sighted, engaged and captured the British merchant ship MARTHA. As the drum of the BOSTON beat to arms, John Adams seized a musket and joined the Marines on deck until the frigate's captain, Samuel Tucker, sent him below for safety.

 

1968 - Col Ernest Olds '56, USAF was killed in action when the F-4 Phantom II he was piloting was shot down over North Vietnam. (He was a Major at the time of his death, and even though there was no indication that he or his crew had survived they were listed as missing in action and promoted until May 1978.) Ernie was born in Elmhurst, Illinois, and following graduation was in jet pilot training in Big Spring, Texas. After completion of advanced training he and his family were in Japan for two years. From 1961 to 1963 he was a full-time graduate student at the University of Michigan, where he earned two master's degrees. In 1966 he was in the final selection process for NASA's astronaut program; when he was not selected he took training in the F-4 in Florida. He had been in Vietnam since September 1967. Olds was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and was survived by his wife Susan, two sons (11 & 3 yo) and a daughter (9 yo).

 

2011 - Responding to the catastrophic earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster in Japan, the United States military initiated Operation Tomodachi. As part of the operation, the Navy deployed the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and its strike group, including USS Chancellorsville (CG-62), destroyer USS Preble (DDG-88), and USNS Bridge (T-AOE-10). During the operation, the Navy provided 24 vessels, 140 aircraft and more than 15,000 sailors and marines.

Academy & Graduate happenings

Loyal readers, please check the calendar below. It has been updated to reflect events in the summer and into the new academic year through October 2026. The new Navy Football schedule has been reflected in the calendar, as well as a listing of all the class reunions in September and October. Plan your trip back to campus this coming fall with the help of the Daily Shipmate calendar of events.

With a new special teams coordinator on Sean McVay's staff, the Los Angeles Rams have made their first notable addition to Bubba Ventrone's group. According to ESPN, the Rams have agreed to a two-year deal with long snapper Joe Cardona '14. Cardona played 10 years with the Patriots, winning two Super Bowls in New England. He then signed with the Dolphins last offseason and played 17 games with Miami in 2025. Cardona was a fifth-round pick by the Patriots in 2015 and has played 177 games in his career. Off the field, Cardona is a U.S. Naval Reserve officer, having graduated from the Naval Academy in 2014. He's an active member of the military, serving as the department head of Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron Eight in Newport, Rhode Island.

Megan Gaston, a former U.S. Navy pilot and graduate of the United States Naval Academy, is now serving with National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Corps at the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office. In a recent interview, Gaston shares how her career journey—from Navy aviator to hurricane hunter—led her to NOAA, where officers rotate between operational missions and shore assignments to build leadership and technical expertise. She also reflects on her early inspiration to fly and the experience she gained through Navy flight training. Read the full interview at the link below to learn more about Gaston's path from the Naval Academy to flying into hurricanes and serving with NOAA.

Government & Military News

The Department of Defense is launching a pilot program designed to open military child care centers at “lightning speed” through partnerships with the nonprofit Armed Services YMCA. The initiative will add more than 600 new child care slots across three locations in the National Capital Region and the Norfolk area, helping reduce waiting lists that currently total about 2,000 families. Each center will serve about 216 children from infancy through age five, operating under the same standards and parent fee structure as traditional DoD child development centers. Officials say expanding affordable, accessible child care is essential to supporting military families and readiness.

Roughly 140 U.S. service members have been wounded during the first 10 days of Operation Epic Fury, according to the Pentagon. Officials said eight troops were seriously injured, though the majority of the wounded sustained minor injuries and more than 100 have already returned to duty. The operation began 28 February as the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks across the region. At least seven American service members have been killed so far in the conflict. Defense leaders say operations are continuing as the U.S. works to achieve its military objectives in the region.

U.S. Marines and soldiers recently conducted joint exercises in Hawaii practicing the deployment of mobile long‑range precision strike and anti‑ship missile systems ahead of scheduled Western Pacific missions. The 3rd Marine Littoral Regiment demonstrated its ability to insert Navy/Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction Systems (NMESIS)—unmanned launchers carrying Naval Strike Missiles—into a contested environment and sustain operations across the islands. Meanwhile, Army units exercised maritime deployment of HIMARS launchers from watercraft to validate precision fires at sea and ashore. These drills reflect evolving U.S. Indo‑Pacific strategy focused on distributed missile forces capable of denying access to potential adversaries, including Chinese naval forces.

Local, Education & other academy news

Our USNA Alumni Business Directory makes it easy to connect with alumni-owned businesses. Using information sourced from LinkedIn and our CRM platform, alumni can search by class year, location even a specific industry to find trusted products and services offered by fellow graduates. Plus, we have also partnered with alumni-owned businesses to offer exclusive USNA merchandise year-round, giving you another way to support your alumni community. Please note: Businesses in the directory may not be solicited. Inclusion does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation.

Join fellow alumni for an unforgettable journey across the Mediterranean and experience one of nature's most spectacular events—a total solar eclipse at sea from a prime viewing location. This once-in-a-lifetime voyage blends exploration, culture and camaraderie as we travel through Spain, Malta and Italy. Along the way, you'll savor tapas crafted by Alicante's celebrated chefs, explore Malta's ancient Ġgantija Temples—older than Stonehenge, journey to the slopes of Mount Etna, and admire the iconic Leaning Tower of Pisa. Enjoy exclusive private alumni gatherings and onboard enrichment, along with premium cruise amenities including unlimited shore excursions, beverages, specialty coffees and a $200 shipboard credit per person. Select suites also include a one-night pre-cruise hotel stay in Barcelona. Pricing begins at $7,999. With strong early demand, this voyage is expected to sell out. Learn more and reserve your place on this extraordinary alumni adventure.

A 24-hour hockey event in Annapolis raised more than $50,000 to support organizations that serve veterans and active-duty military members. The annual Hockey for Heroes exhibition tournament, hosted by Navy Youth Hockey, took place 6–7 March at the U.S. Naval Academy's Brigade Sports Complex at McMullen Ice Arena. Teams played around the clock for 24 hours to raise awareness and funding for veteran support programs. The fundraiser benefits several organizations that provide resources for veterans and their families, including the Wounded Warrior Project, USA Warriors Ice Hockey, Fisher House, Disabled American Veterans, Truckin4Troops, Paws4Vets, U.S. Patriot Sailing, Battle Buddy Response Team, Valhalla Sailing Project, Warfighter Advance, Patriot Point and Project Healing Waters. Organizers say the event honors those who served while bringing the community together through hockey.

Maryland Day will return 19 March through 25 March 2026, expanding to a full week of heritage-focused programming across Annapolis and Anne Arundel County. Now in its 18th year, Maryland Day has become an annual kickoff to the spring heritage tourism season, bringing together more than 50 partner organizations to offer special events, programs and activities highlighting the Chesapeake region's history, culture and natural resources. Organizers said many of the events will be free or cost $1. The celebration commemorates 25 March 1634, when the Ark and Dove landed on Maryland soil. The 2026 event arrives amid growing interest in American history as the country approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, positioning Maryland Day as a locally rooted way to connect residents and visitors with regional heritage. A full schedule and interactive event map are available at the link below.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

Navy head coach Cindy Timchal, already the winningest coach in Division I women's lacrosse history, has etched her name in the record books by achieving her 600th career win—a milestone no other Division I men's or women's lacrosse coach has ever reached. A Hall of Famer and legendary leader, Timchal now joins only one other women's coach, Sharon Pfuger of The College of New Jersey, in the sport's history of 600-win achievers. This monumental achievement underscores decades of excellence, unmatched dedication and a legacy of shaping champions on and off the field. The lacrosse world will remember this moment forever— Timchal isn't just a coach; she's an icon.

No. 1 Navy used a record‑setting performance from freshman guard Zoe Mesuch to defeat Boston University 76‑66 in the quarterfinals of the PenFed Credit Union Patriot League Women's Basketball Tournament at Alumni Hall in Annapolis. Mesuch scored 31 points and hit a Patriot League Tournament single‑game record eight three‑pointers, leading Navy's offense in a comeback victory after early deficits. Junior Zanai Barnett‑Gay added 16 points and 14 rebounds, while Julianna Almeida contributed 13 points, helping the Mids (22‑7) pull away in the second half. With the win, Navy advances to face Lehigh in Thursday's semifinal round.

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