1 Apr Daily Shipmate

Wednesday, 1 April 2026

1945 - Easter Sunday brings the assault on Okinawa, Japan, with naval gunfire and aircraft supporting the landing of Army troops and Marines under the command of Army Lieutenant General Simon Bolivar Buckner. By nightfall, some 65,000 men are ashore. Kamikazes damage the battleship West Virginia (BB-48) and two attack transports, and in the coming days, the “divine wind” strikes the ships operating off Okinawa with increasing deadliness.

 

1966 - LT Louis Rossi '59, USN was lost on 29 March, when the sailboat he was aboard sank off the northwest coast of Italy. He was serving as an exchange officer with the Italian Naval Academy; the sailboat was on the first leg of a four-legged, four-boat regatta when it went down for unknown reasons shortly before midnight. Only one man of the five person crew survived. “Lou” was a native of New York City, though his family had emigrated only two years before he was born. He came to the Naval Academy directly from high school. Lou was survived by his wife, two daughters and a brother.

 

1985 - LCDR Derek Holmquist '73, USN and LT Glenn Ziegler '81, USN were lost when the A-6 Intruder they were aboard crashed into a mountain in Panama during a training mission. They were members of Attack Squadron (VA) 35 and operating from USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Derek was survived by his wife, daughter and son. Glenn was survived by his parents and brother.

 

2001 - A People's Republic of China F-8 fighter plane intercepts a Navy EP-3E Aries II surveillance aircraft in international air space off Hainan Island. Flying dangerously close to the EP-3, the Chinese fighter collides with it, sending the Aries into an extreme bank and rapid descent. The pilot, Lieutenant Shane Osborne, rights the EP-3, which suffers damage to its nose, a propeller and aileron in the collision. Managing to land their aircraft on Hainan Island, the crew is taken into custody by the Chinese government and released after 11 days. The aircraft is disassembled and flown out of China on board a Russian transport on 5 July.

Academy & Graduate happenings

Naval Academy Athletic Association and U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation to hold ceremonial groundbreaking for new Navy Lacrosse Center

The Naval Academy Athletic Association and the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Navy Lacrosse Center on Friday, 3 April at 12:15 p.m. ET on the field adjacent to the Glenn Warner Soccer Facility. Attendees for the event will include Naval Academy leadership, major project donors, men's and women's lacrosse coaches and student-athletes, as well as representatives from the project's contractor and architect. The Navy Lacrosse Center was first announced in January 2023 following an anonymous leadership gift. Once complete, the projected $30 million Center will be the premier men's and women's lacrosse training facility in the country. The three-story, 35,000-square-foot Navy Lacrosse Center will celebrate the history of Navy lacrosse while serving as a testament to the Naval Academy's commitment to the Physical Mission of the Brigade of Midshipmen. Tune into the Sing Second Podcast next week as we bring you full coverage of the groundbreaking with interviews featuring Athletic Director Michael Kelly and Lacrosse Alums Jeff Johnson '79 and Jake Lawlor '75. The invitation-only event will be streamed live on the Navy Athletics YouTube page at the link below.

CDR Luis A. Levine, '06, USN relinquished command of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's (NRL) Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1, the Warlocks, to CDR Andrew R. Vawter, the new Commanding Officer (CO), during a change of command ceremony 27 March at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland. Under Levine's command, the Warlocks executed more than 350 missions and 1,300 flight hours, all while maintaining a perfect record of zero aviation mishaps. They successfully executed and supported 12 critical projects that provided Fleet support, reinforced federal partnerships and scientific development. Levine left the Warlocks with a few last words of mentorship and inspiration. “Two words: Servant Leadership, centered on trust and teamwork. Focus on your people, measure your success not by the wins and losses, but by the growth and accomplishments made by those under your charge because you helped them get there. That's teamwork.”

Know Your Neighbor is a podcast created and hosted by Chris Yenias '05, USNA Class of 2005. The show features long-form, in-person conversations with accomplished individuals across a wide range of fields—leaders, operators and professionals with real experience and perspective. While many guests are connected to the Naval Academy and Annapolis community, the conversations extend well beyond it. The common thread: thoughtful people with something worth saying. Because at the end of the day, it's all about perspective. In this episode, Chris sits down with Jeff Webb '95, President and CEO of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. From his path to Annapolis, to his time in the SEAL teams, to now leading one of the most influential alumni networks in the country, Jeff shares the throughline of a life built on service. A thoughtful, candid conversation on leadership, resilience and what it means to stay connected to the Naval Academy long after graduation.

Government & Military News

The Navy has unveiled its final requests for proposals (RFP) for its Undergraduate Jet Training System (UJTS) as the Navy seeks a new, next-generation aircraft for “intermediate and advanced training” of Navy and Marine pilots. The UJTS will succeed the Navy's T-45 Goshawk fleet, which first joined the service in the early 1990s, that the Navy and Marine Corps employ for pilot carrier qualification. The T-45 is designed to land on aircraft carriers, but that is not the case for the UJTS. The Navy's plans show it will not use the new trainer aircraft to conduct training on carriers, or a field carrier landing practice (FCLP) touch down, in which planes land on an airfield runway aimed at simulating a carrier landing.

President Donald Trump revealed on Sunday evening that the U.S. military is constructing a “massive” underground complex beneath his new $400 million, 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom. Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One while holding renderings of the plans, said the ballroom “essentially becomes a [shield] for what's being built under by the military.” He emphasized protective features — comprising thick, high-grade bulletproof glass — will be installed as part of the ballroom's design to protect against drones and “any other things.”

The U.S. Navy spent six months restoring its only 150 kW Solid State Laser Technology Maturation (SSL‑TM) weapon, a prototype previously installed on USS Portland. Originally tested between 2019 and 2021, the laser successfully shot down drones and small surface targets before being removed in 2023. Revived for the Pentagon's Crimson Dragon exercise in 2025, it downed four more drones in simulated base‑defense scenarios. Its return highlights a broader issue: despite years of investment, the military has few operational high‑energy lasers available, forcing older prototypes back into service as the Pentagon refines future directed‑energy tactics.

Local, Education & other academy news

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In Jacksonville 16 April? Please join the Jax Chapter in welcoming the new USNA Athletic Director (AD), Michael Kelly, to Jacksonville. After 25 years of leadership from Chet Gladchuk, Kelly has big shoes to fill. Come hear him lay out his vision for the future of Navy Athletics. An extensive question and answer period will allow you to ask about Name, Image and Likeness (NIL), the Patriot League, the American Athletic Conference and Navy Athletes to professional sports. The event will be held at Hidden Hills Golf Club (3901 Monument Road, as it was last year, on 16 April from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Cost will be $50 per person and include a buffet lunch. Bring your significant other, breakfast buddies or golf group to see the new AD. For those that aren't able to attend in person, we intend to broadcast Kelly's remarks on some type of livestream (still working it out so more info to follow) and will ask for a donation to help offset the costs. We look forward to seeing you all out there!

“Our men's rugby team begins their final push for another national championship on 11 April at 11:05 a.m. against Mary Washington at the Prusmack Rugby Center. Since we finished #1 in the eastern conference, we will host all playoff games at Prusmack. So with a little luck you can watch Navy Rugby play at home three weeks in a row! If we make it through round one and Army makes it through round one, we will play Army here at Prusmack 18 April. This scenario is highly likely to occur. Of note, our JV team will be playing against The Royal Army Academy on 18 April, which means there will be a ton of Army fans here to cheer. We need to make sure our stands are full of fans, our fans, for all playoff games, but especially on 18 April. Please spread the word. We need all the support we can get to make it back to nationals! GO NAVY!”

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

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Army - Navy Star Series: Navy has won the Star Series

Navy leads 13-6-1 (Army - Volleyball, Men's Soccer, Women's Rugby, Women's Cross Country, Wrestling, Baseball. 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, Men's and Women's Basketball. Tie - Women's Soccer).

 

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