11 May Daily Shipmate

Monday, 11 May 2026

May brings Annapolis to life. Longer days, waterfront energy, and weekends worth planning ahead. Fair Winds is a beautifully restored historic home in downtown, just one block from USNA, Main Street, and the harbor — perfect for gathering with family and friends, with space to relax and walk to everything that matters.

 

Proudly owned by two USNA graduates. Availability is limited — explore dates at fairwindsdta.com.

“The Class of 2006 awarded their first four ‘$06,000 VGEP scholarships on Wednesday May ‘06th. A few members stuck around and brought the awardees to the Alley (for the first time!) and discussed their bright futures. The Class of 2006 Graduate Education Fund is ’06’s 20-year project leading up to their reunion this fall. So far during this Great Class Challenge 2006 has raised $40,000, over tripling last year’s haul!”

1898 - The torpedo boat Winslow (Torpedo Boat No.5), under LT John B. Bernadou ’80, USN makes a run into the harbor at Cárdenas, Cuba, to attack a Spanish gunboat. It is hit three times by Spanish shore batteries, with one shot disabling its steering. Towed to safety by the revenue cutter Hudson, Winslow suffers four men killed and three wounded, the latter including Bernadou. Among the dead is ENS Worth Bagley ’95, USN, the only naval officer killed in action during the Spanish-American War.

 

1915- RADM William S. Benson ’77, USN is appointed the first Chief of Naval Operations (CNO).

 

2003 - Philip Steven Kenny Jr. ’82, USN was killed on 10 May after ejecting from an A-4 Skyhawk he was piloting as a contractor; the company provided military flight training, tactical air/adversary training, and flight test services. A native of Ogden, Utah, “Steve” was the oldest of five children. In high school he was a standout tennis player, and he also lettered in basketball and baseball. At the Naval Academy he was an honor graduate and Rhodes Scholar candidate; he became a Naval Aviator and flew F-14 Tomcats for most of his fourteen years of active duty. After resigning his commission he flew for Delta Air Lines, accumulating more than 10,000 hours in 16 different types of military and civilian aircraft. Steve was survived by his parents, four siblings (including Michael ’86), and 10 nieces and nephews.

 

2007 - Maj Douglas Zembiec ’95, USMC was killed by small arms fire while leading a raid in Baghdad, Iraq, while serving with the Special Activities Division Ground Branch of the Central Intelligence Agency. Doug was born in Hawaii and attended high school in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he was the state wrestling champion in both his junior and senior years. He continued wrestling at the Naval Academy, where he had a 95–21–1 record and was twice an All-American. As a Marine, he passed the Force Reconnaissance indoctrination in 1997; his platoon was among the first special operations forces to enter Kosovo in June 1999. In July 2003 he took command of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment. It was in this capacity that he was nicknamed the “Lion of Fallujah,” leading 139 Marines and sailors – ultimately, 78 would be killed or wounded. Doug was awarded a Silver Star, Bronze Star with Combat Distinguishing Device and two Purple Hearts due to wounds incurred in action. Prior to this action, he addressed his men: “When the ramp drops tomorrow, who will come out? What type of human beings will come out? Will those humans honor their country, their Corps, and more important, the Marines to their left and right? When the ramps dropped from the boats on the beaches of Iwo Jima, who came out? When the ramps dropped from the helicopters in Vietnam, who came out? Honorable warriors came out to uphold the virtues and values by their actions on the battlefield. This is our time and our legacy. This is our Vietnam. This is our Okinawa. Carry the honor and traditions that formed our great nation into battle. Climb aboard, Marines!” He was survived by his wife, daughter, parents, and brother.

 

Content in “Today in Navy, Marine Corps and USNA Memorial Hall History” is generously provided by our partners and fellow alumni at the Naval History and Heritage Command and the Run to Honor SIG, which supplies the USNA Memorial Hall content. We are grateful for their partnership in preserving and sharing this history, and the Daily Shipmate is proud to serve as a distribution platform. You can learn more or provide feedback through their respective websites hyperlinked above.

Academy & Graduate happenings

As the Great Class Challenge comes to a close, we want to pause and say a sincere thank you to the alumni, friends and parents who stepped up to give and to the volunteers who rallied their classmates. Because of your time, energy, and leadership, 80 classes showed what participation, pride, and teamwork really look like. Every email sent, text shared and conversation started made a difference — and every gift, of any size, helped move classes up the leaderboard and support today’s Midshipmen. Our results are still being finalized, but one thing is already clear: this year’s Challenge was powered by extraordinary volunteer leadership and generous alumni participation. Final standings and official results will be shared soon. On behalf of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation, thank you for all you did to make this year’s Great Class Challenge such a success. We are grateful for your commitment to the Academy and to one another.

Navy Athletics announced a $5 million renovation of Terwilliger Brothers Field at Max Bishop Stadium, funded through major gifts from two Navy Baseball alumni. Scheduled for completion in 2027, the project will modernize the entire baseball complex to enhance daily training, recovery, and game‑day experiences for Midshipmen, coaches, and fans. Planned upgrades include a new team locker room, expanded athletic training room, nutrition center, wardroom, coaches’ offices, two fan suites, and a modern press box. Director of Athletics Michael Kelly said the renovation strengthens Navy’s ability to recruit and develop elite student‑athletes while honoring long‑standing program traditions. Head coach Chuck Ristano called the facility a “game‑changer,” emphasizing its impact on preparation, recovery, and team culture. The project follows the installation of a new turf field in 2025, with construction beginning after the 2026 season.

The Service Academy Career Conference (SACC) Washington, DC brought together service academy talent and leading employers for one of the organization’s largest and most impactful events of the year. The two‑day conference hosted 587 candidates and 92 companies, schools and other organizations, creating an energetic environment focused on connection, opportunity and career exploration. Candidates participated in recruiting sessions, networking opportunities and professional development seminars designed to help translate leadership experience into successful civilian careers. The next SACC is 6-7 August in San Diego.

The Survivor Advocacy Network (SAN) invites you to join an upcoming Trauma Survivor Webinar focused on understanding how Military Sexual Trauma (MST) impacts relationships—and how healing can restore purpose, trust and meaningful connection.

This interactive session will combine brief insight, guided reflection and open dialogue to explore the ways trauma shapes trust, identity and connection, while also supporting resilience and deeper relationships.

From the Podcast Fleet

Academy Insider Podcast: The end of Plebe year

Plebe year ends with a fast and emotional sprint as finals finish, leave begins, and zero block brings Sea Trials and Herndon. The tradition of spooning marks a shift in how plebes address upperclassmen and signals their move toward future peers in the fleet. Sea Trials serve as a demanding team based event that tests endurance and resilience, and parents benefit from knowing how to support without distracting. The year closes with Herndon, where plebes gain new status after the climb, while official promotions occur on commissioning day.

Government & Military News

USS Daniel Inouye returns to Fleet early after successful maintenance

Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Daniel Inouye (DDG 118) rejoined the Pacific Fleet in April after completing a complex maintenance period eight days ahead of schedule. Leaders from the U.S. Pacific Fleet and Hawaii Regional Maintenance Center (HRMC) recognized the joint government-industry team for the achievement in a ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, 19 March 2026. The project’s success was hailed as an example of exceptional teamwork and professionalism. Daniel Inouye’s Commanding Officer. U.S. Navy CDR Ryan Kelly ’07, USN, attributed the success to his team's culture. "Our Project Team culture was founded on three main principles: team cohesion, a solution-driven mindset and deliberate communication," Kelly said. "No matter the barrier or challenge we faced, there was a level of commitment to each other that ensured our success. I am convinced that our people made the difference."

The remains of a U.S. soldier who went missing during military exercises in Morocco a week ago were recovered in the Atlantic Ocean, the army said Sunday. Military teams were still searching for a second missing soldier. The remains were those of 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., a 14A Air Defense Artillery officer who was one of two U.S. soldiers who fell off a cliff during a recreational hike in Morocco while off duty. He was 27 years old. The two were reported missing 2 May after participating in African Lion, an annual multinational military exercise held in Morocco.

Local, Education & other academy news

Clarkson University Research Professor Joseph Skufca ’85 has been named professor emeritus in recognition of 20 years of contributions to the Mathematics Department and the Center for Advanced Materials Processing in the Wallace H. Coulter School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. He was formally recognized at a 8 May ceremony. Skufca joined Clarkson University in 2005 and has served as assistant, associate and full professor, as well as department chair from 2015 to 2024, providing steady leadership while making significant contributions to teaching, research, program development and service. Prior to joining Clarkson, Skufca, a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, served 20 years in the U.S. Submarine Force and was an instructor in the academy’s mathematics department from 2003 to 2005. He earned a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in applied mathematics from the University of Maryland and a bachelor’s degree in English from the United States Naval Academy.

President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s 145th commencement ceremony on May 20 in New London, Connecticut. The event will begin at 11 a.m. on Cadet Memorial Field and will not be open to the public. According to a Coast Guard statement, the president will congratulate graduating cadets on their dedication and service as they join the next generation of Coast Guard leaders. If weather conditions require, the ceremony will move to Leamy Hall Auditorium with limited seating. Last year’s commencement address was delivered by Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.

At Shipmate magazine, we are taking a fresh approach to the way class, chapter and SIG notes are submitted. Beginning with the July-August 2026 issue, we will be accepting note submissions only through an online portal. We began training class and chapter secretaries last week. So far, we have trained or scheduled about 50 sessions with Shipmate scribes. We want to ensure all chapter, class and SIG representatives are prepared for the 27 May deadline for the July-August issue. We have sessions scheduled for the next two weeks on Mondays and Wednesdays. This effort will provide efficiencies for the magazine's production and modernize the content-collection process. To learn more or sign up for a training session, please contact Editor Jimmy DeButts at the link below.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

Navy stormed back from a 9–3 halftime deficit to defeat Syracuse 11–10 in overtime and advance to the NCAA quarterfinals. The Mids dominated the second half, outscoring the Orange 7–1 before Alyssa Chung buried the golden goal in OT. Chung finished with four goals, while Maggie DeFabio added a hat trick and freshman goalie Angelina Price allowed just one goal after halftime. The win marked Navy’s 20th victory—a program record—and completed a perfect 13–0 home season. With the comeback, Navy reached its third Elite Eight and will next face Maryland.

Yesterday's results:

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