16 June Daily Shipmate

Tuesday, 16 June 2026

1945 - The Naval Air Test Center is established at Patuxent River, Maryland.

 

1966 - Carrier aircraft begin a sustained effort to destroy North Vietnamese petroleum facilities with a strike at Thanh Hoa by planes from Hancock (CV-19). This strike is followed up by an attack against the petroleum facilities near the major cities of Haiphong and Hanoi.

 

1983 - LT Michael Gallagher ’79, USN, was lost when the P-3 Orion he was aboard crashed on Kauai, HI. All 14 men aboard were killed; they were members of Patrol Squadron (VP) 1. From Shipmate: “Appointed to USNA from the State of Florida, he was a member of a Navy family, his father being a career supply corps officer now retired in Pensacola, FL. As a midshipman, Gallagher was a member of the Academy varsity pistol team which attained national status during his membership, and upon graduation with the Class of 1979 he was assigned to temporary duty with the Navy Pistol Team to take part in the 1980 Olympic Trials. During his first class year he was the 29th Company commander.” Michael was survived by his wife, parents and two sisters. (The Alumni Association has lost contact with the family. If you know how to contact them please email [email protected].)

 

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

USNA alumnus Hank Nothhaft ’66 and his wife, Randie, live in a beautiful home they built on their horse farm in Versailles, KY. After retirement, Nothhaft discovered a passion for breeding, trading and racing thoroughbred horses.

 

Nothhaft is a dedicated Navy sports fan. He collects Army-Navy Game programs and helmets, and even owns the official painting commissioned for the 100th playing of the Army-Navy Game, which he won at a pregame charity auction over a West Point graduate. He admits he may have paid too much but was not going to let it go to a whoop.

 

A few years ago, Nothhaft bred a horse and, through The Jockey Club, named it after USNA own ENS Blake Horvath ’26, USN, as a way to honor him. He waited to go public until he was confident the horse could perform. Horvath has now raced three times and finished on the board each time, placing third, second and most recently earning a dominant win.

 

Nothhaft has also named horses after others close to him, including Randie’s Rascal and, most recently, Hugh’s Legend, in memory of his USNA roommate Hugh Ronalds. He plans to donate a portion of any Hugh’s Legend purses to USNA in Ronalds’ honor.

 

Another connection to the Academy comes through Randie’s father, Roy “Butch” Voris, the founder and first commanding officer of the Blue Angels. The Nothhaft home is filled with Blue Angels memorabilia and the couple contributed to the F/A-18 Hornet exhibit at NMCMS honoring aviators lost in flight operations.

 

Nothhaft and his wife continue to support the Academy and most recently joined the 1891 Club.

This is your last chance to nominate a fellow member for the 2026 Thriving As Leaders Awards. The process is simple and worth recognizing your fellow members for the leadership and service they provide in command, citizenship and government. Nominations close on 1 July 2026 - nominate your fellow members today!

From the Podcast Fleet

USNA AA&F’s Director of Parent Programs Lori Coogan and Executive Director of Communications John Schofield join the Academy Insider podcast for an in-depth discussion on how to prepare for I-Day and the resources available to families. I-Day can feel overwhelming, but understanding the process helps families support their future midshipman without adding stress. The Permit to Report package is the most reliable guide for logistics, including yard access, stadium parking with shuttle use, required IDs, and the benefit of a dry run beforehand. Emotionally, families should stay flexible and let their midshipman lead the final 24 hours. In-processing at Alumni Hall varies in timing, leaving parents with a long wait filled by the Dahlgren Hall expo, yard tours, and briefings from senior leaders, including guidance on first phone calls home. Support organizations also matter. The Alumni Association connects families through Parent Clubs and resources, while the Foundation and Navy Athletics highlight how philanthropy and self-funding support mission excellence. Click the play button above to watch/listen to the podcast.

Government & Military News

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy’s deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of 15 June 2026, based on Navy and public data. In cases in which a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.

Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao ’96 on 8 June established the Department of the Navy Communication Strategy, aimed at combat not of the seas, but of information.“We are in a fight for the narrative,” Cao wrote. “Our adversaries compete not only with steel, but with coordinated disinformation designed to undermine our will, divide our alliances, and erode the confidence of the American people. We will not cede the information domain.”

A Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed during a routine training exercise near Rimrock Lake in Washington state, about 55 miles southeast of Seattle. The pilot safely ejected and was transported to a hospital with minor injuries. Local authorities responded around midday to reports of the aircraft going down in mountainous terrain. A wildfire was reported shortly after the crash, prompting a coordinated response from the Naches Fire Department and U.S. Forest Service, including helicopter support and evacuations of nearby campers. Officials have not confirmed the cause of the fire, and the crash remains under investigation.

An Air Force B-52 Stratofortress carrying eight people on a routine test mission crashed today shortly after take-off at 11:20 a.m. (PDT). Initial indications are that the crash was not survivable. Emergency response personnel are on scene, and officials are working to account for all personnel. This is a developing story and crash is currently under investigation.

Local, Education & other academy news

The Naval Academy Athletic Association, founded in 1891 by Robert Means Thompson, is a 501C3 non-profit organization whose objective is to "promote, influence, and assist in financing the athletic contests of the midshipmen of the United States Naval Academy" in accordance with the policy of the Superintendent of the Academy. Through an intercollegiate athletic program that is one of the largest in the country, and a highly organized club sports program and intramural sports program, each midshipman is afforded the opportunity to compete in athletics at a level commensurate with their abilities. The emphasis on physical fitness is borne out in the first line of the mission of the Naval Academy: To develop midshipmen morally, mentally and physically.

U.S. Naval Academy Chapel Book available for purchase

The Lyman Fund is proud to introduce the 2025 edition of the U.S. Naval Academy Chapel Book—the first major update in over a decade. This newly revised fourth edition features updated history, stunning new photography and expanded insight into the chapel’s traditions and programs, developed in collaboration with the Naval Academy Museum and Chaplain’s Office. In addition, under the guidance of USNA Command Chaplain Captain Rob Johnson, the Lyman Fund will provide hundreds of new hymnals to enhance worship at the chapel. Proceeds from Chapel Book sales directly support the preservation of the chapel’s history.

Get your copy: purchase in person at the USNA Midshipmen Store, online at the link below or access the digital version at the separate link below.

Join the U.S. Navy Memorial tonight on Navy Memorial Plaza for a performance by the full U.S. Navy Band. Enjoy another spectacular evening with live music in a setting that brings together tradition, community and the spirit of the Sea Services.

In case of inclement weather, the Full Navy Band concerts will be moved inside to the Arleigh and Roberta Burke Theatre, located in our Visitor Center.

Dominic Stellabotte is an audio visual events technician. He comes from a family of musicians and music lovers, which sparked his early interest in audio technology. As a lifelong guitar player, his passion for music began at a very young age and jokes that a guitar was placed in his arms as a baby by his father. Stellabotte brings a wealth of experience from working across events, conferences, expos and concerts. He initially connected with the USNA Alumni Association & Foundation as an independent contractor during an event, where he immediately felt a strong sense of belonging and teamwork. He looks forward to enhancing the event experience and leveraging his expertise to help make colleagues’ work lives easier through seamless audio-visual support. Outside of work, he has a passion for travel and adventure. He has visited 40 out of 50 states and hopes to check off the remaining 10 on his bucket list. Stellabotte is excited to be part of the team and looks forward to contributing his skills and enthusiasm to the organization.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

Navy football has been picked to win the American Conference in The Sporting News College Football Preview magazine, marking the third major preseason publication to select the Midshipmen as league favorites. Memphis and UTSA were projected to finish second and third, respectively, in the conference standings. The publication also forecast Boise State as the Group of 6 representative in the College Football Playoff. Navy opens its 2026 season 5 September at home against Towson before beginning conference play at Florida Atlantic on 12 September.

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