1 July Daily Shipmate

Wednesday, 1 July 2026

1850 - The U.S. Naval School at Annapolis, Maryland, is officially renamed the U.S. Naval Academy.

 

1943 - LT Jack Mahony, Jr. ’39, USN was killed in action when his plane crashed into the Pacific Ocean near New Georgia Island while attacking a formation of 45 Japanese bombers. He was a member of Fighting Squadron (VF) 27, flying from a shore base while USS Suwanee (CVE 27), was anchored for upkeep and repairs. He was survived by his wife, parents, four sisters and four brothers.

 

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

More than 200 Naval Academy alumni gathered at the Fluegel Alumni Center on 17-18 June for the sold-out USNA Entrepreneur Summit, a two-day event celebrating innovation, networking and impact. Founded by Matt Willmann ’10, USNA Entrepreneurs connects alumni who are building, investing in and supporting ventures across industries. Attendees heard from successful founders, investors and business leaders on topics ranging from startup growth and leadership to cybersecurity, emerging defense technologies and combating human trafficking. The summit also featured an entrepreneurs pavilion showcasing alumni-led companies. Throughout the event, participants highlighted the power of the Naval Academy network in fostering collaboration, mentorship and meaningful change.

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From the Podcast Fleet

That’s a wrap, party people. Like Bill Murray in Ghostbusters…We came…we saw…we kicked its butt!! What a season. We journeyed into June for the first time in our Pod career. We stopped talking about the Orioles…because they’re an abomination…and we built a legion of loyal followers getting their updates and interviews here on Sing Second. 20,000 of you can’t be wrong. We end Strong Like Bull with a discussion about the new Plebe Class and the triple digit temps that await the young plebes in their first week on station. Chris and John also preview next season, which comes your way in early August with interviews from the newly-opened 19th hole at the golf course, conversations with our new Distinguished Graduates and a continued focus on our alums in the C-Suite with our Entrepreneur series. And our interview this week is with Dave Cuthbert ’97. Dave joined us from the mountains of Colorado to chat about his amazing company - Top Cups. He chats with us about his time in EOD and his transition to the civilian community. And - as always - we chat leadership. See you on August 11th on Season 7 of Sing Second. We…are….OUT. Beat Army. Always!

Listen on

Government & Military News

The U.S. Navy last week announced a slew of annual financial incentives for U.S. Navy reserve aviators in an effort to retain their services. As part of the service’s fiscal 2026 Training and Administration of the Reserve Aviation Department Head Retention program, select aviators serving in department head billets may be eligible for annual retention bonuses of up to $40,000, according to a June 26 NAVADMIN. “A vital part of developing a total force strategy and maintaining combat readiness is to provide appropriate incentives to retain skilled personnel for critical naval aviation enterprise billets,” the message said. Jobs that may be eligible for the listed retention bonuses are listed at the link below.

Local, Education & other academy news

Evan Larson is a rising junior at the University of Maryland, where he is double majoring in accounting and finance. A lifelong Annapolis resident, Larson moved to the area when he was just a few months old and has since been immersed in a community shaped by family, service and a strong connection to the U.S. Naval Academy. He shares a close bond with his parents, older brother and twin sister. Service to the nation runs deep in Larson’s family. His father and grandfather are both Naval Academy alumni who went on to distinguished careers in the Navy. His father served for 30 years, including two decades as an F-14 and F/A-18 pilot, before returning to Annapolis to spend 10 years teaching at the Academy. His grandfather served as a four-star admiral and twice held the role of Superintendent of the Naval Academy. Their examples instilled in Larson a deep appreciation for integrity, commitment and leadership. Now in his second summer with the Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation, Larson is interning with the Annual Giving team. After a rewarding experience last year, he was eager to return and contribute to an organization that has played such a meaningful role in his family’s life. This summer, he is focused on analyzing fundraising initiatives, identifying opportunities to strengthen donor engagement and helping support the mission of the Academy. Looking ahead, Larson hopes to continue building on his academic and professional experiences and fulfill a longtime goal of traveling to Italy after graduation.

The nation’s service academies welcomed their newest classes during the past week, marking the start of a four-year journey toward becoming military officers. The Coast Guard Academy’s Class of 2030 started its 200-week cadet training program and Swab Summer on Monday in New London, Conn. The incoming class is made up of approximately 285 students. The U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., welcomed more than 1,230 U.S. citizens and about 20 international cadets on Monday for the Class of 2030’s Reception Day. More than 1,200 midshipmen were inducted into the U.S. Naval Academy’s Class of 2030 on 25 June in Annapolis, Md. And the U.S. Air Force Academy welcomed more than 1,130 cadets on 24 June in Colorado.

Former Navy safety Chet Moeller ’76 sued the NCAA in Alabama court last week, accusing the organization of fraud and negligence relating to concussions he suffered as a player and a subsequent diagnosis in 2024 of possible neurodegenerative brain disease. Moeller, who played for Navy from 1972-76, was a unanimous All-American in 1975 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010. His jersey number is retired by the Midshipmen. The lawsuit was filed Friday in Montgomery County, where Moeller now resides. The Tennessee native played high school football in Ohio.

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