20 July Daily Shipmate

Monday, 20 July 2026

Squires ’75 plays key role in historic World Cup Championship

Bill Squires ’75 at Met Life Stadium (renamed to New York New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup) Sunday hours before the epic World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina. Over the past five weeks, the stadium served as one of the premier venues for the World Cup, hosting eight matches, including the tournament's championship match on 19 July. The venue welcomed fans from around the globe and showcased the region on one of the world's biggest sporting stages. The championship match brought together defending champion Argentina and Spain, with Spain claiming a 1-0 victory to capture the nation's second FIFA World Cup title. By hosting five group-stage matches, two knockout-round contests, and the World Cup Final, MetLife Stadium solidified its reputation as one of the premier sports venues in the United States while showcasing the New York-New Jersey region to millions of fans worldwide. Squires was appointed Chief Venues Officer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in November 2024. Squires graduated from USNA with a B.S. in History and served for 28 years on active and reserve duty in the VP community before retiring in 2003.

1946 - LT Joseph Lister ’44, USN, was lost when his F4U-4 Corsair crashed shortly after taking off from USS Princeton (CV 37) in the vicinity of Hawaii. A native of Waterbury, Connecticut, he enjoyed small boat sailing and was a member of the Naval Academy’s dinghy team. Following graduation in June 1943 — the class of 1944 skipped their 2/c year — he served for 13 months as a surface line officer in the Mediterranean and European theaters. He was survived by his wife and parents. Other alumni lost on this day are listed at Virtual Memorial Hall.

 

1960 - The fleet ballistic missile submarine George Washington (SSBN-598) conducts two successful launchings of Polaris A-1 ballistic missiles off Cape Canaveral, Florida, marking the first time that a missile is fired from a submerged U.S. Navy submarine. A message from the submarine’s skipper to President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaims, “George Washington Sends—Polaris—from out of the deep to target—perfect.” George Washington is ready for operational service later in the year, departing on its first deterrent patrol on 15 November.

 

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

U.S. Naval Academy graduates Clinton Ramsden ’11 and Cody Monroe ’11, have received final approval to develop a boutique hotel and restaurant at 4 Church Circle in downtown Annapolis, a project that has been years in the making due to the city's strict historic preservation and zoning requirements. Located near the Maryland State House, St. Anne’s Church and the Naval Academy, the development is intended to provide high-end accommodations for visitors seeking a more immersive Annapolis experience. Supporters argue the hotel will help meet growing demand for premium lodging while boosting tourism and economic activity in the city's core. At the same time, the project highlights ongoing challenges surrounding growth in a historic city, including traffic, infrastructure and maintaining Annapolis’ character. The development is a notable example of balancing modern economic needs with preservation of Annapolis’ historic identity. If successful, the project could serve as a model for future redevelopment efforts in the city’s historic district.

Country music star Morgan Wallen welcomes USNA Superintendent Borgschulte ’91 and Commandant of Midshipmen Cornell ’01 for pre-show walkout

Morgan Wallen's pre-show walkout has become one of the signature traditions of his stadium tour, with the country superstar often inviting local icons, athletes, celebrities or hometown heroes to join him before the first song. Last Friday night, for night one of his two-night stop at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Wallen chose U.S. Naval Academy Superintendent and alum LtGen Michael Borgschulte ’91, USMC, Commandant of Midshipmen CAPT Clint Cornell ’01, USN and other U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps service members. The choice paid tribute to one of Maryland's and the United States’s most respected institutions and the men and women who serve our country. As the Superintendent and Commandan walked alongside Wallen through the stadium tunnel, football in hand for a fun football handoff, fans erupted in cheers, creating a memorable moment before the music even began. Country music and military tradition shared the spotlight, reminding everyone that Wallen's walkouts are about more than celebrity appearances—they're a way to celebrate the communities he visits. It was a fitting tribute to Maryland and America and an unforgettable way to kick off the first of two sold-out nights in Baltimore.

Government & Military News

The U.S. Navy announced that certain commands are no longer authorized to provide photos and biographies of leadership on public-facing websites. The decision was made to enhance security for sailors and their families, the service said. “Adversaries increasingly aggregate publicly available data to track, profile, and target our personnel,” a Navy administrative message read. “By creating an unnecessary spotlight and surge of online interest, routine command triad biographies inadvertently expose our people to elevated risk.”

The oldest living Medal of Honor recipient returned 15 July to the base where he earned his wings of gold, joining Naval Aviation Schools Command (NASC) to congratulate 29 student naval aviators who completed Naval Introductory Flight Evaluation (NIFE) training, the first milestone on the path to those same wings. CAPT E. Royce Williams, USN (Ret.), 101, enlisted during World War II and earned his wings at Naval Air Station Pensacola in August 1945, going on to fly combat missions in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He received the Medal of Honor 24 February 2026, for a 1952 solo engagement against seven Soviet MiG-15s that remained classified for more than 50 years. He is the only living Medal of Honor recipient from the Korean War. For the student naval aviators seated in front of him, the medal was not the point. The wings were. Williams earned his at the end of the same training pipeline these students have entered, and 81 years later he came back to tell them what carried him through it.

The United States intensified enforcement of its renewed blockade of Iranian ports and coastline by disabling the oil tanker Belma after it allegedly ignored repeated warnings while sailing toward Iran. According to U.S. Central Command, an aircraft fired Hellfire missiles into the vessel’s smokestack, leaving it unable to continue its transit. CENTCOM also redirected two other ships. The action comes as maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz continues to decline, with transits down nearly 52% compared with the previous week. Security concerns, escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and threats to regional shipping routes have led many operators to avoid one of the world’s most critical maritime chokepoints.

Local, Education & other academy news

ADM James Stavridis ’76, USN (Ret.), a member of the U.S. Naval Academy’s 2023 Distinguished Graduate class, retired four-star admiral and former Supreme Allied Commander Europe, cautioned that the Suez Canal could emerge as another area of concern amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East. Stavridis noted the canal carries more commercial traffic than the Strait of Hormuz. He warned disruptions could have significant effects on global shipping and trade. “It’s got more traffic flowing through it than the Strait of Hormuz,” he said, while also noting that “those are vulnerabilities that I think the Iranians would not pause on exploiting” when discussing potential threats to key transportation routes and U.S. interests around the world. A recognized authority on maritime security, global naval operations and international strategy, Stavridis commanded U.S. and allied forces around the world during a distinguished military career and remains one of the nation’s most respected voices on naval and geopolitical affairs.

Colorado Springs Gazette (full article below - pw-protected)

By Brent Briggeman

18 July 2026

 

Two weeks after news broke of his dismissal as Air Force athletic director, Nathan Pine released a public statement that included not-so-subtle hints at the situation that led to his ouster.

 

“I’ll look back fondly on most of my time at Air Force,” Pine wrote on social media. “The last two years have been arduous for the entire institution. My hope is the Academy and especially the athletic department will recover and become exceptional again in time.”

 

A report from ESPN on 2 July noted that Pine’s dismissal came at the urging of outgoing superintendent Lt Gen Tony D. Bauernfeind. The following day a statement from the Air Force Academy said that the service of Pine “was no longer accepted,” though he would remain under contract as an employee of the Air Force Academy Athletic Corporation (AFAAC).

 

Whispers of tension between the athletic department and Bauernfeind had been a recurring theme during the superintendent’s tenure. Teams were provided with obstacles related to time with players, access to recruiting resources and complications with approval regarding staff hires.

 

“He’s killing us,” one Air Force head coach told The Gazette of Bauernfeind. “More kids are going into the transfer portal. We don’t deem our athletics very important anymore at the academy.”

 

In May, Pine publicly commented on a lack of communication when Bauernfeind added his academy priorities – “Warfighters,” “Leaders” and “Critical Thinking” – to the mezzanine in Falcon Stadium, pushing to the side the names of air battles.

 

Pine brought up the issue that this might violate an agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office.

 

On Friday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Maj Gen Paul D. Moga as the 23rd superintendent of the academy. Perhaps by coincidence, Pine issued his statement shortly after.

 

In his comments, Pine, along with his wife, Stephanie, thanked those he had worked with at the academy and its supporting community. He notably thanked two of the three superintendents who had overseen the institution during his time, recognizing Lt Gen Jay Silveria, USA (Ret.), and Lt Gen Rich Clark, USA (Ret.), as “quality leaders and invested teammates.”

 

Bauernfeind went unmentioned.

 

“I learned an important maxim of life & college athletics early on – to leave it better than you found it,” Pine wrote. “We can take pride in Air Force Athletics being in a better place today and set up for success in the future because of our collective efforts over the last 7+ years. Our accomplishments would never have been possible without a total team effort from our cadet athletes, coaches, staff and supporters all striving for excellence together.”

 

Pine closed by noting his respect for the “resolve and effort our cadets, coaches and staff demonstrate every day. They are a talented group, and I will be rooting for them always!”

 

AFAAC CEO Nancy Hixson is serving as the interim athletic director for a program that now has openings for head coaches in baseball and wrestling.

It's that time of year again! Greater Southern Maryland Chapter’s annual Crabfest—the GSMC’s biggest event of the year—is back, and they can't wait to see everyone on Sunday, 9 August!

 

This year, there is a change of venue. Originally planned for Club 9 at the Solomons Recreation Center, the gathering has been moved to VFW Post 2632 (23282 Three Notch Road, California, MD 20619), as Club 9 works to repair its air conditioning. The VFW has graciously opened its doors and is excited to host the chapter. The new location in California, Maryland, is a fitting venue for a group with such strong ties to military service and the Naval Academy.

 

Everyone is welcome! Bring your family and friends for an afternoon of great crabs, conversations and memories. Please RSVP by 2 August using the QR code above or on MyUSNA.com. We look forward to seeing you there! Go Navy! Beat Army!

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