23 July Daily Shipmate

Thursday, 23 July 2026

1801 - A circular letter from the American Consulate in Tunis informs European powers in friendship with the United States of the blockade of Tripoli. The following day, the frigate President takes station in the waters off Tripoli and, aside from one brief absence, remains there until 3 September.

 

1917 - While en route to Buenos Aires, Argentina, the cruiser Pittsburgh (ACR-4) suffers an ammunition explosion in a casemate. LT Willis Winter Bradley, Jr., though rendered momentarily unconscious by the explosion, crawls into the casemate to extinguish burning materials, thus preventing further explosions. Seaman Ora Graves, after being blown to the deck, extinguishes burning waste and prevents flames from reaching powder in the casemate. Both receive the Medal of Honor for their efforts in saving their ship.

 

1993 - LT Paul Ambrogi ’88, USN, was lost when the A-6 Intruder he was piloting crashed northwest of Roanoke, Virginia. The bombardier/navigator aboard was also killed. They were members of Attack Squadron (VA) 75, flying from Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. Paul was a native of Richmond, Virginia, and was survived by his parents, two brothers, and a sister. (The Alumni Association has lost contact with the family. If you know how to contact them please email [email protected].) Other alumni lost on this day are listed at Virtual Memorial Hall.

 

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

We're excited to launch From the Sea Wall, a new monthly podcast and vlogcast that takes you beyond the fence line of the Naval Academy and into the journeys of those who have walked the Yard before us. Each episode will feature conversations with alumni as they share their experiences at the Naval Academy, in the Fleet and Marine Corps and beyond. From sea stories and leadership lessons to career milestones and unexpected challenges, we'll explore the moments that shaped their lives and the lessons they learned along the way. Whether they're serving around the globe, leading companies, launching new ventures or giving back to their communities, our guests will offer insights, inspiration and a few seastories you probably haven't heard before. Join us From the Sea Wall as we connect generations of the Naval Academy family—one conversation at a time. Real stories. Real lessons. Real experiences. From the Yard, to the Fleet, to life beyond service…and it all started from the U.S. Naval Academy Sea Wall.

 

Check out our first episode with Tim Ogden ’95, founder and CEO of Blue Ivy Partners, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and technology value-added reseller based in Arlington, Virginia. We talked with Tim to discuss his journey from the Yard to the Marine Corps, from leading teams in the technology industry to founding Blue Ivy Partners. Along the way, Ogden shares the leadership lessons that shaped him, the challenges that tested him and why giving back has remained a constant throughout his life. It's a conversation about service, entrepreneurship, purpose and family and how the experiences that begin at the Naval Academy can echo across a lifetime. Click the video link above and enjoy!

Secretary of War Flag Officer announcements from last week:

In all, nine of the 16 selections to two-star were Naval Academy alums. To see the full list of promotees, read the press release below.

Government & Military News

The Iran war has cost the Defense Department $37.5 billion to date, Secretary Pete Hegseth told senators Tuesday during a hearing to request emergency funding for the ongoing conflict. Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. John Caine testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee to seek $67.1 billion in supplemental money for the war and other DoD expenses, such as munitions, drones and the Army and National Guard deployments to the southern U.S. border and Washington, DC. Given that the department has $75 billion in its coffers from the $156 billion it received last year in reconciliation funding in the One Big Beautiful Bill, senators voiced skepticism over the emergency request.

A trio of Republican senators have introduced a bill to create Secretary of the Coast Guard and Undersecretary positions as the civilian head of the 43,000-member service, USNI News has learned. According to the draft ‘‘Coast Guard Leadership Modernization Act’’ obtained by USNI News, the new Secretary of the Coast Guard position would report to the Secretary of Homeland Security and takeover many of the interactions the service had with the Pentagon, according to the bill text. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and was introduced Wednesday.

The U.S. House of Representatives narrowly approved its fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in a 216-212 vote, authorizing a record $1.15 trillion for national defense. The bill includes military pay raises ranging from 5% to 7%, increases the size of the active-duty force and funds major defense modernization efforts. Supporters argued the measure is needed to strengthen military readiness and deterrence, while critics raised concerns about the overall cost, federal deficits and continued funding tied to military operations in Iran. The vote largely followed party lines and highlighted growing divisions over defense spending. The legislation now moves to the Senate for further consideration.

Local, Education & other academy news

Please join us in welcoming Rana Yum to the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation (USNA AA&F) team this summer. Originally from Istanbul, Turkey, Yum brings a global perspective and a passion for technology to her role with the STAR team. Before relocating to the United States to continue her education, she spent five years living in Germany. She is currently a senior at Moravian University in Pennsylvania, where she is pursuing a degree in Computer Science and she is on track to graduate this December.

Yum was drawn to USNA AA&F because of its meaningful mission and the opportunity to contribute to work that makes a difference. Throughout her internship, she is excited to apply the knowledge and skills she has gained in the classroom to real-world challenges and see the impact of her contributions firsthand. Outside of academics and work, she enjoys seeking out new adventures. One memorable achievement she has already checked off her bucket list was hiking to the summit of Hoher Kasten in the Alps. The challenging eight-hour trek rewarded her with breathtaking views and remains one of the most unforgettable experiences of her life. We’re excited to have Rana on the team this summer and look forward to the contributions she will make during her time with us. Welcome aboard, Rana!

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