29 July Daily Shipmate

Wednesday 29 July 2026

One of the most anticipated moments of Plebe Summer is almost here. After weeks apart, you'll soon have the chance to see your plebe, hear their stories and celebrate everything they've accomplished during their first weeks at the U.S. Naval Academy.

 

Before the reunion begins, join fellow Class of 2030 parents at the Plebe Parent Mixer. Connect with families who understand exactly what this journey has been like, meet local Parent Clubs and learn about the resources available to support you throughout your Naval Academy experience.

The Academy journey isn't just a milestone for your plebe—it's a journey for your entire family. We look forward to welcoming you and celebrating this special reunion together. Registration required at the link below.

1932 - LTJG Richard Downer ’27, USN, was lost when the seaplane he was piloting crashed near Del Mar, California. One of his crew was also killed; three others were rescued. Dick grew up in Davenport, Iowa, and was noted in the Lucky Bag to be a “one-woman man. In fact, he has three that he insists on calling the O. A. O. [one and only].” Following graduation he served aboard the cruiser USS Denver, then the carrier USS Lexington. By October 1929 he entered pilot training in Pensacola, Florida; Dick earned his wings in July 1930. He was a member of Scouting Plane Squadron (VS) 3B, USS Lexington. In late 1931 or early 1932 he was piloting one of the planes in a formation of the movie “Hell Divers,” which starred Wallace Berry and Clark Gable. Dick was survived by his parents. His name is incorrectly listed in Memorial Hall as “DICK R. DOWNER” – his given name was Richard. Other alumni lost on this day are listed at Virtual Memorial Hall.

 

1967 - While Forrestal (CVA-59) prepares to launch its second strike of the day off Vietnam, a Zuni rocket ignites and shoots across the carrier’s flight deck, detonating a bomb beneath an aircraft and causing a series of explosions that rock the ship. Fire engulfs the after end of the flight deck and spreads below decks. Only the determined efforts of its crew save the Navy’s first supercarrier, though not without cost. All told, 134 members of its crew and embarked air wing are killed and 62 more are injured. Twenty-one aircraft are destroyed. The incident ends Forrestal’s combat deployment after just five days.

 

1968 - Operation Game Warden is expanded to include the entire Mekong Delta from the Cambodian border to the South China Sea. The joint operation limited the enemy’s use of South Vietnam’s larger rivers and saw the establishment of the River Patrol Force (Task Force 116) to keep shipping channels open, search river craft, disrupt enemy troop movements, and support special operations and ground forces.

 

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

AE Industrial Partners, LP (“AE Industrial”), a private investment firm focused on technologies and services considered critical to national and economic security, today announced the naming of RADM Leonard “Butch” Dollaga ’90, USN (Ret.), as an Operating Partner. In this expanded role, Dollaga will work closely with AE Industrial’s investment professionals and portfolio company executives to strengthen strategic planning and develop customer relationships for portfolio companies. He will also help identify and assess new investment opportunities across national security sectors, with a particular focus on maritime. Additionally, he will assist portfolio companies in navigating complex processes associated with federal budgeting, legislation, acquisition and policies that shape the defense industrial base.

Calling all regular members of the USNA Alumni Association: In May 2027, Mark Ferguson ‘78, chair of the USNA Alumni Association Board of Trustees, will complete six years on the Board. The nomination window for chair candidates from the alumni community to replace Ferguson on the Board opens on 1 August and closes on 1 September 2026. The Board chair serves a term of three years, and is eligible for a second term of three years. The next chair will serve on the Board from May 2027 to May 2030. Any regular member of the Alumni Association can nominate any regular member for chair – self nominations are permitted. Regular members should use the nomination form at the link below to make their nominations by 1 September 2026.

 

Per the Board’s bylaws, the Board’s Nominating committee will consider all nominees and select a single nominee for approval by the Board at the fall 2026 meeting in November. As always, we encourage nominees who represent our alumni community’s great variety of experience and background. Make your voice heard in our community by nominating a worthy member to be chair. Please contact the Board Secretary Wes Huey ’87 with questions and comments.

We've added new events to help you stay connected to the Naval Academy alumni community. From class reunions and chapter gatherings to alumni roadshows and other special events, there's plenty happening in the months ahead. Take a look below and start planning for the events that matter most to you. ⬇️

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 27 July 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.

About 200,000 service members leave the military each year, and many are now entering a job market increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence. A new generation of employment coaches and transition experts is encouraging veterans to use AI as a tool rather than fear it as a threat. Experts recommend feeding non-sensitive information from military records, such as a DD-214, into AI platforms to identify civilian career paths, salary expectations and job opportunities. While AI is already affecting hiring and contributing to workforce changes in some industries, coaches say veterans can gain a competitive advantage by learning how to use the technology effectively as they transition from military service to civilian careers.

The Pentagon is moving to rename Joint Base Charleston in South Carolina after the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, honoring his decades of military and public service. Graham, who died July 11 at age 71, served 33 years in the U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve before entering Congress. As a longtime advocate for defense spending, he helped secure funding for military readiness projects, including $212 million for Coast Guard infrastructure improvements in Charleston. Air Force officials confirmed that Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink signed a memo initiating the renaming process.

Local, Education & other academy news

What began as a small Texas vineyard in 1977 has grown into one of the state's most celebrated wineries. In a recent profile, Messina Hof Winery's story highlights the leadership of USNA alumnus Paul Mitchell Bonarrigo ’05, a seventh-generation winemaker, former Marine Corps officer, and CEO of the family-owned business. Under his leadership, Messina Hof has expanded across Texas while earning hundreds of awards and national recognition. The article traces the winery's roots from the Bonarrigo family's Sicilian winemaking heritage to its role in helping shape the modern Texas wine industry, blending family tradition, innovation, and hospitality.

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