5 Mar Daily Shipmate

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

This week's editions of Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation Morning Paper are brought to you by Otterson Wealth Advisors and Naval Academy graduate Caleb Cronic '11. Otterson Wealth Advisors of Raymond James is not just a team. It's a vast resource of financial knowledge, with each member bringing their unique expertise to your financial success. Caleb Cronic '11, financial advisor and Naval Academy graduate, is a CIMA-certified pro. His strategic prowess is your asset working towards your financial goals. Ready to begin to your journey? Otterson Wealth Advisors … your goals, our expertise.

1913 - Josephus Daniels, a North Carolina newspaper editor whose term in office will greatly impact the naval service, becomes the forty-first Secretary of the Navy. He soon names young Franklin D. Roosevelt to the post of assistant secretary.

 

1971 - Under a reorganization plan espoused by Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Elmo Zumwalt '42, the offices of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare, Surface, and Submarine are established. The Air Warfare post, created in 1944, involves only a name change.

 

1982 - 1LT Robert Wilson, Jr. '78, USMC was lost when the AV-8A Harrier “jumpjet” he was piloting crashed while attempting to land at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station, North Carolina. He was survived by his wife of six weeks, his mother and stepfather, and two brothers.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

The United States Naval Academy (USNA) has recently partnered with the coalition Face the Fight as a government liaison, becoming the first military service academy to collaborate on the joint effort to support military and veteran suicide prevention. Founded by USAA, the Humana Foundation, and Reach Resilience, Face the Fight is a coalition of corporations, nonprofits, and military and veteran-focused organizations working to break the stigma surrounding suicide in the military community by fostering open conversations and offering support.

Transformation Systems Inc. (TSi), a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and leading provider in the science of transformation, today announced the appointment of Michael Heary '98 as Vice President of Operations. A distinguished business leader and U.S. Naval Academy graduate, Heary brings over 25 years of operational leadership experience as the company continues its growth trajectory following its recent acquisition and rebranding. “Mike is a great strategic addition to the TSi team! His demonstrated success and track record will help propel TSi into adapting Best-in-Class practices that makes us more responsive to market trends and dynamics, while also making TSi more efficient and effective for our federal customers” Heary graduated in 1998 and is the 6th all-time leading scorer in Navy Basketball history having led the Mids to NCAA tournament appearances in 1997 and 1998. He is also the longtime color commentator for Navy Basketball on WNAV.

In episode 132 of the Talk4 Podcast, Louis Skupien welcomes Brian Schrum '96, the Commanding Officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), one of the U.S. Navy's most powerful aircraft carriers. With a distinguished career in Naval Aviation and carrier command, Brian has led elite teams at sea, ensuring operational success, crew morale, and mission readiness. In this incredible conversation, Brian shares his journey from aspiring pilot to commanding one of the most significant warships in the world. We discuss his path into the Navy and Naval Aviation, the thrill of flying F/A-18 Hornets and Super Hornets and leadership lessons from both the cockpit and the bridge.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reinstated the name “Fort Benning” on Monday for one of the nation's largest military bases — the second such reversal he's ordered and the first that requires actually removing the name of a U.S. service member. The base, located in Columbus, Georgia, had been renamed Fort Moore after Lt. Gen. Hal Moore, whose memoir “We Were Soldiers Once ... and Young” chronicled his service in Vietnam. The name also commemorated his wife, Julia, who pushed the military to develop a more humane system for notifying family members of casualties. Hegseth first changed Fort Liberty in Fayetteville, North Carolina, back to Fort Bragg, with a memorandum Feb. 10.

A new behind the scenes trailer for “Warfare” tells the story behind Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland's upcoming Iraq War drama. “Warfare” is an upcoming film that embeds audiences with a platoon of Navy SEALs in the home of an Iraqi family, as they provide overwatch for U.S. forces through insurgent territory. A visceral story of modern warfare, the film aims to portray combat as it is remembered by those who survived it.  Written and directed by Navy SEAL veteran Ray Mendoza and “Civil War”  director Alex Garland, the film was personal for Mendoza, who based it on a mission he participated in during the Iraq War. The story hinges on the relationship between Mendoza and Elliott Miller, a SEAL who served with Mendoza, and who, during the mission, sustained significant injuries and now, cannot remember the attack at all.

USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) pulled in to Busan Naval Base, South Korea on Sunday for a scheduled port visit, marking the first visit of a U.S. carrier to a foreign port during the second Trump administration. Meanwhile, a People's Liberation Army Navy task group that has been sailing around Australia since mid-February is now operating 305 nautical miles southeast of Perth. A Sunday release stated the visit of Vinson exemplifies the U.S. commitment to the region.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

Capt. Thomas, a native of Nashport, Ohio, graduated with highest distinction earning a Bachelor's of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy in 1997, with distinction from the United States Naval War College in 2011, and from Navy Nuclear Power School in 2018.  He earned his wings of gold in 1999 and was assigned to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 120 for initial training as an E-2C Hawkeye Replacement Pilot.

St. Patrick's Day is on the horizon, and with that comes a weekend of painting Annapolis green with a variety of events. The centerpiece is the St. Patrick's Day Parade, which travels down West Street and then Main Street on Sunday starting at 1 p.m. “It's become quite an event,” said John O'Leary, founder of Naptown Events, which puts on the parade. “We have right around 100, averages out to about 100, floats, which is easily the greatest number of floats in any parade that we have in the city.” O'Leary said the parade is expected to take about 2.5 hours to complete. An Annapolis native, O'Leary began the parade in 2012 to fill a void that he felt the city had in its parade lineup. This year sees the return of the Massachusetts State Police Pipe Band. The Washington D.C. Fire Department Pipes and Drums will also be back after a hiatus of a few years. O'Leary is an alumnus (non-graduate) of the Naval Academy class of 1995. The Fluegel Alumni Center is hosting the Parade Hoolie Saturday.

The Survivor Advocacy Network (SAN) is excited to present a wellness webinar exploring ways to handle boundary issues and shame that often accompany trauma. This webinar will take place from 7-9pm ET on March 13 and is presented by LtCol (USAF) Latetia Bland-Thergood, MSW. IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: The Survivor Advocacy Network (SAN) is a committee of USNA Women which is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and is a NON-FEDERAL ENTITY for USNA alumnae and all those who support its mission. USNA Women IS NOT A PART OF THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE OR ANY OF ITS COMPONENTS. As such, recently released Federal Executive Orders do not apply to SAN Programs which serve active duty, veteran and military service academy/college survivors of sexual assault.

A U.S. Military Academy at West Point colonel will be arraigned again for misconduct charges similar to ones that were dropped twice before, according to West Point. Col. William Wright previously faced charges in 2024 over allegations that he drank with a cadet, tampered with witnesses and falsified information, according to court documents.  Now, Wright is charged with violating the Army's trainer-trainee policy, interfering with an adverse administrative proceeding and making a false official statement, according to a statement from the West Point Directorate of Communications.

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

Reconnect with your former teammates and support our men's lacrosse team! You and a guest are invited to join us for a FREE Navy Letterwinners Tailgate at the Superintendent's Tent inside the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium during the Army-Navy Men's Lacrosse game on April 12. Varsity and club athletes on the Letterwinner's Association distribution are invited! Food and drinks will be available starting at 11:30 am and face-off is at 12:30 pm. The tailgate will remain open throughout the duration of the game. Additional guest passes for the tailgate are available for purchase.

Today's Matchups

 

Men's Tennis v Morgan State - Annapolis, Md. - 2 p.m.

Baseball v George Washington - Annapolis, Md. - 3 p.m.

Women's Basketball v Boston University - Annapolis, Md. - 5:30 p.m.

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

MARCH

7 Mar - A&SP Policy Review Committee Meeting - Fluegel (Bastian Conference Room)

7-16 Mar - USNA Spring Break

12-13 Mar - SACC Atlanta

13 Mar - Survivor Advocacy Network Trauma Webinar - “Boundaries & Dealing With Shame”

17 Mar - SW Washington/Oregon + NAPC of Oregon Roadshow - Portland, OR

18 Mar - Hanford Tri-Cities Chapter + NAPC of Washington Roadshow - Richland, WA

19 Mar - Northwest ID Chapter + NAPC of Idaho Roadshow - Coeur d'Alene, ID

20 Mar - Southern ID Chapter + NAPC of Idaho Roadshow - Boise, ID

21 Mar -  A&SP Executive Committee Meeting - Fluegel (Bastian Conference Room)

22 Mar - Annual Gathering for USNA Women - Fluegel Alumni Center

22 Mar - Fencing (club) Alumni Meet - Dahlgren Hall

26 Mar - Alumni Mentoring Program (AMP) Class of 2025 enrollment

30-31 Mar - Volunteer Leader Summit - Fluegel Alumni Center

 

APRIL

5 Apr - Annapolis Cup - USNA-St. John's Croquet Match

5 Apr - Women's Lacrosse Alumni Appreciation Day (Home Game vs. Holy Cross)

10-12 Apr - Class of 1955 - 70th Reunion

11 Apr - Athletic & Scholarship Programs Spring Meeting - Akerson Tower

11-12 Apr - Men's Soccer Alumni Weekend

12 Apr - Navy Letterwinners Association Army/Navy Men's Lacrosse Tailgate

23 April - Bonds of Gold Ceremony

24 Apr - AA&F Vietnam Legacy of Valor Series Speaker Event - FAC

24-27 Apr - Class of 1970 - 55th Reunion

25 Apr - Council of Class Presidents Spring Meeting, Fluegel, TBD

25 Apr - USNA Dedication Parade, Worden Field

30 Apr - USNA Capstone Day

30 Apr - USNA Foundation Spring Board of Directors Welcome Reception

 

MAY

1 May - USNA Foundation Spring BOD meeting, Fluegel Alumni Center

6-8 May - Class of 1957 - 70th Reunion

7-9 May - USNA Alumni Association Spring BOT Meeting, Fluegel Alumni Center

8-9 May - SACC Washington DC

14 May - Class of 2028 Herndon Climb

21 May -  Blue Angels CFR Event - Hospital Point, USNA

22 May - Color Parade, Worden Field

22 May - USNA Prizes & Awards, Alumni Hall, 2 p.m.

23 May - Class of 2025 Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony, NMCMS

 

25 Jun - Athletic & Scholarship Program Pre-I Day Reception, Fluegel Alumni Center

26 Jun - USNA Induction Day, Class of 2029

 

17-18 Jul - Entrepreneur Summit, Fluegel Alumni Center

 

22 Aug - Friends of Navy Sailing (FONS) Starting Gun Reception: Severn Sailing Association, 6 p.m.

23 Aug - Friends of Navy Sailing Supe brief, race and Sail Navy Banquet

28-31 Aug - Class of 1960 - 65th Reunion

30 Aug -  Navy vs VMI, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD