6 Mar Daily Shipmate

Thursday, March 6, 2025

1953 - The submarine Tunny (SSG-282), refitted to launch the Regulus surface-to-surface missile, was commissioned. It conducted its first test firing of the missile on 15 July.

 

1967 - While serving as a machine gunner on board the river patrol boat PBR-124, Seaman David G. Ouellet observed suspicious activity along a bank of the Mekong River. His boat moved in closer to shore and a grenade was thrown at it. Ouellet left his machine gun, dashed to the rear of the boat and pushed the boat captain aside, placing his body between his skipper and the grenade. The subsequent blast kills him. For his devotion to his shipmates, Ouellet is awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously.

1998 - LT Kelly Mackey '90, USN and LTjg D. Michael Hillegas '94, USN were lost when the SH-60B Seahawk they were aboard crashed in the San Bernardino mountains of Southern California; three others were also killed. Kelly was survived by his wife, two sons, parents, and two sisters. Michael was survived by his parents and sister.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

NASA's two stuck astronauts are just a few weeks away from finally returning to Earth after nine months in space. Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams '87 have to wait until their replacements arrive at the International Space Station next week before they can check out later this month. During a news conference Tuesday, Williams said she can't wait to be reunited with her Labrador retrievers. The hardest part about the unexpected extended stay, she added, was the wait by their families back home.

Capt. Shane Marchesi took command of aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Tuesday. He takes over from Capt. Chris Hill, who was named interim commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman last month. Truman's former commanding officer, Capt. Dave Snowden, was fired following a Feb. 12 collision between the carrier and a cargo ship near the Suez Canal. A 1998 graduate of the Naval Academy, Marchesi was designated a pilot in 2000. He is a former executive officer and commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 87, serving in the latter role until March 2018.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

As part of his sweeping national address on Tuesday night, President Donald Trump promised to establish a new office of shipbuilding within the White House to revitalize the industry and bolster American naval strength. The vow — which came during the national security section of Trump's nearly two-hour speech — was included among broader plans to “boost our defense industrial base” for America. “We are also going to resurrect the American shipbuilding industry, including commercial shipbuilding and military shipbuilding,” Trump said, eliciting applause from Republican lawmakers in the House chamber for the address.

The U.S. Navy has used more missiles for air defense since combat operations in the Red Sea began in October 2023 than the service used in all the years since Operation Desert Storm in the 1990s, said retired Navy Cmdr. Bryan Clark, of the Hudson Institute. Over that 15-month-period, which ran from Oct. 19, 2023 to Jan. 19, 2025, the Navy saw the most combat at sea since World War II, Clark told Task & Purpose. “It's kind of amazing how the Navy has held up with no losses, but the cost has been pretty enormous,” Clark said. “The estimates are the Navy has used up $1 billion-plus worth of interceptors to shoot down these drone and missile threats.”

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

Rear Adm. Douglas L. Williams is a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1995 with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering. He earned a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in 2002, where he was also selected for transfer to the Engineering Duty Officer community. As a surface warfare officer, his time at sea included sea tours aboard USS Anchorage (LSD 36) and USS Jarrett (FFG 33).  From 2002 to 2005, he was assigned to the Strategic Weapons Facility, Atlantic in Kings Bay, Georgia, to begin a career with Strategic Systems Programs (SSP).

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

It was a spirited first of 16 scheduled spring Navy Football practices Tuesday on a blustery afternoon on the banks of the Severn River at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. The Midshipmen return several key players from last season's team that finished 10-3 with season-ending wins over their arch rivals from West Point in the 125th Army-Navy Game presented by USAA and an impressive win over Oklahoma in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl. Back in 2025 for 3rd year Navy head coach Brian Newberry are 17 starters and 47 letter winners off the team that also beat Air Force on the way to winning the Commander-In-Chief's Trophy.

Yesterday's Results

Men's Tennis v Morgan State - W 7-0

Baseball v George Washington - PPD Rain

Women's Basketball v Boston University - W 60-47

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

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

 

4 Apr - Annapolis Cup Social - Cannon Shot Documentary screening - Fluegel Alumni Center

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

 

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