31 Mar Daily Shipmate

Monday, March 31, 2025

1801 - On this date, LtCol Commandant William W. Burrows rode with president Thomas Jefferson to look for "a proper place to fix the Marine Barracks on." President Jefferson was a personal friend of the Commandant, and deeply interested in the welfare of the Corps and accompanied Burrows on horseback on the morning of 31 March. They chose a square in Southeast Washington, bounded by 8th and 9th streets, and G & I streets, because it lay near the Navy Yard and was within easy marching distance of the Capitol.

 

1927 - CDR Robert Cabaniss '06, USN was lost when the PN-9 seaplane he was aboard crashed near Navassa Island, West Indies while attempting to take off in rough seas. He was Naval Aviator #36.

1968 - President Lyndon B. Johnson called a halt to bombing in North Vietnam north of the 20th parallel and informed the nation that he would not seek reelection.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

The U.S. Naval Academy has changed its policy and will no longer consider race as a factor when evaluating candidates to attend the elite military school, a practice it maintained even after the U.S. Supreme Court barred civilian colleges from employing similar affirmative action policies. Days after returning to office, Trump signed an executive order on January 27 that eliminated diversity, equity and inclusion programs from the military. The U.S. Department of Justice said that in light of those directives, Vice Admiral Yvette Davids, the Naval Academy's superintendent, issued guidance barring the consideration of race, ethnicity or sex as a factor in its admissions process.

Former college football coach Sen. Tommy Tuberville said this week he plans to push for new rules in this year's defense authorization bill debate allowing elite military academy athletes to pursue professional sports careers after graduation, calling it an invaluable recruiting tool for the services. The proposal, discussed at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing Wednesday focused on oversight of the academies, drew initial support from military leadership at the schools. Tuberville, R-Ala., has not released a formal proposal but said he intends to push the issue in coming weeks.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

The defense secretary's decision to review military standards on combat and physical fitness and appearance opens a Pandora's box of widely differing rules among the services. And it will raise a crucial question: Should there be a cookie-cutter approach, or should service differences, evolving social norms and recruiting realities play a role in policy decisions? Pete Hegseth has been very public about his opposition to women in combat jobs and his belief that standards were lowered to accommodate women, and he warned there would be reviews to address the issues. He is a staunch proponent of making all standards the same, regardless of gender, and military officials are braced for changes as reviews continue.

The Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee, named for the pioneering Navy nurse and Navy Cross recipient, debuted a new battle flag as it pulled into port in San Diego in early March, according to publicly available imagery published to social media. The flag consists of a golden number 20 encircled by 20 gold stars on a navy blue background in what appears to be a tribute to the “Sacred Twenty,” the first group of women to officially serve in the U.S. Navy that included Higbee among its ranks.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

CDR Stephen J. Skahen. Commander Skahen is a native of Newport Beach, CA, and is a 2007 graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He holds a Bachelors of Science in Naval Architecture from USNA and a Masters Degree in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School, and Joint Professional Military Education Phase I from the Naval War College.

The Army West Point Black Knights looked within to find their replacement for Mike Buddie, who is now leading the athletic department at TCU. Tom “Theo” Theodorakis took the reins last month after spending the past two years as one of Buddie's top lieutenants. As Army's deputy athletic director for external operations and chief revenue officer, he helped get many internal projects moving, including the expansive Michie Stadium renovation projection.

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

Baseball at Army - W 5-1

Men's Swimming & Diving at NCAA Championship - No Team Score

Men's Gymnastics at USAG Collegiate Championship - 1st Place

Baseball at Army - W 3-0

Men's Lightweight Rowing at National Collegiate Lightweight Invite

 

Men's Tennis vs Lehigh - W 5-2

Men's Tennis at Lafayette - W 6-1

Women's Lacrosse at Boston University - W 16-8

Men's Lacrosse at Colgate - L 9-14

Women's Tennis at Colgate - W 6-1

 

Women's Rugby at West Chester 7's - 2nd Place (3 Ws, 1 L)

Baseball at Holy Cross - L 0-9 / L 0-10

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

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)

6 Apr - Boston Chapter + NAPC of New England Roadshow - Cambridge, MA

7 Apr - Connecticut Chapter + NAPC of Connecticut Roadshow - Norwalk, CT

8 Apr - Rhode Island Chapter + NAPC of New England Roadshow - Providence, RI

9 Apr - Maine Chapter + NAPC of New England Roadshow - Portland, ME

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

11 Apr - Council for Annual Giving Meeting - Fluegel Alumni Center

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

12 Apr - NAAA Sale of the Century

17 Apr - Visit Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Networking event - Fluegel - 4 p.m.

21-27 Apr - Huntsville, Alabama Navy Week

23 April - Bonds of Gold Ceremony

24 Apr - AA&F Vietnam Legacy of Valor Series Speaker Event - Fluegel Alumni Center

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

27 Apr - Frogman Swim to benefit the SEAL Foundation - Severn River

29 Apr - Erik Kristensen Memorial Lecture - St. John's College

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

12-18 May - Richmond, VA Navy Week

14 May - Class of 2028 Herndon Climb

16-18 May - USA Warriors Sled Hockey Event

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

26 May - Run to Honor - Reading the names of the fallen alumni heroes in Memorial Hall

26 May - Run to Honor Nationwide Walk/Runs

 

16-22 Jun - Anchorage, Alaska Navy Week

17-18 Jun - Entrepreneur Summit, Fluegel Alumni Center

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

26 Jun - USNA Induction Day, Class of 2029

30 Jun-6 Jul - Duluth, Minnesota Navy Week

 

4-10 Aug - Sioux Falls, South Dakota Navy Week

18-24 Aug - Columbus, Ohio Navy Week

21-22 Aug - SACC San Diego

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

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

24 Aug - Annapolis 10 Miler - Run to Honor is a charity partner

25-31 Aug - Springfield, Missouri Navy Week

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

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

 

6 Sep - Navy Football vs University of Alabama Birmingham, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

13 Sep - Navy Football vs Tulsa, Tulsa, OK.

14 Sep - Annapolis Travis Manion 9/11 Heroes Run

15-21 Sep - Wichita Falls, Texas Navy Week

22-28 Sep - Hartford, CT Navy Week

27 Sep - Navy Football vs Rice, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

 

2 Oct - Presidents Circle Welcome Reception, Fluegel

2-4 Oct - Presidents Circle Weekend

2-5 Oct - Class of 1990 – 35th Reunion

2-5 Oct - Class of 1995 – 30 Reunion

4 Oct - Navy Football vs Air Force, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

11 Oct - Navy Football @ Temple, Lincoln Financial Stadium, Philadelphia, PA

23-26 Oct - Class of 1965 - 60th Reunion

23-26 Oct - Class of 1975 – 50th Reunion

25 Oct - Navy Football vs Florida Atlantic, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

25 Oct - United States Naval Academy Homecoming

25 Oct - Welcome Home Event, Fluegel Alumni Center

25-31 - Eugene, Oregon Navy Week

 

1 Nov - Navy Football @ University of North Texas, DATCU Stadium, Denton, TX

5-6 Nov - US Naval Academy Foundation Fall Board of Directors Reception/Meeting

8 Nov - Navy Football @ Notre Dame, Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend, IN

10-16  Nov - Santa Fe, New Mexico Navy Week.

14 Nov - Athletic & Scholarship Fall Board Meeting, Navy/Marine Corps Stadium

15 Nov - Navy Football vs University of South Florida, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

17 Nov - Council of Class Presidents, (Fall COCP Meeting), Fluegel

18-19 Nov - US Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustee Fall Meeting, Fluegel

19-20 Nov - SACC Chicago

27 Nov - Navy Football @ University of Memphis, Liberty Bowl, Memphis, TN

 

5/6 Dec - American Athletic Conference Football Championship Game, TBD

6 Dec - Distinguished Graduate Selection Committee Meeting, Fluegel, TBD

13 Dec - Army - Navy, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD