4 Apr Daily Shipmate

Friday, April 4, 2025

1865 - President Abraham Lincoln joins Rear Admiral David Dixon Porter on board the latter's flagship, the steamer Malvern, for a trip up the James River to inspect the former Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia.

1933 - RADM William Moffett, Class of 1890, USN, CDR Fred Berry, Class of 1908, USN, CDR Henry Cecil '10, USN, CDR Frank McCord '11, USN, LCDR David Cummins '18, USN, LCDR Harold MacLellan '18, USN, LT George Calnan '20, USN, LT Joseph Severyns, Jr. '20, USN, LT Richard Cross, Jr. '21, USN, LT Herbert Wescoat '23, USN, LTjg Robert Sayre '24, USN, LT Charles Callaway '24, USN, LTjg Hammond Dugan '24, USN, LTjg Charles Miller '25, USN, LT Wilfred Bushnell '26, USN were lost when the airship USS Akron (ZRS 4) crashed off the coast of New Jersey. Of the seventy-six men aboard, only three survived. RADM Moffett was the first Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, serving in that position for nearly a dozen years.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). We have another Podcast Collab this week as we take the pod to Dry 85 on Main Street with Josh. He and classmate Adam Hudson have started their own podcast appropriately called the 20:06 Podcast. They just interviewed their classmate, paralympian and distinguished graduate Brad Snyder. It's great. More importantly, Josh and John talk about the 10 year anniversary of the death of his classmate Stanford “Ford” Shaw '06. Josh retires from the Navy this Friday, so we also talk a bit about the transition and the advice he has for alums in his position getting out of the service. Chris and John also talk about the retirement of Chet Gladchuk, a visit to the yard by SECDEF and SECNAV, and our recent Volunteer Leader Summit. That and more on the best Alumni Association and Foundation podcast there is. Give a listen. Beat Army …  always.

LISTEN ON

Captain John "Jack" Walter Renard, USN (Ret.) passed away on March 25, 2025, in Charlottesville, VA, at the age of 92. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Donna; his daughters, Kathryn and Josie; his son, John; his brother, Robert; as well as seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Jack dedicated his life to serving his country as a career Navy officer. After completing a post-graduate year at The Severn School, he entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1951. Upon his commissioning as an Ensign in 1955, he began his naval career aboard the USS George K. MacKenzie (DD 836) and USS Harder (SS 568). Following his military retirement, Jack continued to serve our nation as the U.S. Naval Academy's Dean of Admissions from 1985 to 1997.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

It is the honor and privilege of my lifetime to serve as 79th Secretary of the Navy. As I end my first week in office, I remain humbled by the extraordinary dedication and bravery you display every single day. Our Navy and Marine Corps stand unmatched today because of you, our people. Ships, aircraft, and advanced technology are crucial, but they are nothing without the Sailors and Marines who bring them to life. Your commitment, courage, and resilience make our Navy and Marine Corps the most lethal and vital force in America's arsenal. Admiral William “Bull” Halsey once said, “There are no extraordinary men… just extraordinary circumstances that ordinary men are forced to deal with.” Each day you prove yourselves more than capable of handling extraordinary circumstances. For this you have my utmost respect and admiration.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

Spring means getting outside, maybe noshing on a chicken wing or 15. Or how about some Filipino sticky buns or Bò-Khirria tacos — Viet-Mex fusion — and Japanese beer? If you want to wash it down with music from the popular band Pressing Strings or cultural displays from the diverse Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander populations of Maryland, this weekend marks the start of the Annapolis festival season. Tickets remain for the 41st anniversary croquet match between St. John's College and the Naval Academy, a contest in style and size hailed as one of the most significant collegiate sporting events. Thousands of students from both Annapolis colleges turn out to watch each school's teams smack wooden balls through wickets with wooden hammers. If the fine points are lost on you, the spring festival atmosphere draws thousands of other spectators in fancy dress. Tickets are $80 plus taxes and fees, with the front lawn of St. John's open for claiming blanket space at 10:30 a.m.

Air Force Academy superintendent proposes cutting civilian staff

Colorado Springs Gazette

The Air Force Academy superintendent is proposing to cut civilian faculty positions without hiring uniformed instructors to replace them — a change that could eliminate some majors. 

 

The proposal floated in internal meetings and communications is intended to increase the percentage of military service members among the faculty up to 80% and bring the percentage of civilians down from about 37% to 20%.

 

The internal communication listed Superintendent Tony Bauernfeind's goals for reducing the staff overall, lowering the civilian representation and reducing the number of faculty members with doctorates to the minimum viable for accreditation. He would like to see changes in place by the coming fall semester, the note said. 

 

The academy currently employs 491 faculty members with 308 (62.7%) uniformed members and 183 (37.3%) civilian members, the communication said. To meet the proposed goals, 105 civilian positions would have to be cut. 

 

"The Dean has communicated that a reduction of our faculty body below 400 members would force us to cut some majors and cease many opportunities for cadets," the communication said.

 

Some cadets seemed concerned about the prospect of cutting great civilian professors and losing majors on the anonymous social media app Jodel and called on their peers to write their representatives. 

 

"Everyone take five to 10 minutes to write an email to whoever nominated you telling them about the tomfoolery TB (Tony Bauernfeind) is trying to pull and how it will ruin our education and the value of being at this place. He's really trying to fire some some of the best, smartest teachers here and causing them hella stress," one post said. 

 

The proposal would require the secretary of the Air Force to approve it. The nominee to lead the Air Force, Troy Meink, is still awaiting confirmation. He currently leads the National Reconnaissance Office.

 

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called for more uniformed personnel to teach at the academies during his confirmation hearing. 

 

"We need more uniformed members going back into West Point, the Air Force Academy and the Naval Academy, as a tour-to-teach, with their wisdom of what they have learned in uniform, instead of just more civilian professors that came from the same left-wing, woke universities that they left, and then try to push that into service academies," Hegseth said.

 

Bauernfeind and the other academy superintendents faced questions last week during a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel about the mix of civilians they employ. 

 

At the Naval Academy, it's close to a 50-50 split between civilians and military faculty, Superintendent Vice Adm. Yvette Davids said. At West Point, civilians make up 26% of the faculty and uniformed members make up 74%, Lt. Gen. Steven Gilland said. 

 

Gilland noted during the hearing that civilians bring technical expertise to the institution, particularly in science, technology, engineering or mathematics fields.

 

The three academies educate and train about 20% of the military's officers, said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., at the hearing. Others commission through ROTC programs at universities and colleges or through officer candidate school. 

 

Top military leaders, such as Space Force Chief of Operations Chance Saltzman, graduated from ROTC programs. 

 

Longtime Air Force Academy department head and retired Brig. Gen. Marty France said the Air Force Academy's transition to employing more civilians started around 1990 and it took 35 years to reach 37%. 

 

Civilians can bring a depth of knowledge and research experience in their field, while military faculty can show the linkage between the field of study and military service. Many of the current civilians are veterans, he said. 

 

"They have the best of both worlds," France said.

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

Army Leads 11-9. (Navy - Baseball, Men's Basketball, Men's Rugby, Men's Cross Country, Football, Gymnastics, Rifle, Men's Indoor Track & Field, Women's Indoor Track & Field; Army - Women's Basketball, Wrestling, Volleyball, Sprint Football, Golf, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Women's Cross Country, W Rugby, Men's Swim and Dive, Women's Swim and Dive)

 

5 Apr - Women's Outdoor Track & Field - Annapolis - 9:30 a.m.

5 Apr - Men's Outdoor Track & Field - Annapolis - 9:30 a.m.

5 Apr - Women's Tennis - West Point - 10 a.m.

12 Apr - M. Lacrosse - Annapolis - 12:30 p.m.

12 Apr - Men's Tennis - West Point - 1 p.m.

12 Apr - W. Lacrosse - West Point - 2:30 p.m.

Weekend Matchups

Men's Tennis at Bucknell - Lewisburg, Pa. - 3 p.m.

Men's Lacrosse vs Lafayette - Annapolis, Md. - 7 p.m.

 

Intercollegiate Sailing at Yale Women's Team Race - New Haven, Conn. - All Day

Intercollegiate Sailing - Prosser Trophy - MAISA Team Race - Annapolis, Md. - All Day

Men's Golf at Augusta Haskins Award Invitational - Augusta, Ga. - 8 a.m.

Men's Heavyweight Rowing at Princeton - Princeton, N.J. - 9 a.m.

Men's Track & Field vs Army - Star Meet - Annapolis, Md.- 9:30 a.m.

Women's Track & Field vs Army - Star Meet - Annapolis, Md. - 10:45 a.m.

Women's Tennis at Army - West Point, N.Y. - 11 a.m.

Men's Tennis vs Norfolk State - Annapolis, Md. - Noon

Women's Lacrosse v Holy Cross - Annapolis, Md. - Noon

Men's Rugby vs No. 15 Penn State - Annapolis, Md. - Noon

Baseball vs Lafayette - Annapolis, Md. - 1:00 p.m.

Men's Gymnastics at ECAC Championship - Indianola, IA - 2 p.m.

Men's Soccer at James Madison Harrisonburg, Va./ Sentara Park - 2 p.m.

Baseball vs Lafayette - Annapolis, Md. - 3:30 p.m.

 

Intercollegiate Sailing - Prosser Trophy - MAISA Team Race - Annapolis, Md. - All Day

Intercollegiate Sailing at Yale Women's Team Race - New Haven, Conn. - All Day

Men's Golf at Augusta Haskins Award Invitational - Augusta, Ga. - 8 a.m.

Women's Golf at Terps Invitational - College Park, Md. / Univ. of Md Golf Course 8:30 a.m.

Men's Tennis at Holy Cross - Worcester, Mass. - 10 a.m.

Men's Tennis vs Longwood - Annapolis, Md. - 11 a.m.

Baseball vs Lehigh - Annapolis, Md. - 1 p.m.

Baseball vs Lehigh - Annapolis, Md. - 3:30 p.m.

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

APRIL

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 - Navy Lax Old Goat Career Conference Happy Hour - Forward Brewing - Annapolis

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.

19 Apr - Women's Crew vs Georgetown on the Severn. Finish visible from Hospital Point.

21-27 Apr - Huntsville, Alabama Navy Week

23 Apr - Bonds of Gold Ceremony Class of 1977 and Class of 2027 - Mahan Hall

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

 

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

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

18-19 Sep - McMullen Naval History Symposium - USNA

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