14 Apr Daily Shipmate

Monday, April 14, 2025

1969 - North Korean aircraft shot down an EC-121 Warning Star electronic surveillance aircraft over the Sea of Japan. All 31 crew members were lost. In response, the Navy established Task Force 71, consisting of four carriers and their escorts, to undertake a show of force in the Yellow Sea.

 

1988 - While operating in the Persian Gulf, the frigate Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) struck a mine. The ensuing explosion blew a 21-foot hole in its bottom, injured ten of its crew, and caused extensive flooding.

 

1988 - LT Brian Hawley '84, USN was lost when the A-6E Intruder he was aboard crashed about 25 miles south of Chehalis, in southwestern Washington. The pilot was also lost; they were members of Attack Squadron (VA) 145, based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

On January 16, 2025, Athletic Director Chet Gladchuk announced the establishment of the Navy Letterwinners Association. The mission of the Navy Letterwinners Association is to connect past varsity and club sports athletes to the United States Naval Academy, and to each other, by honoring their accomplishments and providing meaningful engagement in support of Navy Athletics. "Bringing our letterwinners home through enhanced regular communication and programming will effectively bridge our storied past with today's midshipmen. This initiative will definitely complement our vision for exciting future relationships and an amazing network of resources." said Gladchuk. A sign of that programming and connection was on display Saturday as the Letterwinners Association hosted a tailgate for Army-Navy Lacrosse at N/MCMS…welcoming in soccer and lacrosse alumni for reunion weekends and hundreds of guests.

With their sweep of the Lacrosse matchups Saturday, Army claimed the annual Star Series. This was Army's 5th win in the annual Star Series. The Series began in 1978-79. Navy now leads the all-time standings 40-5-2. Star Wins in 2024-2025:(Navy - Men's Tennis, Men's & Women's T&F, 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 - Men's & Women's Lacrosse, Women's Tennis, 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).

The ICSA recently announced the organization's new Executive Director - Retired Rear Adm. Peter J. Fanta. Fanta is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy ('83), where he sailed on the varsity offshore team and was a member of the US Sailing Offshore Champion winning team. In his 37-year Naval career Fanta worked in senior levels of the military at sea in command of a multitude of forces, ashore on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in civilian government, and in the corporate shipbuilding industry. “I believe in the value of college sailing,” said Fanta. “I am a product of the sport and attribute much of my professional success to the lessons learned and the skills I acquired in competition on the water. I want to give back to the sport that has given me so much.”

National Public Radio (NPR) was on hand at the Annapolis Cup last Saturday…a match from which the Mids emerged victorious!

'The lawn giveth and the lawn taketh away.” The croquet teams from St. John's College and the neighboring U.S. Naval Academy held their annual matchup on Saturday, April 5. The competition takes over the front lawn of St. John's, which was founded in 1696 in Maryland's capital city. Thousands attended, many in fancy dress, bowler hats and sporting large "Beat Navy" or "Beat the Johnnies" pins.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

The head of the Navy personnel expects that gaps at sea will drop by 2,000 by the end of the fiscal year, he told a Senate Armed Services Committee subcommittee. Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Richard Cheeseman, who will retire this summer, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee personnel subcommittee, along with his counterparts in the other services, discussing the successes in recruiting for the current fiscal year and ongoing challenges to meet a 100 percent fill rate. The Navy met its recruiting goals in Fiscal Year 2024, after failing to do so the past two fiscal years, and is set to exceed its goals this year.

The U.S. Department of Defense is now in charge of securing the country's southern border, having been granted new powers to enforce security there by President Donald Trump. Trump's National Security Presidential Memorandum signed earlier in the week allows the military to take control of the Roosevelt Reservation, a 60-foot-wide strip of land running along the southern border. "The complexity of the current situation requires that our military take a more direct role in securing our southern border than in the recent past," Trump wrote in the memorandum. "I assigned the Armed Forces of the United States the military missions of repelling the invasion and sealing the United States southern border from unlawful entry to maintain the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and security of the United States."

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

The U.S. Air Force Academy will no longer consider race as a factor in admissions as the military school had long done to boost enrollment of Black, Hispanic and other minorities, U.S. President Donald Trump's administration said on Friday. The change was detailed in a filing, opens new tab by the U.S. Department of Justice in federal court in Denver asking a judge to put on hold a lawsuit that was filed in December by the group that successfully persuaded the U.S. Supreme Court to ban race-conscious admissions at civilian universities. The Justice Department last month said the U.S. Naval Academy similarly had ended the consideration of race as an admissions factor.

An Army colonel fired in October as the garrison commander for the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, was found not guilty of drunk driving and disorderly conduct charges that prompted his relief of command. A federal jury acquitted Army Col. Anthony Bianchi of the two more serious charges he faced after being arrested last July for driving through West Point's Thayer Gate without showing his identification to military police.The jury found him guilty of running a stop sign, one of his attorneys told Task & Purpose on Wednesday. Police claimed that Bianchi had been “verbally abusive to wait staff” at the military academy's Eisenhower Hall earlier in the evening, court documents say.

Alumni Book Feature - Out of Uniform: Your Guide to a Successful Military-to-Civilian Career Transition by Tom Wolfe '72

After completing military service, veterans can have a difficult time finding employment when returning to civilian life. Out of Uniform, Second Edition is designed to help all transitioning military personnel, regardless of service, branch, rank, rating, time in service, time in grade, or specialty. Although all service members share common denominators, each individual brings something unique to the job market. Not only does this book cover the basics—search techniques, networking, interview preparation, résumés, negotiation, and a new chapter on social media—it also offers guidance on topics that are often overlooked, specifically the central issues of self-knowledge, interviewing empathy, and the power of questions.

In March, a U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) cadet was able to thank the woman who saved his life, after she witnessed his parachute malfunction during training and immediately jumped into action, providing medical assistance that would ultimately mean the difference between life and death. According to USAFA, on July 31, 2023, registered nurse and military spouse Alicia Shamblin was driving home when the unthinkable happened–as she watched cadets participating in freefall training, Shamblin witnessed a cadet's parachute malfunction.

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

Capital Gazette

Newly appointed Navy men's basketball coach Jon Perry confirmed to The Capital that standout point guard Austin Benigni has withdrawn his name from the transfer portal and will return for his senior season.

 

Benigni entered the transfer portal shortly after Ed DeChellis announced his retirement after 14 years as Navy head coach. Perry was promoted two weeks later and that decision to maintain continuity with the coaching staff was a major factor in Benigni's decision.

 

“I'm happy for Austin and I'm happy for our program. He wanted to finish what he started here at the Naval Academy and I'm excited to see him graduate and commission as an officer,” Perry said.  “Austin is the type of guy that when he sets his mind to doing something he is determined to see it through. I'm grateful he decided this was the right place for him.”

 

Benigni was named first team All-Patriot League this past season after leading Navy and the Patriot League in scoring with 18.8 points per game. The dynamic 5-foot-10 junior also led the Midshipmen and ranked second in the conference with 146 assists.

 

The Woodlands, Texas, resident also led the league in free throw shooting percentage (.863) and ranked among the national leaders in free throws attempted (255). Another factor in Benigni's decision was that his sister Aspen is a plebe at the Naval Academy.

 

“I think the culture of the academy and it being such a special place. I think the friendships Austin has made the past three years with his teammates and others within the brigade,” Perry said when asked why he thought Benigni chose to remain in Annapolis.

 

With Benigni back in the fold, Navy now returns all five starters from last year's team that compiled a 10-8 record in the Patriot League and advanced to the tournament championship game.

 

“We're going to try to build off the momentum we generated toward the end of the season. These guys understand what it takes to get to that championship game and have a lot of confidence,” Perry said. “We've got a lot of talent and experience returning so I'm really excited about the future.”

 

Perry still must hire two assistants to replace himself and fellow associate head coach Emmett Davis, who recently announced his retirement. Perry said there are plenty of impressive candidates and could begin conducting interviews late next week.

 

“I'm not really in a huge hurry. I want to make sure we get the right guys that want to be at the Naval Academy and believe in the mission of the institution,” he said.

Weekend Results

Men's Lightweight Rowing at Georgetown - W

Women's Golf at Navy Spring Invitational - 2nd Place of 9 teams

Women's Track & Field vs JMU Invitational - No Team Score

Men's Track & Field vs JMU Invitational - No Team Score

Women's Tennis v Boston U. - L 4-3

Men's Rugby vs Lindenwood - L 10-3

 

Women's Rugby at Frostburg 7's - W 24-7

Women's Golf at Navy Spring Invitational - 2nd Place out of 9 teams

Baseball at Lafayette - L 3-4 and W 7-4

Today's Matchups

Men's Golf at Mountaineer Invitational - Morgantown, W.Va. - 8 a.m.

Baseball at Lafayette - Easton, Pa. - Noon

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

APRIL

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

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

14 May - USNI Speaker Panel  - Jack C. Taylor Conference Center - 4:45 p.m.

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

28 May - Debut of the new usna.com

 

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

28 Aug - Navy Football Brotherhood Weekend Kickoff Dinner w/ Football Coaching Staff

29 Aug - Navy Football Brotherhood Fallen Brothers Golf Classic & Evening Social

30 Aug - Navy Football Brotherhood Weekend Tailgater, NMCMS

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

 

4 Sep - Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA) Medal Ceremony - 4:30pm - Alumni Hall

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

10 Oct - USNA Founder's Day

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

13 Oct - U.S. Navy Birthday

13 Oct - Surface Navy Museum Grand Opening - Battleship Iowa - Los Angeles

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 Nov - Marine Corps Birthday

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