30 Apr Daily Shipmate

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

1798 - A bill signed into law by President John Adams establishes the Department of the Navy and provides for a secretary and clerical staff. The salary for the post of Secretary of the Navy is set at $3,000.

1958 - LTjg Derald Beal '54, USN was lost when his AD-6 Skyraider crashed during a training mission. He was survived by his wife.

Academy & Graduate happenings

280+ Projects & 150+ Formal Presentations! The capstone (senior design) project is the culminating academic experience for students at the United States Naval Academy.   Working in teams, the 1/C midshipmen undertake ambitious, year-long projects that involve creative design, fabrication, and actual system operation/demonstration. As part of the Alumni Association & Foundation relationships with the Academy and corporate sponsors - who provide a great deal of support to these programs and projects - the AA&F hosted a reception at the Fluegel Alumni Center (FAC) Blue & Gold Bar Tuesday afternoon. President and CEO Jeff Webb '95 welcomed Academic Dean and Provost Samara Firebaugh, Midshipmen (who provided previews of their projects), faculty and key sponsors to kick off Capstone. The support of corporate sponsors and alumni is key to establishing the margin of excellence that makes the Naval Academy one of the premiere academic institutions and a leadership institute for our nation. If you're local and in Annapolis, visit Capstone and check out the projects.

On Wednesday, 30 April 2025 at 12 p.m.,  the Naval Academy & NSA Annapolis will suspend General Public Visitation (GPV) for the day. Specifics:

 

1. Previously coordinated NABSD tours are allowed as long as participants are escorted on and off the installation. Specifically, the tour guide will meet the group at the VCC and escort them off installation at completion of the tour.

 

 

3. Events which have been vetted through security via the Special Event Visitor Access Request will be allowed on the installation (e.g., Weddings, Capstone participants walking on the installation, etc…)

 

4. The Visitor Control Center located adjacent to Gate 1 will be closed to General Public Visitation. 

 

5. Visitation related to a USNA Sponsored Event (such as funeral services) are still permitted.

 

6. Trusted Traveler is suspended; this is when the vehicle driver can vouch that all other passengers in the vehicle have credentials to enter the installation; 100% I.D. Check is in effect.

 

5. Escort privileges have NOT been suspended. Escort privileges are when a person has both installation access credentials AND escort privileges. When escorting, the person escorting is responsible for the escorted/non-credentialed visitor from time of entry through exiting the installation.

 

Normal operations and GPV will resume on Thursday, 1 May 2025.

The end of April marks the 50th Anniversary of the 'Fall of Saigon' and one local family is also remembering a man who played a key role in the end of the Vietnam War, Richard Armitage '67. Armitage recently died at 79 years old from a pulmonary embolism. Not only was he a naval officer, but he served in many state and defense department roles, notably deputy secretary of state under President George W. Bush. In a 2018 interview with Viet Diaspora Stories, Armitage talked about his time in Saigon. His mission in April 1975 was to destroy South Vietnamese naval equipment.

As a Mission Support Area (MSA), the Cape Fear Chapter has embraced the Naval Academy's summer STEM program and local high school STEM-focused students. While promoting the program to local students, parents, educators and STEM coordinators at regional STEM events over the past 7 years, the chapter has also provided 5 full program scholarships to deserving students.  While chapter information is provided by the STEM event coordinators, the chapter has learned that students and parents enjoy engaging a chapter member in person. The chapter “STEM ambassadors” are the face of their commitment to the Academy and local STEM students. This personal touch extends to student recognition as well. Local students who complete the Academy's Summer STEM program are celebrated with a certificate presented to them by a chapter member. Chapter president, Ray Decker '72, shares “It is my belief that a small chapter like ours can make a positive impact on local STEM students and generate future interest in the Academy.”

Government & Military News

A Navy fighter jet fell overboard Monday when the USS Harry S. Truman aircraft carrier veered to avoid fire from the Houthis, according to two defense officials. The military was using the $60 million jet as part of its weekslong campaign against Houthi fighters in Yemen, who have attacked commercial and military shipping in the waterway for the past two years. One sailor was injured in the mishap, which included the loss of a vehicle used to tow the aircraft across the deck. The plane and truck sank, according to the officials, who were granted anonymity to speak about the attack.

Drilling Marine Corps reservists across the command's components may see an increased emphasis on job proficiency and readiness as Marine Corps Reserve Command prepares for wide-ranging mobilization exercises set to begin next year. Speaking at the Modern Day Marine Expo in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Reserve operational planner Lt. Col. Doug Toulotte said the exercises — the first of their kind in decades — will kick off no later than the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026, stress-testing the Corps' ability to mobilize its select reserve component in the event of a major military contingency.

Personnel cuts across the Defense Department will delay plans to hire at least 1,000 more civilians to help prevent sexual assault, suicides and behavior problems within the military, senior defense officials said. But they insist that crucial programs aimed at addressing sexual misconduct and providing help for victims are so far not affected. The officials told The Associated Press that plans to have about 2,500 personnel in place to do this prevention work throughout the military services, combatant commands, ships and bases by fiscal year 2028 have been slowed due to the hiring freeze and cuts.

Local, Education & other academy news

In the world of military service, there's a well-established narrative of young men and women enlisting straight out of high school or college, eager to serve their country and embrace a life of discipline, challenge, and honor. However, for a select few, the call to serve comes later in life—after years of personal, professional, and family development. Two such individuals, Justin Cashman and Dominic Powell, embody this unique path, proving that it's never too late to contribute to a cause larger than oneself. We are pleased and honored to share the inspiring stories of these two later-in-life "joiners"— each of whom made the life-changing decision to serve their country despite being well beyond the typical age of enlistment. Their stories speak to the deep sense of duty, resilience, and personal growth that come with choosing a military career later in life—and both stories are inspired by the U.S. Naval Academy.

The great thing about the Naval Academy family is … the gouge. Josh Angichiodo '06 appeared on the Sing Second pod earlier this month discussing his upcoming retirement and the resources he and his classmates were trying to pull together to help '06 and all classes better navigate retirement, VA benefits, medical and other transition services. This gouge is a great complement to the information the AA&F Director of Alumni Support Services, Mike Lowe '98, has compiled on usna.com. There are no shortages of helping hands … or gouge … for those about to retire. 

Bill Belichick, the now-73-year-old former NFL coach, wasn't interested in gloating about his many achievements when he wrote his new book, "The Art of Winning" (to be published May 6), He says the title was the choice of the publisher and advisors on the book. "My title choice would have been, 'How I Did My Job,' or 'Lessons From My Life In Football,'" he said. The result is not a tell-all, but what you might call a tell-some. As he writes, he's motivated not by style or fame, but by the obvious. "I try to capture some of the ups and downs and the preparation and the dealing with star players and the big moments," he said. "You wanted to give back to football, you write, some of what football has given to you?" I asked. "Absolutely." You're probably thinking the same thing I was when I sat down with Belichick: What's going on with his Naval Academy sweatshirt? "Well, you could see I've worn this one for a while," he laughed.

Air Force Academy alumni and other visitors crowded around a model city, a robotic dog and other cutting-edge technology Friday in the new Madera Cyber Innovation Center on campus. The open house and celebration marked the end of a 10-year journey and the completion of the largest philanthropic project at the Air Force Academy in terms of total contributions, said Mark Hille, the president and CEO of the Air Force Academy Association of Graduates and Foundation. The brand new 48,000-square-foot building garnered $38 million from 1,199 donors, he said. Those donations matched $30 million in military construction funds.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

Yesterday's Result

Men's Lacrosse at Lafayette - L 9-5

Today's Matchup

Baseball at Virginia - Charlottesville, Va. - 4 p.m.

USNA and AA&F Events

APRIL

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 - U.S. Naval Institute “Correcting Course: Revitalizing the Shipbuilding Industry to Meet Strategic Demands” 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

 

JUNE

10 Jun -  Trauma Survivor Webinar: Living and Leading as a Survivor with RADM Dana Thomas - 7-9 p.m.

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

 

AUGUST

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

7 Aug - Class of 2029 Plebe Parent Mixer, Fluegel

18 Aug - USNA Classes begin

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

28-31 Aug - Class of 2010 15th Reunion

28-31 Aug - Class of 1960 65th Reunion

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

 

SEPTEMBER

4 Sep - Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA) Medal Ceremony - Alumni Hall, 4:30 p.m.

4-6 Sep - Class of 2000 25th Reunion

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

18-21 Sep - Class of 1985 - 40th Reunion

22-28 Sep - Hartford, CT Navy Week

25-27 Sep - Class of 2020 5th Reunion

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

 

OCTOBER

2 Oct - President Circle Welcome Reception, Fluegel

2-4 Oct - President Circle Weekend

2-5 Oct - Class of 1990 35th Reunion

2-5 Oct - CLass of 1995 30th Reunion

2-5 Oct - Class of 2015 10th 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

23-26 Oct - Class of 2005 20th 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

 

NOVEMBER

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

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

6-9 Nov - Class of 1980 45th Reunion

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

10 Nov - Marine Corps Birthday

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

14 Nov - US Naval Academy Athletic & Scholarship Program Fall Meeting, NMCMS

15 Nov - Navy vs University of South Florida, NMCMS

15 Nov - Honor Our Fallen Heroes - Location TBD

17 Nov - Council of Class Presidents Fall 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

 

DECEMBER

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