6 May Daily Shipmate

Tuesday, May 6, 2025

1943 - With air raids against the island having commenced in December 1942, Navy surface ships of Task Force 67 under the command of Rear Admiral Walden L. Ainsworth, Class of 1910, bombard Munda, New Georgia, in the Solomon Islands. During an air attack against the task force, the light cruiser Helena (CL-50) becomes the first ship to employ projectiles equipped with proximity fuses in combat, downing a Japanese dive-bomber.

1985 - CAPT Jeffrey Tuset '80, USMC was lost when the CH-53D Sea Stallion helicopter he was aboard crashed into the Pacific Ocean between Mainland Japan and Okinawa; all seventeen Marines aboard were killed. He was a member of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 462, and was survived by his wife, parents, a sister, and a brother.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

Your support can go to a variety of areas to strengthen the Brigade and take the Naval Academy education from good to great. Your gift will not only make an immediate impact, but also help your Class rise up in the rankings! For more information on the areas of Impact on the Yard visit Impact Underway and see how you can make a difference in Navy Athletics, Academics, the Midshipman experience and more! Check out this awesome video here…Who will be the GOAT?

On Monday, the Naval Academy Golf Course hosted former Professional PGA golfer and Tour winner Billy Hurley III '04 and his Billy Hurley III Foundation for his annual For the Brave tournament. This one-of-a-kind event serves as the primary fundraiser for the Billy Hurley III Foundation, while offering a tremendous opportunity for sponsors to host active-duty men and women to play and interact with PGA TOUR champion Billy Hurley III, the only U.S. Service Academy veteran who has won on the PGA TOUR. The Billy Hurley III Foundation was established to support, honor and benefit a vital group of unsung heroes: military families. The sacrifice and selflessness of our nation's military personnel are mirrored in their spouses, children and loved ones. We pay tribute to their strength and courage as they, in essence, serve alongside our service members.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

The Army is pausing helicopter flights near a Washington airport after two commercial planes had to abort landings last week because of an Army Black Hawk helicopter that was flying to the Pentagon. The commander of the 12th Aviation Battalion directed the unit to pause helicopter flight operations around Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport following Thursday's close calls, two Army officials confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday. One official said the flights have been paused since Friday. The pause comes after 67 people died in January when a passenger jet collided in midair with a Black Hawk helicopter at Reagan airport.

These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy's deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of May 5, 2025, based on Navy and public data. In cases in which a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Monday directed the active duty military to shed 20% of its four-star general officers as the Trump administration keeps pushing the services to streamline their top leadership positions. Hegseth also told the National Guard to shed 20% of its top positions. In a memo dated Monday, Hegseth said the cuts will remove “redundant force structure to optimize and streamline leadership.” On top of the cuts to the top-tier four-star generals, Hegseth has also directed the military to shed an additional 10% of its general and flag officers across the force, which could include any one-star or above or officer of equivalent Navy rank.

Senate lawmakers on Tuesday will consider the nomination of retired Army Brig. Gen. Anthony Tata to oversee military personnel policies, a key leadership post which has been open through the first 100 days of President Donald Trump's second term in office. Tata was originally nominated for the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness role in 2020 but withdrew his name from consideration after numerous inflammatory comments became public. Among them were Tata's labeling of former President Barack Obama as a “terrorist leader” and a secret Muslim believer. He also posted anti-Islamic comments on social media, drawing condemnation from military leaders. Tuesday, May 6 - Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen - The committee will consider the nominations of Anthony Tata to be Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

A month after leaked reports revealed the US Air Force Academy (USAFA) is considering widespread reductions in civilian staff and faculty, a consortium of former personnel is speaking out against the institution's direction. In a Denver Post opinion piece signed by 92 Air Force Academy instructors, veterans, and graduates, the diverse group argued the Academy's civilian reduction plans make them concerned for the future. “Decimating the civilian faculty ranks in this partnership risks diminishing the U.S. Air Force Academy's (USAFA) academic excellence and the potential of its graduates to grow into impactful thought leaders in key areas relevant to the complex and critical war-fighting, peace-keeping, and humanitarian missions of our modern military,” the letter said. “It even puts at risk USAFA's basic accreditations in related technical fields.”

Anne Arundel Community College recognized as 2025-2026 Military Friendly® and Military Spouse Friendly® School

Anne Arundel Community College (AACC) has been designated a 2025-2026 Military Friendly® School at the Silver level and named a 2025-2026 Military Spouse Friendly® School. The designations highlight the college's efforts to provide accessible, sustainable education opportunities for military service members, veterans, and their families. The recognitions are awarded by Military Friendly®, a program that evaluates U.S. institutions based on their support for military-affiliated students. The evaluation process includes analysis of public data and responses to a proprietary survey. For the 2025-2026 cycle, more than 1,800 institutions participated, with 830 receiving awards for exceeding baseline standards.

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

Coming off of its Patriot League Championship victory on Saturday, the Navy women's lacrosse team learned that it would be taking on Clemson in the first round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Midshipmen will travel to Chapel Hill, N.C. to take on Tigers, who are making their first appearance in the NCAA Tournament, at Dorrance Field on the campus of the University of North Carolina on Friday, May 9 at 5:00 p.m. The winner of that game will face the No. 1 overall seed North Carolina on Sunday at noon in the second-round matchup.

Today's Matchup

Women's Golf at NCAA Gold Canyon Regional - Gold Canyon, Ariz. - TBA

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

MAY

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 & 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

26 Sep - Council of Annual Giving meeting - Fluegel Alumni Center

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