8 May Daily Shipmate

Thursday, May 8, 2025

1929 - The first device to provide a means to escape a sunken submarine undergoes its first testing. Developed by Lieutenant Charles B. Momsen (Class of 1919), Chief Gunner Clarence L. Tibbals, and civilian engineer Frank Hobson, the so-called Momsen Lung consists of a rubber bag containing a canister of soda lime that removes carbon dioxide from exhaled air and replaces it with oxygen.

 

2002 -  LCDR William Muscha '87, USN and 1LT John Wilt '00, USMC were lost when the T-39 Sabreliners they were aboard collided with one another and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico. All seven students and instructors aboard both aircraft were killed.

Academy & Graduate happenings

Effective May 7th, NSA Annapolis and USNA will require REAL ID-compliant credentials for visitors entering through Pedestrian Gate 1 Visitor Control Center, per REAL ID Act. Accepted IDs: REAL ID drivers' license/state ID (with star), U.S. Passport, or Enhanced Driver's License (MI, MN, NY, VT, WA). Additionally, non-US citizens may only visit the U.S. Naval Academy and Naval Support Activity Annapolis when in the escort of a U.S. Citizen who has Department of Defense Credentials and escort privileges and only for official U.S. Naval Academy or Naval Support Activity Annapolis sponsored events. Even when properly escorted or sponsored, non-US citizens must still present an official passport upon request.

Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen proposed a motion Monday recommending that nearly 400 books removed from the U.S. Naval Academy's Nimitz Library be returned to circulation. The books were removed from the library last month, after academy officials were instructed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's office to review and eliminate materials that promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), CBS News reported. The directive comes amid a broader initiative by the Trump administration to eliminate DEI content and programs from federal agencies, along with organizations and institutions that receive federal funding.

Capital Gazette

U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen urged the Naval Academy Board of Visitors on Monday to replace the 381 books removed from its Nimitz Library amid a Trump administration crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion education.

 

Van Hollen temporarily suspended his motion after Republicans on the board resisted, arguing that the proposal is “premature” and needs to be studied.

 

Roughly a third of the three-hour meeting was dedicated to President Donald Trump's executive orders regarding DEI and their impact on the Naval Academy.

 

Superintendent Vice Adm. Yvette Davids said the removed books are locked in a room inside the library. Davids added that she's awaiting further instructions from the Department of Defense about what to do with them.

 

Van Hollen said he was not interested in litigating Trump's executive orders on DEI but argued that there was no clear directive in it that required a book removal.

 

“Obviously, we want a military and a Navy that excel in their war-fighting mission, there's no argument there,” Van Hollen told The Capital Gazette. “We want our military leadership to be prepared to fight wars. Part of fighting wars is to be informed of different ideas and different opinions.”

 

Republican members of the board said it was too early for Van Hollen to file a motion with the board seeking the books' return.

 

“In my time on the board, this is a rather unprecedented request,” said the board's chair, Sen. Dan Sullivan, a Republican from Alaska. “It's a little confusing whether your motion lays out an objection to procedure or substance. The substance is still being shaped within the chain of command.”

 

Opponents of Van Hollen's motion requested a brief from Davids on the subject before the next meeting.

 

Davids agreed to provide a report to the board with further details regarding the process for selecting books designated for removal and next steps within 30 days. The next board meeting will be in 60 days. Van Hollen ultimately suspended his motion until then.

 

“We shouldn't be afraid to debate ideas and to consider ideas,” Van Hollen said. “It sends a very bad signal when the Naval Academy feels that it has to shelter midshipmen from certain kinds of books or ideas.”

 

Davids also addressed the removal of race, sex and ethnicity in the academy's admissions process. She said she will have a better understanding of how removing affirmative action from admissions has affected the recruiting of midshipmen by next year.

 

“At this moment, and since February, in alignment with the executive orders, race, sex and ethnicity have no part in our admissions process,” Davids said. “Many people have asked me if I think there's going to be an impact there. It's a little too early to tell.”

 

Davids, the first woman to lead the academy, also ordered a curriculum review to comply with Trump's executive orders.

 

Of the 870 courses reviewed at the Naval Academy, two were removed: A leadership course titled “Gender Matters” and an English course titled “Gender Sexuality Studies,” according to Davids' testimony at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing in March. Eighteen other courses were modified to comply.

 

The Board of Visitors serves as an advisory panel overseeing academic programs and student life at the academy. Board members include presidential, vice presidential and congressional appointees and a combination of lawmakers and military personnel.

 

The meeting, which saw new members of the board — including Rep. Sarah Elfreth, a Democrat representing Maryland's 3rd Congressional District — sworn in, gave Davids and her leadership team the opportunity to update the board on the academy's current state.

 

Provost Samara Firebaugh, Commandant of Midshipmen Capt. Walter Allman III and Athletic Director Chet Gladchuck each presented updates regarding civilian faculty, midshipmen development and athletics.

 

A major responsibility of the Board of Visitors is to provide an annual report to the president and the House and Senate Armed Services Committees within 60 days of their annual visit to the Naval Academy. The official visit is usually in December.

Government & Military News

Two U.S. Navy pilots ejected while attempting to land a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier on Tuesday, resulting in the aircraft being lost in the Red Sea, the second such incident in a week, Department of Defense officials said. An F/A-18F Super Hornet, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11, was landing on the flight deck of USS Harry S. Truman "when the arrestment failed, causing the aircraft to go overboard," the official told Fox News Digital. Both pilots in the aircraft ejected and were rescued. The warplane went overboard into the sea and has not been recovered.

The US Supreme Court temporarily allowed President Donald Trump to enforce his ban on transgender people serving in the military while legal challenges to the policy move forward. Shortly after taking office in January, Trump signed a pair of executive orders that enabled the Pentagon to implement the ban. But a lower federal court blocked the policy in March, ruling that the administration had failed to provide evidence that transgender troops posed a threat to military effectiveness. In an emergency application to the court, the Trump administration argued that the lower court should show deference to the military's judgement in matters of national defense.

Local, Education & other academy news

Where Leading Employers meet Talented Veterans. SACC is dedicated to fostering meaningful connections between service academy graduates and leading employers. Their mission is to support veterans as they transition into civilian careers, leveraging their exceptional leadership skills. This week's SACC is May 8-9 at the Hyatt Regency in Crystal City, VA. SACC Is one of the many programs run by the Alumni Association & Foundation to better support alums and assist them on their journey from the fleet to the C-Suite.”

Join an authentic windjammer 8-night Caribbean sailing cruise aboard an exclusively chartered, deluxe three-masted yacht. Sail from St. Maarten to Curaçao, stopping at six unique islands —St. Barthelemy, Dominica, Bequia, St. Lucia, Grenada and Bonaire. Explore paradisiacal beaches, lush forests and colorful tropical towns. Marvel at volcanic spires, hot springs and a drive-in volcano. Witness exotic flora, fauna and breathtaking vistas.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

Yesterday's Result

Women's Golf at NCAA Gold Canyon Regional - 11th out of 12 teams

USNA and AA&F Events

MAY

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