19 May Daily Shipmate

Monday, May 19, 2025

1912 - The month after the sinking of the luxury liner Titanic, the cruiser Birmingham (Scout Cruiser No. 2) embarked on the first American ice patrol, a task that was later assumed by the U.S. Coast Guard when an International Ice Patrol was established in 1914.

 

1944 - LTCOL Ernest Pollock '28, USMC was lost when the PBY4-1 Liberator he was aboard crashed near Cherry Point, North Carolina. The rest of the crew were also killed. He was commanding officer of Marine Photographic Squadron (VMD) 354, and is cited as a pioneer in aircraft photography for the Marine Corps. Ernest was survived by his wife and two sons.

 

2002 - The Navy's Fire Scout vertical takeoff and landing tactical unmanned aerial vehicle began flight testing at the Naval Air Systems Command Western Test Range Complex in California.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

This year was the closest race to the top we've ever seen with the Class of 1987 making a big jump over last year (BZ on your big increase in donors, '87!), but The Great Class of 1984 took the win for both participation and donors. '84 achieved a new record alumni participation rate of 63.46%! Congrats to the parents of the Class of 2028 for winning the parent competition! In total, 6387 donors contributed $2,628,769 over the 5-9 May challenge. Thank you for what you do. You provide the margin of excellence to support the Naval Academy and the Brigade of Midshipmen.

It's an extraordinary time for the United States Naval Academy, where your generosity is shaping the future of leadership for our nation. Every midshipman who walks the halls of this historic institution carries the promise of service, courage and character. Your support goes beyond federal funding, providing the critical Margin of Excellence that ensures midshipmen not only meet but surpass the challenges ahead. It's your investment that enriches their education, sharpens their leadership, and fosters their personal growth. We are cultivating a legacy of strength, resilience and innovation. TOGETHER, WE SHAPE FUTURE LEADERS. Your generosity builds a foundation of growth, innovation and transformation. This support shapes the Naval Academy, enhances midshipmen's experiences, and strengthens the legacy of our alumni community for generations to come. Where does your “impact” go? Check it out here in our Jan 2025 issue of Rhumblines.

As part of Friday's Graduation and Commissioning ceremony, the Naval Academy Class of 1975 is presenting all new officers a commemorative gift of their first set of Ensign or Second Lieutenant bars, inscribed on the back with the class years: “75-25.” A card with the following words is included with each set of bars: “On the strength of one link in the cable, dependeth the might of the chain; who knows when thou mayest be tested? So live that thou bearest the strain!” 12 distinguished members of the Class of 1975 were selected by their classmates to make these presentations, which forge a 50-year bond between these two classes as the Class of 2025 proudly joins the Navy-Marine Corps team of the 21st Century: CDR Chris Cikanovich, USNR (Ret.), ADM Kirk Donald, USN (Ret.), ADM Jon Greenert, USN (Ret.), CDR Steve Hall, USN (Ret.), LCDR Steve Hubbard, USN (Ret.), LCDR Ric Johns, USN (Ret.), Mr. Tig Krekel, CDR Kerwin Miller,  USNR (Ret.), LCDR Ron Nicol, USNR (Ret.), CDR Bill Squires, USNR (Ret.), CAPT Bob Sweeney, USN (Ret.), CAPT Zack Wilhoit, USN (Ret.).

Capital Gazette

On a sunny Monday in May, it's business as usual at Mills Fine Wine and Spirits, except for one thing. A truck labeled 'Bottle Engraving' is parked outside the store.

 

The doors are wide open, and the muted humming of a machine can be heard as dozens of cases of Woodford Reserve Bourbon are engraved with the U.S. Naval Academy's Class of 2025 crest.

 

For more than a decade, Jerry and Jennifer Donahoe have offered engraved bottles to graduates of the academy.

 

It is unclear how the tradition started, but it has grown over the years into a quiet success.

 

The front says 'Class of 2025' and on the back is their class crest. At the top, a bald eagle spans its wings. The words “morior invictus,” which translates from Latin as ” to die unconquered,” according to the  Perseus Digital Library out of Tufts University. The acronym “USNA”  hangs low on the crest. The Donahoes only engraved a few cases each year, but the operation blew up around 2018 when one of their bottles was posted to social media.

 

“I think when you do something, when you go through something difficult with other people, it binds you closer together,” Jennifer Donahoe said. “You go through something unique or difficult with a group of people, and it makes you close… makes you want to give back to the organization.”

 

Both graduated from the Naval Academy in 1994. Jerry Donahoe came to the academy from Prince George's County, while Jennifer Donahoe came from Wisconsin. After graduation, the couple joined surface ships in San Diego, California. Though they did know each other during their time in school, the two did not start dating until years after their service ended.

 

Jerry Donahoe completed two tours on surface ships before becoming a physical education teacher at the Naval Academy in 1998. He left the military in 2001 and started a technical service business with his brother.

 

At the time, Jennifer Donahoe had been out of the military for about two years, working for another academy graduate as a recruiter to fill technical positions in the telecommunications field. Jerry Donahoe was looking for his business.

 

“They needed someone to do hiring for them because they were getting contracts, and that was my skill set,” said Jennifer Donahoe.

 

By 2009, Jerry Donahoe sold his business. By then, the couple had three young children. In 2012, they bought Mills Fine Wine and Spirits from Joe and Hillard Donner. Hillard Donner was in the Navy during World War II.

 

“…They [academy graduates] might come back in 10 years for their 10-year reunion and say, 'Hey, I got a bottle here.' So it's great to kind of establish a connection with them, because they're always going to have a connection with the city of Annapolis,” Jerry Donahue said.

 

The bottles go on sale Saturday.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

On Capitol Hill May 14, Navy Secretary John Phelan told lawmakers that increasing shipbuilding to better outfit the Navy, developing an accountable and innovative warfighter culture and improving the welfare of the fighting force were his top priorities.  Phelan, alongside Acting Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James W. Kilby, and Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Eric M. Smith, briefed the House Appropriations Committee's defense subcommittee on current challenges and their plans to address them.

The U.S. Navy on Friday announced its plans for a preservation project coordinated with the National Park Service for Pearl Harbor's USS Arizona that includes the removal of its aging mooring platforms. The USS Arizona, a Pennsylvania-class battleship commissioned in 1916, suffered a direct hit from Japanese forces in December 1941 while stationed at Hawaii's Pearl Harbor. It sank within minutes, killing 1,177 of the 1,512 crewmen aboard. The ship is considered a war grave and remains the resting place of around 900 of the sailors and Marines who died during the attack.

Defense Department leaders delivered a stark warning about adversaries exploiting cyberspace and threatening national security during a House Armed Services Committee cyber, information technologies and innovation subcommittee hearing in Washington today. Laurie Buckhout, performing the duties of assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy, and Army Lt. Gen. William Hartman, acting commander of U.S. Cyber Command, called for heightened strategic focus, cutting-edge innovation and a world-class workforce to counter sophisticated cyberthreats. "Adversaries transform cyberspace — a domain powering global connectivity, communications and innovation — into a contested battlespace," Buckhout said.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

May/June issue of Shipmate Magazine hits mailboxes next week! 

Commissioned officers from the U.S. Naval Academy are imbued with timeless values including honor and selfless leadership. Those traits shine through in the stories of Academy alumni who served in the Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. In the continuation of our Legacy of Valor series, the May-June 2025 issue of Shipmate spotlights the experiences of junior officers who put their people first. Tales of valor are also highlighted at the National Medal of Honor Museum, led by CEO CAPT Chris Cassidy '93, USN (Ret.), which opened in March. Shipmate also features the stories of two passionate alumni who recently made significant commitments to the Academy and the alumni community. A commitment from Michael W. Taylor '86 provides foundational support for the development of future leaders. A gift from Jim '87 and Julie Matheson supports the launch of the Center for Energy Security and Infrastructure Resilience (CESIR).

The Navy Letterwinners Association's mission is to connect all past and present varsity and club athletes to the United States Naval Academy, and to each other, by honoring their accomplishments and providing meaningful engagement in support of Navy Athletics. Former Navy rowing coach, Rob Friedrich, has been assigned as the executive director of this new organization.“Under Rob Friedrich's leadership, we have established a full speed ahead approach to engaging with thousands of alumni who have represented the blue and gold over decades on the fields of competition,” explained Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk. “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. Full speed ahead!”

Current and former flag officers, staffers and friends gathered at the Naval Station Mayport Chief Petty Officer's Club Apr. 25, 2025, to honor the career and legacy of Mr. Bob Kapcio, U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/ U.S. 4th Fleet's Commander's Action Group Director, who has retired after 47 years of service to the United States. Kapcio graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982. He completed his 33 years of military service serving as 4th Fleet's first-ever Maritime Operations Center (MOC) Director in 2011. He then transferred to a civilian role for the last 14 years, serving first as the Fleet's Strategy, Theater Security Cooperation, and Policy (STP) Director, and most recently as the Commander's Action Group (CAG) Director.

The 42nd Naval Inspector General is nearly 60 but feels much younger. The Oxford Dictionary defines the word “leader” as “the person who leads or commands a group, organization, or country.” If you were to take a deeper dive into the qualities of a great leader, then words such as confidence, self-awareness, integrity, intelligence, resilient, and transparent may come to mind. Whether you want to use the technical definition or define a leader by the qualities, one solid example to reference could be the 42nd Naval Inspector General, Vice Admiral John Fuller '87.

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

MAY

20 May - Blue Angels Practice Show

21 May -  Blue Angels Show and 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

2 Jun - Colorado Chapter & NAPC of CO & WY Roadshow - Alpha Charlie's Tap & Tavern - 5:30 p.m.

10 Jun - Trauma Survivor Webinar. 7-9 p.m. ET

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 - 7:30 p.m.

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