21 May Daily Shipmate

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

1851 - The Navy continued its efforts in the field of navigation with the launching of the Herndon Expedition, in which Lieutenant William L. Herndon, Midshipman Lardner Gibbon, and Master's Mate Henry J. Richards explored the Amazon basin to determine the navigability of the river. Departing Lima, Peru, Herndon traveled 4,366 miles before he reached Para, Brazil, on 11 April 1852. Gibbon and Richards took a different route and arrived the following November. The Herndon Monument on the grounds of the U.S. Naval Academy was erected in memory of Captain William L. Herndon, who died during the sinking of his ship, SS Central America, on September 12, 1857 while helping to evacuate passengers and crew.

 

1967 - CAPT Homer Smith '49, USN was killed in action by Vietnamese forces while a Prisoner of War. He had been shot down while piloting an A-4 Skyhawk. He was awarded the Navy Cross, Silver Star, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, Legion of Merit with Combat “V,” Bronze Star, and many other unit and campaign medals. He was not declared dead until 1974; at the time of his death, he was a Commander. Homer was survived by his wife, two sons, and two daughters.

 

1968 - The nuclear-powered submarine Scorpion (SSN-589) sank 400 miles southwest of the Azores Islands with the loss of all 99 members of its crew. A survey of the wreckage resulted in the opinion that the cause of its sinking was a torpedo that began running in its tube, was launched, and circled back to hit the submarine.

Academy & Graduate happenings

Episode 4 of our short film series showcasing how the Naval Academy is gearing up for the Great Power Competition is here. In this 28-minute film, we explore how Capstone projects, extracurricular activities, and varsity athletics come together to cultivate a mindset of resilience, adaptability, and success in high-stakes competition.

Check the links here for the Graduation ceremony timeline and the final stats for the class of 2025 (those links usually go live Thursday). Also get the info on the traditions of Commissioning Week and contact information for all the Naval Academy social media and graduation livestream.

Government & Military News

A jury on Monday convicted a retired four-star admiral who served as the U.S. Navy's second-highest-ranking officer on corruption charges for steering contracts to a company in exchange for a lucrative job.  Robert Burke ordered staff to award a $355,000 contract to a company, and then began working there at a $500,000-a-year job after his 2022 retirement from the Navy, the Department of Justice said. He also unsuccessfully attempted to convince a top officer to give the firm a separate contract. A jury found him guilty of offenses including bribery, performing acts affecting a personal financial interest, and concealment of material facts, court records show. A grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted Burke in May 2024.

The Department of Veterans Affairs has changed its process for veterans to get medical care from non-VA providers, removing a requirement that a referral to community care be reviewed by another VA doctor. The VA announced Monday that it is enacting a provision of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act that will help ease veterans' access to medical services from private providers.

Local, Education & other academy news

We can't be more excited about our Commissioning Week pod coming your way May 22nd. Chris and John break down the happenings of the week, discuss the graduating class stats and provide excerpts and quick sound bites with the Blue Angels, parents and staff. And our alumni interview this week is Brandon Doll '05. We chat "B-Doll" up about his time in the fleet, his time with the Las Vegas Raiders and his current role in the sports universe as the Founder and CEO of Sports and Entertainment Advisors (SEA). SEA helps major sports organizations that want to generate more revenue. B-Doll breaks down his passion in that industry and how the Naval Academy helped him realize, chase and achieve his dreams.

U.S. Air Force Academy graduation is 10 days away, and the public still has not been informed who will speak at the 2025 ceremony. In 2024, then-V.P. Kamala Harris was announced as the event's speaker more than a month in advance, on April 23. The year before that, then-President Joe Biden was also announced more than a month in advance, on April 28.This year, President Donald Trump announced in April he'd be speaking at West Point's commencement and the University of Alabama's graduation ceremony.

USNA and AA&F Events

MAY

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