12 Jun Daily Shipmate

Thursday, Jun 12, 2025

1916 - The battleship Pennsylvania (Battleship No.38) is placed in commission.

 

1924 - LTjg Thomas Zellars, Class of 1921, USN, ENS William McCrea, Class of 1922, USN, and ENS Marcus Erwin, Jr., Class of 1923, USN were all lost when USS Mississippi (BB 41)'s No. 2 turret exploded during gunnery practice off the coast of California. Forty-four men were killed in the initial explosion, and another four men of the rescue team were lost in an explosion once the ship returned to port. At the time it was the Navy's worst peacetime disaster.

 

1961 - President John F. Kennedy signed a Presidential Proclamation calling for the American flag to be flown at the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia, "at all times during the day and night." Discussions between the Attorney General's office and Marine Corps officials earlier in 1961 on improving the visibility and appearance of the monument led to the proposal to fly the Flag continuously, which by law could only be done by Congressional legislation or by Presidential proclamation.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

Capital Gazette

The chair of the Naval Academy History Department resigned after reportedly being ordered by the academy's superintendent to remove a previously approved paper from the list of those to be presented at an upcoming symposium.

 

Tom McCarthy, in a letter dated June 3, cited the removal of a paper “for reasons having nothing to do with scholarship.” He resigned to avoid being involved in what he called a violation of trust and the possibility of harming the department's reputation. McCarthy's resignation was first reported by a Substack newsletter called “CDR Salamander.”

 

An academy spokesperson confirmed the contents of the letter obtained by the Capital Gazette and that McCarthy resigned as the History Department chair, although he remains a faculty member.

 

“I wish the record to be clear that I do not agree with this decision and do not wish to be associated with its implementation,” McCarthy wrote. “Consequently, I tender my resignation as department chair effective immediately.”

 

The letter, addressed to Provost Samara Firebaugh, said that rescinding the paper for reasons other than scholarly merit is incompatible with the academy's values.

 

McCarthy did not respond to requests for comment. It is unclear what the paper he resigned over is about. A Naval Academy spokesperson said the academy will not release the details of papers not accepted for presentation at the symposium.

 

The McMullen Naval History Symposium, held since 1973, is described as the “largest regular meeting of naval historians in the world,” according to the Naval Academy website.

 

Submissions for the symposium, which takes place in September, were about lesser-known events related to the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the founding of the Continental Navy — as well as any topic related to naval and maritime history anywhere in the world.

 

“Given that the selected papers were reviewed for scholarly merit, this order amounts to shaping conference content for reasons having nothing to do with scholarship,” McCarthy wrote. “While I keenly understand the difficulties of our moment, vetting speakers and papers is not a good place to be for an American institution of higher education.”

 

The elimination of the paper and McCarthy's resignation adds to a dizzying six months at the Naval Academy as its curriculum, the literature available in its library and its admissions policy have been caught in the crosshairs of the Trump administration's diversity, equity and inclusion purge.

 

In April, the academy released a list of 381 books and literary works removed from its library as part of a review of DEI materials, following directives from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's office to evaluate and eliminate works focused on DEI.

 

Among the works that were removed were “How to Be an Antiracist” by Ibram X. Kendi and “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou. Copies of “Mein Kampf” remained available.

 

Ahead of Hegseth's visit to the academy in April, staff mistakenly removed and then replaced photos and items commemorating female Jewish leaders as part of a larger excision of materials promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

 

Later that month, the Naval Academy canceled a speech by author and podcaster Ryan Holiday after he declined a request not to reference the removed books.

 

The Pentagon, in a May memo, ordered the removal of race as a factor in admissions at the military service academies. The Naval Academy stopped doing so in February, according to Superintendent Vice Adm. Yvette Davids.

 

“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 at a Naval Academy Board of Visitors meeting in May. “Many people have asked me if I think there's going to be an impact there. It's a little too early to tell.”

 

Last month — after an additional Pentagon-ordered review — most of the nearly 400 books that were removed from a Nimitz Library closet and held under lock and key were placed back on the shelves.

 

“The Naval Academy is committed to educating our future leaders and providing a forum to learn from important research on naval and maritime history of the United States and world,” a Naval Academy spokesperson said.

 

A new History Department chair has yet to be named. Cmdr. Ryan Mewett, associate department chair, was appointed interim chair, according to an academy spokesperson.

 

“For 50 years, the history department has executed a trust on behalf of the international community of naval and maritime historians: to select papers for the biennial symposium solely on the basis of scholarly merit,” McCarthy wrote. “This decision forces us to violate that trust.”

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

Dependable and affordable child care is a big issue for military families, and it's a priority for the Defense Department, which has a number of programs underway to expand the available options. While the department runs the largest employer-sponsored child care program in the United States, military families and DOD civilians face challenges finding quality care — especially for children under 5. It's a problem shared with families nationwide, said Chad E. Sheldon, DOD associate director for child and youth programs policy. "The child care issue is really a national issue," he said. "We just simply don't have enough child care capacity for the needs and demands of families in our communities and with our military members as well. So, we've started a number of initiatives to really get after that."

House Republican appropriators early Wednesday advanced a $453 billion budget plan for Veterans Affairs next year despite hours of objections from Democrats that looming reforms at the department could blunt the impact of the record funding levels for veterans programs. The plan — which now moves to the full House for consideration — is the first portion of the annual federal budget approved by either chamber's appropriations committee.

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that his administration plans to restore the names of seven military bases once named after Confederate leaders, including three in Central Virginia. As part of an ongoing effort to remove names associated with the Confederacy from U.S. military installations, Fort Gregg-Adams, Fort Walker and Fort Barfoot were all renamed under the Biden administration in 2023. The announcement came just hours after President Donald Trump previewed the decision, telling troops at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, that he was changing the names back.

The USS San Antonio (LPD 17) held a change of command ceremony aboard the ship, June 5. Capt. Thomas J. Uhl '02 relieved Capt. William M. Mathis Jr. as commanding officer of the San Antonio. Mathis served as the San Antonio's commanding officer since July 2024. Mathis will be transitioning to San Diego, where he will be the new commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Uhl, a native of Virginia Beach, Va, graduated from the United States Naval Academy in May 2002. He arrives to the San Antonio from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), where he most recently served as the executive officer.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

Captain Tom Uhl was raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia and later Highlands Ranch, Colorado. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in May 2002 with a Bachelor of Science in Ocean Engineering and was designated a Naval Aviator in January 2004. He holds a Master of Business Administration from San Diego State University and is a graduate of Naval Nuclear Power School.

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

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

 

9 Jul - Hampton Roads Chapter - Chapter event with Navy Offensive Coordinator Drew Cronic  and Midshipmen Meet & Greet - 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. - Rocky Mountain Room, Blue Moon TapHouse - Waterside District. More Info

14-16 Jul - YP visit to Yorktown, VA.

25 Jul - Hampton Roads Chapter/NAPC of Hampton Roads Roadshow - Blue Moon Taphouse, Norfolk - 5:30 p.m.

26 Jul - VA Peninsula Chapter Roadshow - Revolution Golf & Grille, Williamsburg - 12 p.m.

26 Jul - Richmond Chapter/NAPC of Central Virginia - Capital Ale House, Glen Allen - 5:30 p.m.

27 Jul - NAPC of SW Virginia - Macado's, Roanoke - 12 p.m.

27 Jul - Central VA Chapter/NAPC of Central Virginia - Three Notch'd Brewery, Charlottesville - 5:30 p.m.

 

1-3 Aug - Seattle Sea Fair

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

6 Aug - Hampton Roads Chapter Midshipmen Summer Cruise Meet and Greet - Norfolk - 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. - Rocky Mountain Room, Blue Moon TapHouse - Waterside District - More Info

7 Aug - Class of 2029 Plebe Parent Mixer, Fluegel

9 Aug - Blue & Gold kick-off BBQ - N/MCMS

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

 

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

 

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

10 Oct - Army-Navy Cup XIV. Soccer doubleheader vs Army at Subaru Park, Philadelphia. Women's Match - 4:00 p.m., Men's Match at 7:00 p.m.

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

 

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 - Run to Honor's annual pre-Honor Our Fallen Heroes Gathering (FAC)

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

 

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