17 Jun Daily Shipmate

Tuesday, Jun 17, 2025

Correction!! An inaccurate link posted online this past weekend about the MLS Next All Star Game coming to Navy/Marine Corps Stadium in July 2025. The event took place in 2023…and is NOT taking place this year in Annapolis. Apologies.

1833 - The ship-of-the-line Delaware entered drydock at Norfolk, Virginia, marking the opening of the U.S. Navy's first drydock.

 

1944 - CAPT Charles Durfee '42, USMCR was killed in action on Saipan three days after the invasion there. He was directing tank fire at an enemy emplacement; he was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. Following his “extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty” on Tarawa in 1942 he had been awarded the Navy Cross. He did not graduate from the Naval Academy as he was “honorably discharged on account of physical disability” on June 6, 1940. He was survived by his parents and sister.

1965 - In the first confirmed air-to-air kills of enemy aircraft during the Vietnam War, two F-4B Phantom II aircraft of VF-21 from the carrier Midway (CVB-41) shoot down two North Vietnamese MiG-17s with Sidewinder air-­to-air missiles.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

Secretary of Defense Flag Officer Announcements for June 13, 2025. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the President has made the following nominations:

 

Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) David J. Faehnle '95 for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Faehnle is currently serving as commandant, Naval District Washington, Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C.

 

Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Christopher D. Stone '94 for appointment to the grade of rear admiral. Stone is currently serving as director, Strategy, Policy, Programs, and Logistics, J-5/4, U.S. Transportation Command, Scott Air Force Base, Illinois.

 

Navy Capt. Sharif H. Calfee '96 for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Calfee most recently served as senior military advisor to the Secretary of the Navy, Office of the Secretary of the Navy, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

 

Navy Capt. Jonathan R. Townsend '95 for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Townsend is currently serving as commanding officer, Naval Support Activity South Potomac, Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Justice Department on Monday asked a federal appeals court to dismiss a lawsuit challenging race-conscious admissions at the U.S. Naval Academy after the elite military school said it changed its policy under President Donald Trump. The Naval Academy disclosed in March that it was no longer considering race or ethnicity in its admissions decisions following directives from Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Justice Department and an anti-affirmative action group that had sued the academy, jointly told the court on Monday that the policy change rendered the legal dispute moot.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier rerouted from the South China Sea to the Middle East on Monday, a move that will put two U.S. aircraft carriers in the region as the conflict worsens between Israel and Iran. Dozens of Air Force refueling aircraft also left their U.S. bases this weekend in a new deployment to Europe, a preventative measure to support any operations in the Middle East, according to two defense officials, who were granted anonymity to discuss internal operations. The Trump administration is beefing up its assets in the region as Israel and Iran continue to lob rounds of missiles and airstrikes at each other, with concerns in the region that this will lead to a wider war. The Nimitz will join the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group, which has sailed in the Arabian Sea since the spring.

Amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), the flagship of the America Strike Group, arrived in Sydney, today, June 14, for a scheduled port visit. The ship carries embarked Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and is currently conducting routine operations in the South Pacific. More than just a routine stop, this visit is a powerful symbol of the shared values and strategic partnership that bind the two nations. The USS America represents a vital component of U.S. forward presence, capable of responding to a wide range of missions, from combat operations to humanitarian assistance.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

Tripp Adams of Utica, MI, a Democrat, has announced his campaign for Michigan's 10th Congressional District in the 2026 election cycle. The district, which includes parts of Macomb and Oakland Counties, is currently represented by John James, a Republican. Adams is a U.S. Navy and Army veteran with leadership experience in both the public and private sectors. His military service began as he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy. Tripp served two deployments in the Navy before going to the University of Michigan to earn a law degree. While at U-M, he joined the Michigan Army National Guard. He currently serves as a U.S. Army Reserve battalion commander.

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

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 Social. 5:00pm - 7:00pm - Rocky Mountain Room, Blue Moon TapHouse - Waterside District. More Info

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

18 Jul - Plebe Summer Formal Parade

25 Jul - Plebe Summer Formal Parade

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 Roadshow - Capital Ale House, Glen Allen - 5:30 p.m.

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

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

 

1 Aug - Plebe Summer Formal Parade

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 - 5:00pm - 7 p.m. - Rocky Mountain Room, Blue Moon TapHouse - Waterside District - More Info

7 Aug - Class of 2029 Plebe Parent Mixer, Fluegel

8-10 Aug - Plebe Parents Weekend

9 Aug - Plebe Parents Weekend Formal Parade

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 2015 10th Reunion

2-5 Oct - Class of 1995 30th Reunion

2-5 Oct - Class of 1990 35th 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 p.m., Men's Match at 7 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 2005 20th Reunion

23-26 Oct - Class of 1995 30th Reunion

23-26 Oct - Class of 1975 50th Reunion

23-26 Oct - Class of 1965 60th 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