27 Jun Daily Shipmate

Friday, Jun 27, 2025

Reminder to the Daily Shipmate readership…The Daily Shipmate is going on 4th of July sabbatical next week. The product will return to your inbox Monday July 7th.

 

While we have your attention…a couple of notes and an ask…

 

First of all, please be reminded about our disclaimer at the bottom of this product. This is not a document meant for the advancement of ANY political biases. If we run a story about one of our alums in Congress - or alums running for any elected office - that doesn't mean we are Democrats or Republicans or Republicats or Demolicans or anything like that. We just care about alums and the impacts they make in command, citizenship and government. From what side of the aisle they make their impacts is immaterial and will never be considered in our editorial content decisions.

 

Secondly, the content here is meant to give SA - Situational Awareness - of the issues and news stories impacting the Naval Academy. Like the “CHINFO Clips” that the Navy Chief of Information (CHINFO) distributes to the Pentagon, Fleet Commanders and Flag Officer community every weekday morning, the Daily Shipmate's mission is to ensure that you, the reader, is in the know. That might mean that an article is posted that might be viewed as a “negative” news story about the institution or an alumnus. Again, that is not meant as some sort of sick self-imposed punch in the face. To the contrary, it is meant to ensure that alums and readers out there are never in a place where they say “I had no idea about that.”

 

You spoke. We listened. And through this product we wanted to answer the mail from alums who were saying, “I don't know what's happening at USNA” and “I don't know what the Alumni Association & Foundation does.” Thus, this product will post news stories about USNA from various angles AND information about the programs and initiatives the hard-working staff of AA&F is immersed in every day. That's our job…and we love doing it.

 

Lastly - a very popular part of this product is the Memorial Hall feature … our highlighting of alums who lost their lives in service to this great nation on particular dates in history. Those write-ups are managed and provided by Pat McConnell '02 from our Run to Honor Shared Interest Group. Pat is a patriot and manages our Virtual Memorial Hall. The Virtual Memorial Hall project was created and is maintained by Run To Honor, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization founded in 2007. The mission of Run To Honor is to preserve and perpetuate the legacy of Naval Academy Alumni lost in service to our Nation during combat or military operations. We thank Pat for what he does and his idea to include these write-ups in the daily product. It is a daily reminder of the importance of our jobs…and our mission at AA&F.

 

Ok … almost done. Feedback is our lifeblood. If you send John Schofield an email … I'll answer it. That's a promise. If you light me up about an article or an issue, I'll respond. I'll provide context, and I'll happily jump on a phone call to discuss. That's my job and the job of the amazing communications staff here. With that focus on feedback in mind, please drop me a note in the next week to provide answers to two questions:

 

1 - Periodicity and timing. Is Daily too much? Would you be open to delivery of Daily Shipmate three times per week - Mon, Wed, Fri? Is 8am EST the right time to receive it? Do you want it earlier? Later?

 

2 - What are you not seeing that you want to see more of? More Naval history? More introductions to the staff here at AA&F? More articles about what is happening in Big Navy and Marine Corps? This product is for you - the reader - so we want to ensure it grows and evolves to meet your demand signal.

 

Have a great 4th of July week. See you on the 7th.

1995 - Captain Robert Gibson commands the space shuttle Atlantis in the first docking with the Russian space station Mir. (27 June–7 July)

2004 - CAPT Franklin Hooks II '97, USMC was lost when the F/A-18 Hornet he was piloting crashed into the Atlantic Ocean during a training flight from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). He was an electronics technician prior to his appointment to the Naval Academy. Franklin was survived by his wife and grandparents.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

Approximately 1,200 men and women reported to Alumni Hall at the Naval Academy yesterday morning for Induction Day, culminating in an Oath of Office ceremony. These incoming plebes (freshmen) said goodbye to their families and were processed through various stations inside Alumni Hall to become members of the Naval Academy's Class of 2029. Stations include uniform issue, medical examinations, haircuts, and learning to salute. The day culminated with the Oath of Office ceremony at 6 pm on Worden Field (a new location due to the construction at T-Court) along the banks of the Severn River. After the ceremony, plebes met with their families for the last time until Plebe Parents' Weekend, in mid-August. Plebe Summer officially begins after the Oath of Office ceremony. Class of 2029 Stats - Men: 814 ( 10, 2987 applications); Women: 373 (4,859 applications); Minority: 511; Legacy: 38 Men, 27 Women.

Releasing today - Sing Second Podcast featuring I-Day and interviews with those who serve ... later in life. Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). John and Chris will talk I-Day, A&SP, the impact of the Iran conflict on current alums (and future alums) and more. Our featured interviews are must-listens. As the new Plebes arrive to take what is likely the biggest steps of their young lives to date, we talk to two people who made similar leaps later in life. Mariah Sakallaris works here at the Foundation, but during the Army's Birthday Parade last weekend, she was sworn into the Army Reserves by President Trump. Mariah tells us all about her decision. And Justin Cashman was a doctor and a parent of a Midshipman … but he wanted more. That involved commissioning into the Medical Corps and serving in the Navy Reserves … in his fifties!  Thanks for listening … and Beat Army. Always. 

 

Find the pod on your preferred pod streaming channels. Just search “Sing Second.”

The Senate has voted 56-40 to approve the nomination of Paul Dabbar '89, former Bohr Quantum Technology president and CEO, as deputy secretary of the Department of Commerce. His role calls for managing an $11.4 billion annual budget and 12 units with 47,000 employees, the department said Wednesday. President Donald Trump nominated him to the position in March. Dabbar had served in the first Trump administration as science undersecretary at the Department of Energy. A former U.S. Navy nuclear submarine officer, Dabbar earned a master of business administration degree from Columbia University and a bachelor of science degree in marine/nuclear engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy.

Cmdr. Kyle McVay turned command of the Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Indiana (SSN 789) over to Cmdr. Kyle Johnson in a traditional change-of-command ceremony held Friday, June 13, pierside at Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.Capt. Philip Castellano, commander of Submarine Squadron (SUBRON) 12, presided over the ceremony and praised McVay's tour stating, “under your leadership, USS Indiana has been the kind of submarine that keeps the enemy up at night.” McVay, a Springfield, Virginia native and 2004 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy praised his crew, calling them “true professionals and warfighters.”

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

The following are topline summaries of the Department of the Navy's Fiscal Year 2026 budget that were released on June 25, 2025. The Department of the Navy's (DON) FY 2026 President's Budget (PB26) request is $292.2B comprised of $248.9B in base (discretionary) funds and $43.3B in mandatory (reconciliation) funds, an increase of $29.2B/11.1% from the FY 2025 enactment.

As the U.S. military prepares for the possibility of a conflict in the Pacific, the Navy and Marine Corps are working on a new way to project airpower, and they're calling it the Lightning Carrier. The concept, which the Corps began testing in 2016, turns amphibious assault ships, like the Navy's America-class USS America, which is both easy to remember and ultra patriotic in a “Team America” kind of way, into small, agile flat-top carriers bristling with F-35B Lightning II aircraft and about 1,800 Marines. With the F-35B vertical take-off and landing capability, they can fit up to 20 on the deck that can support Marines as they secure or defend remote outposts through the Pacific.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

On behalf of the Navy Letterwinners Association, we hope you enjoy the latest edition of our monthly newsletter. In this issue, you will find feature articles about our oldest Navy Letterwinner Jack Gillooly '45, a Navy Athletics family - May and Phil McConkey ('25, '79), and intercollegiate sailing coach Ian Burman. Big news on the Yard, as the Naval Academy Athletic Association welcomes Navy's new Director of Athletics Michael Kelly. We are excited to grow our relationships between our alumni and current letterwinners, as we enter this new age of Navy Athletics. We'd also like to congratulate the Class of 2025 for their dedication and commitment to service upon their graduation of the Naval Academy. Included among those commissioning officers were 26 varsity sport athletes who earned Graduate with Distinction honors. Headlining all graduates was Valedictorian Owen O'Malley from the lightweight rowing team.

More than 1,230 U.S. citizens and 14 international students, will report to the U.S. Military Academy on June 30 for Reception Day to join West Point's Class of 2029. The incoming class was selected from a highly qualified national pool of over 13,700 applicants. “As we celebrate the Army's 250th birthday, the Class of 2029 stands as a living tribute to the enduring call to serve,” said Director of Admissions Col. Rance Lee. “These cadets reflect the talent and commitment of young Americans answering that call. Their decision to pursue the rigorous West Point experience reaffirms our nation's investment in future leaders of character—ready to strengthen the force and defend our values in an increasingly complex world.” “This patriotic group of young men and women left the comfort and safety of civilian life to devote themselves to becoming guardians of Duty, Honor, Country and our United States Constitution,” Lee continued.

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

JULY

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 SummerFormal 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.

 

AUGUST

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 - A&SP/NAAA Trustee Appreciation Pre-Game Breakfast – Navy vs. VMI

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

1-22 Oct - Class of '75 Gulf to Goat Charity Bike Ride

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 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

 

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 - Run to Honor's annual pre-Honor Our Fallen Heroes Gathering - 6:30p.m. - Register

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