9 Jul Daily Shipmate

Wednesday, Jul 9, 2025

1798 - President John Adams signs an act authorizing operations by American warships and privateers against French armed vessels.

1982 - LTjg Daryl Chen '80, USN was lost when the T-2C Buckeye jet trainer he was piloting crashed in Meridian, Mississippi while on a solo flight. He is a member of the Navy Rugby Hall of Fame.

Academy & Graduate happenings

Marine Corps 2nd Lt. Rayuan Lane III '25 stepped onto the Pentagon's River Entrance parade field and did something few others can claim — he played catch with the secretary of defense. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lofted a football to the young officer and recent NFL draftee on the Pentagon steps, a first for the secretary at the iconic building. Lane, a newly commissioned Marine Corps officer and rookie defensive back for the Jacksonville Jaguars, was visiting the Pentagon with his family at Hegseth's invitation.  Hegseth praised Lane as an embodiment of service and opportunity. "Think about all the kids that can look and say, not only can I serve my country, but I can excel at the highest of levels and make it to the NFL," he told Lane. "There's no better example of the American dream than that. … I'm looking at the personification of the American dream, truly." Hegseth added that the former Navy football safety's journey was "a pretty cool story" he wants all of America to see.

The Plains Post Office now officially bears the names of former President Jimmy Carter '47 and First Lady Rosalynn Carter following a dedication ceremony Wednesday morning that drew hundreds to the small Georgia town. The ceremony, originally planned for inside the post office at 119 Main Street, was moved to the Plains Community Center due to overwhelming attendance from family members, local officials, postal representatives and community members. "They are very important to the town of Plains," said Rickayla Jackson, Americus postmaster. "They both were born and raised in Plains, Georgia. They're both people-persons, and humanitarians." The naming became official when President Joe Biden signed legislation into law in January. U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Ga., introduced the bill in September 2024.

The Princeton Review's “Best Colleges for 2025" Rankings Lists was published on June 24. Noteworthy USNA rankings: #1 Town-Gown Relationships are great - Based on student ratings of how well they get along with the local community. #9 Best Student Support and Counseling Services - Based on students' assessments of counseling services available on campus. #9 Lots of Race/Class Interaction - Do different types of students interact frequently and easily?

Government & Military News

This post has been updated with a more accurate position of the Ford CSG. These are the approximate positions of the U.S. Navy's deployed carrier strike groups and amphibious ready groups throughout the world as of July 7, 2025, based on Navy and public data. In cases in which a CSG or ARG is conducting disaggregated operations, the chart reflects the location of the capital ship.

Voluntary retirements and resignations are expected to trim 30,000 Veterans Affairs workforce positions by the end of September, forgoing plans for potential forced resignations this fiscal year to meet administration goals to reduce the size of government, department leaders announced Monday. Already, about 17,000 VA jobs have been vacated since Jan. 1 through a combination of deferred resignations, retirements, normal attrition and department hiring freezes, officials said. Another 12,000 posts are expected to be cleared out over the next two and a half months.

Local, Education & other academy news

The Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) invites applications for the Athletic Director position to be filled as early as Fall 2025. The position is located at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in Newport, RI where the overall mission is to enhance midshipman candidates' moral, mental, and physical foundations to prepare them for success at the United States Naval Academy. Demanding military, physical and character development programs complement the academic preparation to fully prepare students for the challenges of life at a service academy. As part of the physical development program, NAPS offers a varsity athletic program that competes against other preparatory schools, junior colleges and college junior varsity teams in a variety of sports.

After months of reporting on proposed civilian cuts at the Air Force Academy through leaks, background conversations, and a lack of clear, concrete acknowledgment from the institution, the first outward-facing evidence of the controversial proposals has been widely disseminated to staff this week. In an email sent Tuesday by the Air Force Academy's interim Dean of Faculty, the institution indicates it is eliminating 140 civilian positions and is short about $10 million in their Fiscal Year 2025 civilian pay. The email said the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA) must find alternate sources to pay for that shortfall through reduced contracts, limiting travel and other means.

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

15 Aug - 2 for 7 Signing - Class of 2027

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

9-16 Oct - Celebrating The Navy and Marine Corps' 250th Anniversary - Philadelphia

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