6 Aug Daily Shipmate

Wednesday, Aug 6, 2025

1863 - Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren relieved Rear Admiral Samuel F. Du Pont in command of the South Atlantic Blockading Squadron.

 

1943 - A PB4Y-1 Liberator of Bombing Squadron (VB) 102 piloted by Lieutenant Commander Bruce A. Van Voorhis '29 makes a daring single-plane low-level attack on Japanese installations on Greenwich Island. The patrol bomber is shot down by Japanese seaplanes. Van Voorhis receives a posthumous award of the Medal of Honor for his actions.

 

1945 - The Army Air Forces B-29 Superfortress “Enola Gay” drops the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. 

2011 - 2LT Patrick Wayland '10, USMC was lost in a training accident during swim training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. A native of West Midland, Texas, he attended Texas Tech University for a year prior to the Naval Academy. As a final act of selfless duty, Patrick's kidney was donated to Sgt. Jacob Chadwick, USMC, saving his life. Patrick was survived by his parents, David (Run To Honor board member) and Carole, and sisters Meagan and Lisa.

Academy & Graduate happenings

Baltimore Banner

The U.S. Naval Academy has a new superintendent.

 

Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte, the first Marine to lead the military academy in its 179-year history, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by voice vote last week. He is replacing Vice Admiral, Yvette Davids, who was the first female superintendent at the academy.

 

Davids continues to serve at the academy, posting pictures on her official superintendent Instagram account as recently as three days ago. She has not yet commented on the new appointment.

 

The Naval Academy did not immediately respond to a comment request.

 

Borgschulte graduated from the Naval Academy in 1991 and previously served as deputy commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs in Quantico, Virginia. Davids was also confirmed by the Senate for a new role. She will become deputy chief of naval operations for the Operations, Plans, Strategy and Warfighting Development, which is considered a lateral move.

 

Borgschulte holds a master's degree in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and graduated from an executive leadership course from Stanford University's Graduate School of Business.

 

Davids served as superintendent at the Naval Academy for less than two years, which is unusual. Superintendents are expected to lead the academy for three to four years. Under law, the superintendent of a service academy usually retires after serving in the position. The law does, however, allow for the possibility of the superintendent moving to a different role, at the discretion of the secretary of defense.

 

Before becoming defense secretary, Pete Hegseth had complained that the promotion of diversity and equity initiatives by service academy leaders had left the military weak and “effeminate,” the Associated Press reported.

 

Pentagon officials offered no explanation for replacing Davids, who is also the first Hispanic person to hold the post.

 

In Annapolis, faculty at the academy were told in February to avoid “divisive concepts” such as systemic racism and sexism. Trump also removed members of the academy's Board of Visitors appointed by former President Joe Biden, deeming them too “woke” and replacing them with his own picks.

 

In March, the academy announced it was ending affirmative action in admissions despite previously winning a federal court case defending the practice.

 

The academy then made headlines in April by removing nearly 400 books on race and gender, including Maya Angelou's memoir and a book about the Holocaust, from its Nimitz Library. After public outcry, academy officials in May returned most of the books to circulation.

Government & Military News

The Navy contracted a new Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that is set to be named after a Marine who received the Medal of Honor for saving a fellow service member's life, Navy Secretary John Phelan announced Monday. Former Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro announced the arrival of the destroyer Kyle Carpenter in January. The destroyer Kyle Carpenter will be named after Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, who on Nov. 21, 2010, shielded another Marine from a grenade blast by throwing his body in front of the explosive. Carpenter was severely wounded as a result but managed to survive. “In 2010, Cpl. Carpenter went above and beyond the call of duty to shield a fellow Marine from a grenade blast in Afghanistan,” Phelan wrote. “May this warship represent his valor, resilience and devotion to our Nation. On June 19, 2014, Former President Barack Obama awarded the Medal of Honor to Carpenter, who is the youngest living recipient of the military decoration.

Local, Education & other academy news

“Big news! Building on my passion to advance and serve the Paralympic Movement, it is my great honor to stand for election as the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee's candidate for Member At-Large on the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board. While my name may be new to some of you, I humbly share that I am not new to the Paralympic Movement. For the past 14 years, I have proudly been part of the Paralympic family—competing on the world's biggest stage while advocating for and leading those around me to advance our shared mission. The Paralympic Movement has changed my life, and given me a renewed identity, a global community and the chance to serve a movement that is truly making the world a better place. My gratitude and appreciation for the Paralympic Movement compels me to pay it forward. I kindly encourage you to check out my campaign manifesto, which includes my priorities and experience.”

After two years of gathering inputs, “Sworn to Serve” is set to be published. Class of 1967 classmates Jon Holzapfel, Bill Waters, and Al Lawver noted that the participation of members of the class in Vietnam was almost completely unknown or discussed at reunions. They set out to rectify that oversight and have compiled the experiences of over 300 classmates into their book. Dedicated to the nine brave men in the class who sacrificed their lives in the conflict, the inputs include aviators, SEALs, Marines, surface warfare sailors, SeaBees, submariners, and Brown Water Navy men. The book will be published next month and will be available at the BookLogix website. All profits will go to the repair and expansion of the Naval Academy Columbarium. 

USNA and AA&F Events

AUGUST

7 Aug - Class of 2029 Plebe Parent Mixer, Fluegel

8-10 Aug - Plebe Parents Weekend

9 Aug - Plebe Parents Weekend Formal Parade - 0830

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

14 Aug - USNI Accelerating Unmanned Panel and Reception, Annapolis

15 Aug - 2 for 7 Signing - Class of 2027

18 Aug - USNA Classes begin

19 Aug - Class of 2027 Commitment Lunch

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

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 - Alumni Association & Foundation Pre-game Social for VMI - (9:00am-11:00am)

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 - 12 p.m.

 

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 - Alumni Association & Foundation Pre-game Social for UAB - (12:00pm-2:00pm)

6 Sep - Navy Football vs University of Alabama Birmingham, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD

11 Sep - OKC Chapter + NAPC of Oklahoma Roadshow - 5:30pm – 7:30pm - Jones Assembly - 901 W Sheridan Ave, OKC

12 Sep - Tulsa Chapter Event & Roadshow - 6pm - Marshall's Brewery - 1742 E 6th Street, Tulsa

13 Sep - Navy Football vs Tulsa, Tulsa, OK

14 Sep - Annapolis Travis Manion 9/11 Heroes Run

18 Sep - 20th Anniversary of the opening of the Uriah P. Levy Center at USNA

18-19 Sep - McMullen Naval History Symposium - USNA

18-21 Sep - Class of 1985 - 40th Reunion

19 Sep - USNI Dudley Knox Achievement Award Reception

25-27 Sep - Class of 2020 5th Reunion

26 Sep - Class of 2020 Happy Hour - Fluegel Alumni Center

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 - 180th Birthday of the Naval Academy

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

24 Oct - Anchors Aweigh Open - Alumni Golf Tournament - Naval Academy Golf Course

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 Oct - Eugene, Oregon Navy Week

26 Oct - USMC Marathon w/ Run to Honor SIG participating and presenting the Penguin Award to final finisher

 

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 (FAC) - 6:30pm - 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 Conference Football Championship Game, TBD

6 Dec - Distinguished Graduate Selection Committee Meeting, Fluegel, TBD

13 Dec - Army - Navy, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD