17 September Daily Shipmate

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025

1895 - Second-class battleship Maine was commissioned in New York after years of construction. The ship was destroyed on 15 February 1898 while anchored in Havana Harbor with the loss of 266 crewmembers. Although it did not cause the Spanish-American War, the sinking of Maine was a major catalyst for the conflict.

 

1944 - Task Group 32.1, under Rear Admiral William H. P. Blandy, Class of 1913, landed troops on the island of Angaur in the Palaus, where an airfield was established to support offensive operations in the Philippines.

 

1976 - ENS Marcus Linn '76, USN was lost when the A-6 Intruder he was aboard crashed near Whidbey Island, Washington. He was awaiting his flight training start date. A native of Lacey, Washington, Marcus swam in high school and at the Naval Academy. He was survived by his father.

Academy & Graduate happenings

An Indiana man was arrested in connection with online threats that led to last week's Naval Academy lockdown, during which a midshipman was shot and a law enforcement officer was injured. Justin Fleming, 23, was arrested Sept. 12 on federal charges of “suspicion of sending an online threat through a social media application concerning the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.,” reads a release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Indiana. He was charged Sept. 14 with one count of transmitting an interstate threat. If convicted, the count could carry a five-year sentence. The investigation was led by the FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. Fleming was a midshipman from June 2021 to Jan. 2024, a Navy official confirmed to USNI News on Tuesday. Fleming's attorney said that his client plans to fight the charge.

The 6th and final episode of the Stockdale Center's short film series on Great Power Competition concludes with our opening question--are we doing all we can to prepare for the challenges the future presents?  Through powerful reflections from the Commandant of Midshipmen and the firsthand story of a newly commissioned surface warfare officer, it follows the journey from classroom to combat in the Red Sea.

A retired Navy admiral and longtime cybersecurity expert will be the first boss of the new Texas Cyber Command being set up in San Antonio. Gov. Greg Abbott today will name Timothy "T.J." White '87, a Spring native and 33-year Navy veteran, to lead the $345.2 million headquarters lawmakers approved as an emergency item early in this year's legislative session. It's intended to help protect state entities and infrastructure against cyberattacks. White retired as a vice admiral in 2020 after commanding the Navy's cyber forces at Fleet Cyber Command. That organization has a similar role for the Navy to the one the 16th Air Force at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, has for the Air Force. The 1987 Naval Academy graduate served on the battleship U.S.S. Missouri before moving to a series of intelligence and command jobs around the globe.

Government & Military News

After a rapid force-wide review of military standards, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently directed the Services to implement the following grooming standards for facial hair. "The grooming standard set by the U.S. military is to be clean shaven and neat in presentation for a proper military appearance," said Hegseth. Commanders must apply consistent criteria and appropriately consider the Department's interests in safety and uniformity when authorizing individual exceptions. Military medical officers will provide a written recommendation concerning a shaving waiver to the commander who is the final approval authority.

The U.S. Army announced updates to its grooming regulations Monday, changing standards for soldiers' hairstyles, jewelry, nail length and makeup use. The service started a process to review its existing standards nearly two years ago. A group of Army leaders and stakeholders found many of the rules to be ambiguous and difficult to interpret, Sergeant Major of the Army Michael Weimer said during a Sept. 8 media panel. The updates, which go into effect Oct. 15, seek to keep a conservative appearance for both men and women, Weimer said. “What sets the U.S. Army apart is our professionalism, and that's a direct reflection of committed Soldiers who adhere to and enforce the standards,” Weimer said in an announcement of the new rules Monday.

UNITAS 2025 began 15 September at Naval Station Mayport with an opening ceremony. The world's longest-running annual multinational maritime exercise brings together about 8,000 personnel from 25 allied and partner nations, along with ships, submarines, and aircraft. Operations will take place off the U.S. East Coast and at Mayport, Camp Lejeune, and Norfolk through 6 October. Participating nations include countries across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The U.S. Navy's P-8A Poseidon, in service since 2012 to replace the P-3 Orion, is a modified Boeing 737-800 designed for maritime patrol. Equipped with advanced sensors like sonobuoys and the AN/APY-10 radar, it tracks ships and submarines and carries weapons including MK-54 torpedoes, Harpoon missiles, and the LRASM.

Local, Education & other academy news

Last month we and the Naval Academy Athletics Association (NAAA) announced a $10 Million Commitment from USNA alum Bruce Lakefield '67 and his wife Bernadine. The Lakefields' generous gift will fund the design, construction and long-term operation of the new Bruce and Bernadine Lakefield Pavilion in the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium's north end zone.

We're less than 25 days away from an unforgettable night at Subaru Park. For the first time ever, both the Men's and Women's teams will take the field in a thrilling doubleheader. Don't miss your chance to be part of the electric atmosphere, the fierce competition, and the pride of the service academy rivalry. Registration closes in 22 days.

This memorial sermon was delivered by Chaplain RADM, William N. Thomas, CHC, USN on October 7, 1945, at the time of the United States Naval Academy's Centennial Celebration. Its inclusive spiritual statement embodies the important and sacred contributions made by the Naval Academy graduates who gave their lives for their country. Includes Chaplain Thomas's sermon titled "The Creative Force of the Great Dead", the Dedication in Memorial Hall (Bancroft Hall), the Prayer of a Midshipman, the Navy hymn Eternal Father, Strong to Save, a biography of Chaplain Thomas and a bibliographical glossary.

Annapolis' $100 million City Dock overhaul has cleared another legal hurdle. A judge dismissed a lawsuit from Historic Annapolis Inc., which challenged approval of the new Maritime Welcome Center—one piece of the broader City Dock Resiliency Project. The initiative aims to protect downtown from flooding while adding green space, pavilions, a splash park, and more. Work is already underway following the demolition of the harbormaster's building, though appeals from opponents remain pending. Learn more about what's planned for City Dock and the ongoing legal challenges.

Naval Academy Athletics News & Results

Men's Soccer v UMBC - W 1-0

USNA and AA&F Events

SEPTEMBER

18 Sep - Greater Southern Maryland Chapter Happy Hour - 4-6 p.m. @ Tap House, Three Notch Rd California, MD 20619

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

3 Oct - 2025 Navy Rugby Alumni Association's 10th Annual "With You" Dinner and HOF Induction

4 Oct - 1958/2008 tailgate for 50 for 50 celebration - Open invitation to A/F and USNA grads and mids to celebrate 50 Years of women - 10 a.m.

4 Oct - Navy Football vs Air Force, NMCMS, Annapolis, MD - Noon

8 Oct - Greater Southern Maryland Chapter Business Mtg. - 4:30 p.m. EDT Brudergarten

22725 Duke St, Leonardtown, MD 20650 Online event: BOD https://meet.google.com/toh-nvgs-yvn

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

30 Oct - Austin Chapter roadshow - 5:30 p.m. - Fast Friends Beer Co, Austin

31 Oct - North Texas Chapter + NAPC of North Texas Roadshow - 4:30 p.m. - Bitter Sisters Brewing Co, Addison

 

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) - 6:30 p.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 Conference Football Championship Game, TBD

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

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