Erik Kristensen Shell Dedication. The Naval Academy, AA&F and the Class of 1995 honored Erik Kristensen '95 Saturday with the naming of a new heavyweight rowing shell in his honor. This is the second shell dedicated in Erik's memory, using funds from a shell endowment created by the Class of 1995 and friends of Erik Kristensen.
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Today in Navy, Marine Corps
and USNA Memorial Hall History
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1899 - A force of 375 Marines under command of future Commandant George F. Elliott, attacked and captured the insurgent town of Novaleta, Luzon, Philippine Islands, and linked up with U.S. Army troops. There were 11 Marine casualties.
1944 - COL Howard Johnson '27, USA was killed in action with the German Army near Driel, Holland, when he was struck by a large shell fragment. He was the commanding officer of the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division. Originally a member of the Class of 1926, he resigned in February 1923 and then was readmitted to the Class of 1927 in September 1923. Howard resigned a second time in June 1925. He initially joined the Army as a pilot, but was washed out due to poor eyesight. A legendary combat commander, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Bronze Star, and Croix de Guerre. Howard was survived by his wife, daughter, and son.
1990 - In response to Iraqi troops massing on the border of Kuwait, Navy ships rapidly deployed to the Arabian Gulf region. The guided missile cruiser Leyte Gulf (CG-55) was the first to arrive, reaching its station in the Red Sea on this date. The George Washington (CVN-73) carrier battle group, Tripoli (LPH-10) amphibious ready group, and other ships joined it.
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Academy & Graduate happenings
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USNA AA&F welcomes aboard four podcast resources to the new Podcast Fleet
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What could be better than one podcast? How about five, all in one easy-to-find place?
Today, the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation (USNA AA&F) announced the launch of the Sing Second Podcast Fleet, a new hub for Naval Academy conversations. The Fleet features alumni stories, Navy sports, parent information, insights into Academy life and more.
Five distinct shows form one powerful network that connects and celebrates USNA alumni and the community.
Joining the flagship show, the Sing Second Podcast, are four new pods for alumni, parents, Navy sports fans and the broader community to access anytime, anywhere. These new additions include:
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Sing Second Podcast - Hosted by Chris Servello '99 and USNA AA&F Executive Communications Director John Schofield, Sing Second brings the voices, stories and Navy blue and gold spirit of the Naval Academy community to life each week. The show features conversations with alumni, midshipmen, coaches and leaders who share their experiences, insights and lessons learned. From Academy news and athletics to stories of service and leadership, each episode keeps alumni and friends connected to the Yard and to one another.
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Anchors Aweigh Podcast - Expert weekly analysis of all things Naval Academy sports, hosted by longtime Navy beat writer Bill Wagner. Each week features exclusive interviews with coaches, players and alumni.
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Academy Insider Podcast – Hosted by Grant Vermeer '17, this show supports midshipmen, future midshipmen and their families by demystifying Academy life through shared experiences and insider insight.
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Navy Football Podcast – Wagner is joined by Eric Kettani '09 and Keenan Reynolds '16 to break down Navy football twice a week during the season, with pregame episodes on Thursdays and postgame recaps on Sundays.
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Waypoints Podcast – Created by the Sisterhood of Mother B, this show amplifies the voices of Naval Academy women graduates. Focused on leadership and support, it offers perspective and connection for midshipmen and alumni alike.
The Sing Second Podcast is now also available on Amazon Music. Listeners can request it directly through Amazon Echo devices. Just say, “Alexa, play the Sing Second Podcast.”
“Bringing these podcasts together under one Fleet allows us to connect with alumni, parents and supporters across a wide range of interests,” said Schofield. “It gives us a platform to share impactful updates and stories across key areas like parent engagement, athletics and the 50-year celebration of women at service academies in 2026.”
Jeff Webb '95, president and CEO of USNA AA&F, sees the new Podcast Fleet as a natural and needed extension of the organization's mission.
“These are incredible and influential voices already recognized throughout our community,” Webb said. “Bringing them together gives us a powerful resource to connect and communicate with Naval Academy alumni and friends. It's another step in our ongoing effort to build strong ties between our members and the Academy.”
Bill Wagner, host of both the Anchors Aweigh and Navy Football podcasts, agreed.
“My goal is to grow our audience through the reach the Alumni Association provides,” he said. “There's real synergy among these shows and this platform puts us directly in front of the people we want to reach.”
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Service academy women mark 50 years of progress at the NYSE
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Service Academy Women stood proudly on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange last night to ring the Closing Bell, honoring the trailblazers who made history 50 years ago when Public Law 94-106 opened the doors of our nation's service academies to women. Their presence marked not only a milestone but a powerful reminder of how far we have come and the generations of women leaders who continue to shape the future of our armed forces. Representing the United States Military Academy was Dorian Price '99; from the United States Air Force Academy, Gretchen Cook '87; from the United States Coast Guard Academy, Joanne McCaffrey '80; and from the United States Naval Academy, Marie Burris '86. Together, they stood at the podium among more than 120 attendees, a quarter of whom were USNA alumnae, representing all five decades of graduates.
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In case you missed it - another USNA historic first
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In a historic Change of Command ceremony, LtGen Michael J. Borgschulte '91, USMC, became the first Marine to serve as Superintendent after relieving VADM Yvette M. Davids '89, USN, on 15 August.
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Sing Second Pod featuring the 250th Navy Birthday, an interview with “the guy” running the show in Philly and a convo with Kirk Michael '72 about supporting Navy Parachuting
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Season six, episode nine. A busy weekend came and went. We discuss and break down a 34-31 win vs Air Force, reunions for 1990, 1995 and 2015, President's Circle Weekend, a visit from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Annapolis Boat Show. We're getting ready for this weekend's Navy 250th celebration in Philly. We chat with George Leone, who is the Chairman of the 250th Commemoration. He breaks down the ships, the events and everything else cool about being in Philly this weekend. And as we emerge from President's Circle weekend, we chat with PC Donor and supporter of the USNA Parachuting program, Kirk Michael '72. Kirk talks about why he gives back and more in a great conversation. And 7 October is a special anniversary as we celebrate 50 years of women at the service academies. We shout it out at the end. All this and more on the world's best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast. Thanks for listening. Beat Army!
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Government & Military News
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Pentagon's Hegseth okays US Navy next-generation fighter, sources say
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After months of delay, the Pentagon will select as soon as this week the defense company to design and build the Navy's next stealth fighter, a U.S. official and two people familiar with the decision said, it will be a multibillion-dollar effort for a jet seen as central to U.S. efforts to counter China. Boeing Co and Northrop Grumman Corp are competing to be chosen to produce the aircraft, dubbed the F/A-XX. The new carrier-based jet will replace the Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornet fleet, which has been in service since the 1990s.
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Marines retire 'workhorse' Assault Amphibious Vehicle after 50 years
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From the shores of Grenada to the deserts of Iraq, the Assault Amphibious Vehicle (AAV) shielded and carried Marines from ship to sea to shore for over 50 years. Now, after a 26 September ceremony, the famous “workhorse” has been officially decommissioned. Col. Lynn Berendsen, commander of the Assault Amphibian School at Camp Pendleton, California, noted during the ceremony that the AAVs were intertwined with the legacy of the Marines that operated them. “The AAV gave Marines both mobility and armored protection, allowed them to close with the enemy and seize objectives at speed,” Berendsen said. “In the desert, just as in the Pacific beaches decades earlier, [the AAV] showed it was more than a connector — it was a fighting vehicle at the heart of the Marine Air Ground Task Force.”
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Hung Cao tasked with modernizing Navy's IT, business systems
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Hung Cao '96, the new undersecretary of the Navy, has been tasked with spearheading digital modernization across the department. Cao was confirmed by the Senate last week as the Navy's No. 2 civilian official and sworn in by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Secretary of the Navy John Phelan has already given the new undersecretary what a press release described as a “wide-ranging cross departmental portfolio” that “unifies the Department's most consequential levers for rebuilding warrior ethos and quality of service.” That remit includes leading and synchronizing digital modernization efforts.
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Local, Education & other academy news
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Trump submits USNA Alum for top Pentagon homeland defense policy post
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President Donald Trump has nominated Mark Roosevelt Ditlevson '12 for an important policy role at the Pentagon. Trump's pick for assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs was submitted to the Senate 2 October and referred to the Senate Armed Services Committee for consideration, according to a notice posted on Congress.gov. Ditlevson previously served as a senior advisor for the Department of the Navy during the early days of the second Trump administration. Near the end of the first Trump administration, he was a special assistant to the assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict. He's also a USNA alumnus and served in the Navy's explosive ordnance disposal community, according to his LinkedIn profile.
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Amy McGrath announces 2026 run for Kentucky's US Senate seat
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Amy McGrath '97 announced Monday that she's running for the U.S. Senate again in Kentucky's 2026 race. The retired Marine fighter pilot's last run was in 2020 as the Democratic candidate faced U.S. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell. "Kentuckians deserve someone battle-tested and ready to fight for them on day one," McGrath said. "I've spent my life stepping up when the mission was tough and the stakes were high." Kentucky hasn't had an open Senate seat since 2010, the release said, and McGrath called this race a "tremendous opportunity for Kentuckians." McGrath served 20 years in the Marine Corps, flying missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. She also served as a liaison officer in the pentagon and as an instructor at the U.S. Naval Academy.
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Celebrate Navy 250 with Movies on the Memorial!
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Celebrate the U.S. Navy's 250th birthday with a special Movies on the Memorial series by the U.S. Navy Memorial! Movies begin at 7:00 PM so experience the magic of cinema in the heart of Downtown DC while honoring 250 years of service and sacrifice.
Navy-themed Movie Line Up
🚢Friday, Oct 10 | 7PM – Battleship
✈️Friday, Oct 24 | 7PM – Top Gun: Maverick
📍 U.S. Navy Memorial - 701 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20004
🚇 Navy Memorial-Archives Metro Stop
Sign up to get updates on this and other Navy Memorial events.
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Naval Academy Athletics News & Results
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From 1969-70 to 2024-25, Navy has posted a 47-6-3 record in the annual Star Series. Navy lost last year's Star Series. This season, Army leads 1-0 (Volleyball).
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Oct 10 - W. Soccer - Chester, Pa. - 4 p.m.
Oct 10 - M. Soccer - Chester, Pa. - 7 p.m.
Oct 11-12 - M. Golf - Annapolis - TBA
Oct 18 - W. Cross Country - West Point - TBA
Oct18 - M. Cross Country - West Point - TBA
Oct 25 - W. Rugby - West Point - TBA
15 - M. Rugby - West Point - TBA
Nov 15 - Sprint Football - West Point - 1 p.m.
Dec 6 - M. Swim & Dive - Annapolis - TBA
Dec 6 - W. Swim & Dive - Annapolis - TBA
Dec 13 - Football - Baltimore, Md. - 3 p.m.
Feb 7 - Rifle - West Point - 9 a.m.
Feb 7 - M. Indoor Track & Field - Annapolis - TBA
Feb 7 - W. Indoor Track & Field - Annapolis - TBA
Feb 20 - Wrestling - Annapolis - TBA
Feb 21 - W. Basketball - West Point - TBA
Feb 21 - M. Basketball - West Point - TBA
Apr 11 - M. Outdoor Track & Field - West Point - TBA
Apr 11 - W. Outdoor Track & Field - West Point - TBA
TBA - Baseball - Annapolis
TBA - Gymnastics - Annapolis
TBA - M. Lacrosse - West Point
TBA - W. Lacrosse - Annapolis
TBA - M. Tennis - Annapolis
TBA - W. Tennis - Annapolis
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OCTOBER
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 - 4 p.m.
13 Oct - U.S. Navy Birthday
13 Oct - Surface Navy Museum Grand Opening - Battleship Iowa - Los Angeles
15 Oct - USNI Conference: Dominance Through Disruption: The Evolving Military Advantage - 8 a.m.
18 Oct - Greater Southern Maryland Chapter Bourbon Night - Tobacco Barn Distillery - 4:30-6:30 p.m. - 24460 Hollywood Road, Hollywood, MD
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.
12 Nov - GSMC Social & Business Mtg. Brudergarten - 5-6 p.m - 22725 Duke St, Leonardtown, MD 20650 - Online event: Meet - toh-nvgs-yvn
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 ceremony, USNA Chapel - 9 a.m.
15 Nov - Honor Our Fallen Heroes tailgate luncheon, NMCMS - 10 a.m.
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
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The Daily Shipmate is a news product intended to share news about the Naval Academy, the Naval Services, and our members. We are apolitical as an organization and will strive to bring forward relevant news on a wide variety of issues. Just because we include an article does not mean we endorse its content, author, or news organization.
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