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| Lynch ’64 Stepping Down as A&SP Chairman |
 Rear Admiral Thomas C. Lynch ’64, USN (Ret.), announced in November he would be stepping down as Chairman of the Athletic & Scholarship Programs (A&SP) following the April A&SP meeting. Lynch’s tenure as chairman spanned 20 years and impacted thousands of midshipmen who received an additional year of preparation for the Naval Academy as part of a network of prestigious prep schools. A&SP also raises resources for the Fund for Athletic Excellence, which provides needed operating dollars in support of the Naval Academy’s physical mission for varsity, club, and intramural sports, as well as athletic programs at the Naval Academy Preparatory School. More than $110 million was raised for Navy athletics during Called to Serve, Daring to Lead: The Naval Academy Campaign. Lynch and A&SP trustees played critical roles in the success of the campaign. The A&SP Suite in the new Alumni Association and Foundation Center will be named in Lynch’s honor. The Center is scheduled to open in Summer of 2023. Lynch served as the Academy’s 54th Superintendent and although he is stepping down as A&SP chair, he will continue his work with NewDay USA as executive chairman. A future Shipmate story will further detail Lynch’s impact on the Naval Academy and the Alumni Association and Foundation. |
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| Grady ’96 joins USNA Alumni Association & Foundation as EVP, Engagement and Communications |
 The U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation (USNA AA&F) has named Captain Thomas J. “TJ” Grady ’96, USN (Ret.), as its new Executive Vice President, Engagement and Communications. Grady spent over 26 years in Naval Aviation and the past two years helping build a company focused on eliminating single-use plastic drinking bottles for a more sustainable environment. He has previously served the organization as a volunteer leader, donor, and Athletic & Scholarship Program Trustee since 2014. The recruiting firm Heidrick and Struggles assisted in the search. |
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| Week of Gratitude: Giving Thanks! |
 The U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation (USNA AA&F) held its fourth annual Week of Gratitude (WOG) 9-13 January. Alumni Association and Foundation team members shared messages of thanks and gratitude to thousands of alumni, donors, and friends throughout the week with appreciative phone calls, e-mails, text messages, and videos. You can see many of these videos of appreciation on the USNA AA&F’s Facebook page. During the week, alumni, parents, and friends also submitted their own photos and memories to help complete an online commemorative mosaic of a Naval Academy graduation ceremony. You can still view the mosaic and add a photo of your own. We are so grateful for each of you—the work the USNA AA&F does for the Naval Academy, the Brigade of Midshipmen, and the alumni community is only possible thanks to your generous support. We appreciate you! |
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| Eastern and Central Regional Trustee Elections coming in March and April |
 Eastern and Central Region members: your representatives on the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees will be campaigning for your vote in March and April this spring. Get to know your candidates now by clicking on our election page here. The Eastern region comprises the states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and the region lying east of the East Coast of the United States to longitude 61 degrees east. The Central region comprises the states of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. |
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| Moore ’60: Prisoner of War Recounts Story of Survival |
 Shot down in the early days of the Vietnam War, Lieutenant Commander Dennis A. Moore ’60, USN, endured seven and a half years in eight different North Vietnam prisons including three internments in the infamous Hoa Lo Prison—dubbed “The Hanoi Hilton” by the POWs. Denny Moore kept his personal story to himself until now. His experience in captivity was harrowing. He faced solitary confinement, malnutrition, beatings, and torture. What kept him going were unique ways to endure boredom and the constant expectation of freedom. There were 525 others, including the late Senator John McCain ’58, who were also imprisoned as POWs in the war. Hear Moore’s personal survival story (2018). Moore died 26 November 2022. He was remembered by his class with a tribute. |
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| Jumpstart Your Career–Attend SACC in Jacksonville |
 Whether you are ready to attend grad school or pursue a new career path, the Service Academy Career Conference (SACC) has the resources you need to make the leap. Here is what one candidate at the Dallas 2022 SACC (USNA ’90 alumnus) had to say: “The Dallas SACC was very well organized and attended by many very high-quality companies. The SACC team communicated all the right information well in advance so I could prepare for the event. The event schedule was published and the speakers held to the time slots, allowing the candidates to hear many important topics and meet many of the company reps. The mixer was a great way to get to know other people and network in an informal setting. The companies followed up with me after the event and really seemed interested in me as a person and as a potential new hire. They have continued to offer support for me, and I expect a good outcome in my job search.” To see what the Jacksonville, FL SACC has in store for you, visit our website or contact us at sacc@usna.com. Discounted hotel reservations are available until 7 February. |
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| Evan ’16: Defying All Odds |
 Everyone craves belonging and purpose in life. How far would you go to satisfy that need? Dre Evan ’16 started by joining a Chicago street gang. But one day, as bullets flew past his head, he wondered if that desire was worth dying for. His answer—and a conversation with a man he viewed as his enemy—prompted Evan and his brothers to abandon the urban battleground and join an elite new crew: the U.S. military. Together, they would make history as the first set of African-American triplets accepted into the Air Force, Naval, and Merchant Marine Academies. In this unfiltered coming-of-age memoir, Evan shares his inspiring story, challenges the stigma surrounding the word “gang,” and offers a fresh perspective on how to live a fulfilling life. Listen to this episode of Author Hour as Evans talks about his journey of self-discovery that defies the odds assigned by society. For information about his book visit our Lucky Bag of Books page. |
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| A Tale of Two Cities |
 Jim Minderlein ’65 and Jeff Beard ’72 have a sea story or two to share about the secrets to successful class giving. With 24 years in the Navy as a pilot and two tours at the Naval Academy, “Spit Shine Minderlein” (a moniker given by a fellow pilot because as XO he asked the crew to polish their flight boots), radiates pride for the time spent serving the Academy, and the support his class has given since 1965. Called the “keepers of the goat,” his class refurbished the goat trailer as well as the bronze goat located at Gate 1, given by the class of 1915. “Our class is 50 years after, kind of like the link in the chain going the other way, and we take care of that goat.” Read Minderlein and Beard’s sea story on the secrets of class giving. |
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| USNA Summer Sessions: NASS and STEM |
 Applications are now being accepted through 31 March for the Naval Academy Summer Seminar. Rising high school seniors have the opportunity to choose from three sessions: 3-8 June, 10-15 June, and 18-23 June. Summer Seminar teaches students about life at the Naval Academy, where academics, athletics, and professional training play equally important roles in developing our nation’s leaders. Experience of a world-class program like the Naval Academy’s Summer STEM Program. STEM is all about exploring, creating, building, and making things better, and at our Summer STEM Program, you’ll do just that. You’ll work with students from all over the country as you test your problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration skills. Apply for Summer Seminar and STEM through the application portal. Need-based scholarships are available for tuition and/or travel expenses. Opportunities to donate to these enriching summer programs can be found at: Donating to NASS & STEM Programs 2023 Guide. |
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| Where Will You Travel in 2023? |
 Happy New year to you all! We hope everyone is doing well excited to join us for USNA Alumni Travel in 2023. If you have not yet seen our new “Travel Thursday” social media campaign, visit Facebook and Instagram to learn more about the unforgettable travel opportunities we are offering in 2023. Now that this year is in full swing, we will also be presenting the 2024 travel schedule soon, with the catalog to follow early this summer. Thank you for a wonderful season and we hope to see you all traveling soon! |
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