Council of Class Presidents meeting, April 2024
Dear classmates – here is a summary of the presentations provided at our Spring Council of Class Presidents meeting, held in April 2024 in Annapolis. If you have any questions, please let me know.
Best wishes,
Denise
Chet Gladchuck, Athletic Director:
— We have won the President’s Cup for nine consecutive years, which recognizes the top athletic program in the Patriot League
— We are number four in the nation for Academic All-Americans; 173 in the last 20 years
— Top ten NCAA graduation success rate at 95 percent
— Navy football is back! Coach Newberry has Chet’s full confidence. Army-Navy is in Washington, DC this year.
Dr. Samara Firebaugh, Provost and Academic Dean:
— Priorities are Stewardship of the Core curriculum; increasing cultural awareness; geopolitical knowledge; foreign languages
— War-gaming has been ramped up dramatically and project-based learning initiatives abound
— Flooding events: one of our Trident scholars has been working on infrastructure resilience and the impact on the broader armed forces
VADM Yvette Davids, Superintendent:
— Her priorities: Dignity and Respect, a positive and inclusive environment; Culture of Excellence, war fighting, readiness and sense of urgency
— SECNAV is helping us to address the sea level rise that VADM Buck worked on diligently during his tenure
— The Commandant will change from Colonel J.P. McDonough to Captain Walter H. Allman, the first Navy SEAL Commandant
— VADM Davids was in awe of her Change of Command experience, most importantly regarding Alumni Support to include the “Ladies of the 80s”
— Bancroft Hall last renovated almost 30 years ago; Phase Zero will begin in August in T-Court and the Rotunda areas.
— Athletic Excellence and the Physical Mission are important. We are in the right league with our teams and the games are extraordinary.
— The support for Women’s sports has gained tremendous momentum.
— We have world-class programs in the arts: chorus, band and theater, for example
— Manning the Fleet: We are producing what the Fleet needs. Most recently: 15,147 applications for 1200 admissions. 43.9 percent minorities, 32.1 percent females.
— VADM Davids is incredibly proud to be here at USNA and filled with pride to be the Superintendent.
Mr. Jeff Webb, CEO and President, USNA Alumni Association and Foundation:
— Values: Integrity, respect, service, teamwork, growth with a goal to connect, communication, support and anchor
— Considering the idea of having a staff member dedicated to reunions
— Issue of the PCI mailing to update the database was addressed; Jeff apologized for the quirkiness of the process.
Heidi Linzini, Class of 1995 — 2026 will be the 50th anniversary of women at the Academies. This will be a milestone event.
Additional:
— USNA ranked number one in 2021 as a premier public institution
— 16 exchange and faculty staff at USNA
— 16 academic departments and 26 academic majors
— International programs have 450 to 500 midshipmen engaged each year
Have a great day, everyone!
“Now’s the Time, 89!”
Warmly, Denise
Click here to download the minutes
Posted by Ingar Grev on behalf of Denise Willert on 7/18/24
Council of Class Presidents meeting, October 2023
Hello everyone! Please see the summarized notes from our Fall 2023 Council of Class Presidents meeting, held in Annapolis. Fondly, Denise
Representing the Acting Superintendent – CAPT Steve Vahsen ‘85, Executive Director for Strategy, USNA
- New Academic Dean and Provost is Dr. Samara L. Firebaugh—she comes from a Princeton and MIT background with great leadership experience
- Summer training is back on track and in full-swing after several years of modified cruises
- Men’s Rugby, National Champs and 8-0 after demolishing Air Force
- Women’s Triathalon—36th Varsity sport—off to a great start
- Men’s Cross Country dominated at West Point and brought home our first N star this fall
- Renamed Facilities—Carter Hall (replaces Maury Hall) and Farragut House (replaces Buchanan House)
USNA construction:
- Farragut Seawall—deal with the rising sea levels that are increasingly occurring and threatening the longevity of USNA—approximately 2 and a half feet higher than the previous Sea Wall—first stage completion target is Summer ’24
- Mahan Hall—front facade is completed and the tower portion remains under construction—completion target Summer ’24
- MacDonough Hall—built in 1903 and not upgraded recently—renovations to be completed in 2025
- Sherman Field area—main voltage cables for primary and redundant power and it is in fragile condition—replacing the cables across the field and under the water to Dewey and inward
- YP Pier project—pier has been mended but still needs to be re-built
Tim Ford, Sr. Associate Athletic Director, Naval Academy Athletic Association
- Won Rugby NCAA National Championship in our first Varsity season last year
- Navy has 36 Varsity sports, the most among NCAA universities
- Army to join the AAC (football only) and will remain in the Patriot League for other sports — we won’t play Army in football at all during the AAC regular season; and the Army Navy Game will be played following the Championship game of the AAC
- Facility ambitions for the next capital campaign include: Greenbury Point, NMCMS, 19th Hole Grill, Lacrosse Center, Aquatics Center, and Max Bishop Stadium
- Q: When will the North end zone be ready at NMCMS? A: goal is to begin in ‘24 and we would commence construction after the Military Bowl
- Q: Is there a focus on sustainment funds for other sports besides football? A: Coaches are charged with coaching/teaching. Chet is committed to the fundraising mechanism, and he doesn’t count on the coaches to do fundraising. Chet does his best to bridge the gap with athletic excellence and all sports now have an athletic excellence fund. If donations are intended to be for a specific sport, then they should be specified for that sport by the donor.
Posted by Ingar Grev on behalf of Denise Willert on 3/28/23
Council of Class Presidents meeting, May 2023 USNA
Please excuse my delay with this update from the Spring Council of Class Presidents meeting held at USNA in May. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to let me know.
Thanks so much and have a wonderful remainder of summer!
Fondly,
Denise
Brief by VADM Sean Buck ’83, USNA Superintendent
- His relief on 7 July will be VADM Yvette Davids ‘89 (update: currently on hold due to Congressional delays)
- It has been an honor to work at USNA and shape Midshipmen
- The United States Naming Commission changed the name of Maury Hall to Carter Hall (Buchanan House and Buchanan Rd to be changed at a future date)
- Infrastructure projects continue: McDonough Hall renovation is 22% complete and the Farragut seawall is in progress
- Service Academy Gender Relations Survey
- Sexual assaults have gone up — more reports indicates trust in the system, but more incidents is not good and has my full attention
- Navy was the worst of the Service Academies
- 23% of the women and 4.6% of the men said they had experienced unwanted sexual contact in the past 12 months. 65% of the time alcohol was involved.
- Fixes: Education – Enforcement – Example
- Lunch is now mandatory and there’s a four-minute drill of discussion around the squad table on a sensitive topic (sexual assault, intoxication, mental health, etc. scenarios). This has helped establish a dialogue and educate Midshipmen
- Company and athletic team culture assessments are being done
- The Midshipman Holsen case (charged with rape of a Midshipman in Annapolis and found not guilty in a civilian criminal court case) set the sexual assault program back 15 years
- Women’s triathlon is our 36th Varsity sport; Navy athletics has had a great year with 13 conference champions, Men’s Rugby is currently #1 in the nation
- Two new majors: Foreign Area Studies and Data Science
- Dr. Samara Firebaugh was selected as the next Academic Dean and Provost and will take over from Dean Phillips in July
- Sea level rise continues to be a problem. A plan is in place to sequentially make changes to the infrastructure from now until 2060. The Columbarium is part of the flooding mitigation plan. The immediate fix is to build some niches up the hill at the cemetery and then long-term move the existing Columbarium to the area off Boyer Rd, after the houses there (across from Gate 8) have been torn down.
Brief by Mr. Chet Gladchuk, USNA Director of Athletics
- Navy athletics is all about developing future leaders for the Fleet
- We won the Patriot League President’s Cup in nine of the past ten years and we will win it again this year!
- Navy football has turned over 16 staff positions. Spring practice went very well. Notre Dame game is sold out. Army-Navy in Boston is a smaller venue and will have 10k fewer tickets.
- Athletic facilities & strategic planning:
- Nutrition is a key component of Navy sports facilities and cost $900k/year
- Fundraising is in progress for the Lacrosse facility next to Glenn Warner Soccer Complex
- Renovating the seating at the Cooper Rd outdoor tennis courts, as well as at the Brigade Sport Complex, is also in the planning stages
- New aquatics center is a need with the location TBD
- Blue side of Navy – Marine Corps Memorial Stadium will have a tower much like the Akerson Tower on the gold side.
- ‘53 pavilion will be upgraded as an indoor facility that supports 700 people
- 19th Hole Grill Room at Brigade Sports Complex
- Greenbury Point is being studied for possible golf course, cross country course, public boat launch and RV park
Posted by Ingar Grev on behalf of Denise Willert on 8/28/23
Hello everyone, and welcome to spring 2023! Please find below a short summary of the December 2022 USNA Council of Class Presidents (COCP) meeting:
COCP Chairman Steve Comiskey, Class of 1969
- COCP is a key partner with the Alumni Association/Foundation and the Athletic Association
- COCP is an important conduit for information sharing across the classes, and to ensure that all Alumni feel welcomed
Superintendent VADM Sean Buck, Class of 1983
- COVID is in the rear-view mirror; ops normal
- Change to service selection — physically qualified midshipman can go Information Warfare
- The Yard — refurbishment of McDounough Hall and repairs to Farragut Seawall
- Key metrics: Graduation rate is 91.2, better than other Service Academies; applications in 2021 dropped about 20 percent
- Hot button issues:
- Naming commission — Buchanan House, Buchanan Road, Maury Hall no later than Jan 2024
- Tamanend — Was never Tecumseh; we do not paint the other bronze statues on the Yard as to do so would be disrespectful; cleaning paint off the statue was wearing down the statue itself, now the base only will be painted
- COVID 19 vaccine — no diploma or commission was denied and no midshipman have been discharged for not having COVID vacine (note, since this briefing, Congress voted to rescind the DoD COVID vaccine policy)
- Fixing Farragut seawall is the first of many steps to protect the infrastructure of USNA, to include the Columbarium, from rising sea level
Guest Speaker, Marine Corps General John R. Allen, Class of 1976
- Significant stresses exist to international stability
- Migration of wealth and power from West to East
- Shift to authoritarian and populist governments
- Increase in urbanization
- Population growth in developed nations decreasing, in developing nations increasing
- China and Russia have their own view of the world order
- Climate change is a destabilizer, and US leadership is important
- AI will be a threat if not ethically developed, US leadership is important
- Pandemics will continue to be a threat if you don’t get ahead of them
- Near-earth objects are a real threat to the planet
Alumni Association and Foundation briefings
- USNA Foundation exists to raise funds to support the mission of USNA and the Alumni Association
- Past two fundraising campaigns were very successful — next campaign’s quiet phase to being in April 2024
- Foundation is looking at establishing an endowment so that giving can occur in perpetuity
- Alumni Association is back on track with the DGA program; selection panel is very diverse
- Standards of Conduct established for board members and trustees of the Alumni Association
- Considering two new Shared Interest groups — surviving spouses and angel investors/contributors
- Strategic Plan 2030 is ongoing
- Alumni Center is on schedule and on budget; building with be completed spring/summer 2023; operational fall 2023
- Priority to the fall of 2023 will go to Mission and Alumni events; beginning in the spring of 2023 there will be an Alumni Center page on usna.com
Athletic Department
- Two varsity sports added this past year, Men and Women varsity rugby
- Two more varsity sports to be added this year, Women’s Squash and Women’s Triathlon
- Physical mission capital projects include: an additional 18-hole golf course of Greenbury Point; updates to the Dyer tennis faciliy; indoor tennis facility will have bleachers and scoreboards; a lacrosse facility and outdoor aquatics facility are in the planning phase; enhancements to NMCMS
- No thought of moving Air Force game to a neutral site
- Coaches are working to ensure that players understand that their commitment is beyond four years and not to be shortsighted by using the transfer portal
Mr. Jeff Webb, Class of 1995 — CEO and President, USNA Alumni Association and Foundation
- Been in the job for six months now, busy working the organization and filling gaps
- We do not have perpetual dollars and look forward to establishing an endowment
- AA, Foundation and A&SP are integrated and exist to: Support USNA; Support Legacy projects; Support relationship building with reunions, chapters, tailgates, SIG, SACC, etc
- New SIGs approved: Naval Engineers and STEM Advocates (NESA), USNA Pride
- Pending SIG: Entrepeneurs
- 52 percent of the American public is not aware of USNA — education of the public is a strategic goal
Additional briefers included the USN Athletic & Scholarship Programs; Naval Academy Minority Association; and the Alumni Association Senior Director of Engagment.
The next Council of Class Presidents meeting will be held at the end of April 2023 in Annapolis. I’ll post the next update soon afterward.
Now’s the Time, 89!
Fondly, Denise
’89 Class President
Posted by Ingar Grev on behalf of Denise Willert on 2/25/23
Hopefully you have seen the many emails and postings about the Class of 89 fundraising to honor our Line of Duty Losses. Click here for more details and to donate.
Matching gift challenge: A small group of our classmates have agreed to contribute up to an additional $25K if these monies are matched by class of 1989 members who – as of the Army game – give to the Honor our Fallen fund. This matching gift challenge ends Christmas Eve, so please consider contributing or adding to your current contribution.
Multiyear Pledge Option.
You can stretch your donation over five years and give $89.00 per year, $1989.00, or any amount that fits your budget.
Download this form if you are doing a multiyear pledge. If you use this method, please e-mail Brian Caldwell to let him know.
If you have ANY questions, please do not hesitate to contact Brian Caldwell. Brian is our class point person for the special project.
Posted by Ingar Grev on behalf of Brian Caldwell 12/14/22
Hello everyone, and welcome to spring 2022! Please find below a short summary of the December 2021 USNA Council of Class Presidents (COCP) meeting:
COCP Chairman Steve Comiskey, Class of 1969
- COCP is a key partner with the Alumni Association/Foundation and the Athletic Association
- COCP is an important conduit for information sharing across the classes, and to ensure that all Alumni feel welcomed
Alumni Association and Foundation briefings
- Investment percentage made by the recent $541 million fundraising campaign included 35% to Academics, 21% to Athletics, 17% to unrestricted giving, and 9% to Leadership and Ethics; 85 percent of fundraising goes directly to the need (15 percent staff goes to staff overhead, communications and other fixed costs). Click here for more details
- Every gift received can be tied to the 2020 USNA and Alumni Association Strategic Plans
- Alumni Association Board and leadership positions have grown more diverse and younger; the Class of 1992 is the median class for all living Alumni
- USNA has 59,000 living graduates and 85,000 living Alumni
- Shared Interest Groups are part of Alumni outreach
- Service Academy Career Conference (SACC) is going well and is in-person again.
- New Alumni Center: construction began Oct 2021 with substantial completion expected in March 2023. The new building can accommodate up to 1100 persons for events like reunions. Click here to see live images of the construction progress
COCP participants toured Hopper Hall and the Terwilliger Center
Brief by Superintendant VADM Sean Buck, Class of 1983, at Terwilliger Center
** Please note that comments pertaining to the Physics cheating scandal, DoD Naming Commission, Critical Race Theory, Tecumseh et al have been sent to the class over e-mail.
- Activities have largely returned to normal
- Commandant has been charged with growing the Professionalism, Accountability and Esprit de Corps of the Brigade (items most affected by COVID constraints)
- International programs remain a priority
- Emphasis on standards of conduct
- Diversity and inclusion: “We can be diverse, but if we aren’t inclusive, we fail”
- New majors: Foreign Area Studies (2021) and Data Science (2022)
- Chapel Dome project is complete
- Rising sea level: plan to mitigate flooding is in progress
Athletic Department
- Class of 1965-sponsored Legends of Sports exhibit is on display at the Terwilliger Center
- Upcoming projects include NMCMS Gardens, Men and Women’s Lacrosse Facility, and the Naval Academy Golf Course (additional 18 holes under consideration)
US Naval Institute
- USNI has been on the Yard since 1873
- Still publishing books and reaching a younger audience through live streaming and various forms of media
- An excellent venue to consider for Class events and reunions
The next Council of Class Presidents meeting will be held at the end of April 2022 in Annapolis. I’ll post the next update soon afterwards!
Now’s the Time, 89!
Fondly, Denise
’89 Class President
Posted by Ingar Grev on behalf of Denise Willert on 3/12/22
I’m writing on behalf of our class board to request your assistance with a project that’s been presented by our USNA Athletic Director, Mr. Chet Gladchuk.
USNA’s Terwilliger Center for Student-Athletes is creating a digital display to commemorate graduates who have demonstrated superlative athletic excellence while at USNA. This display would include the individual’s name, graduation year, associated photos, USNA athletic achievements, contributions to the Navy during his/her service, and subsequent leadership contributions in the community.
I welcome you to think back to our Academy day and nominate those classmates whom you believe would be excellent candidates. All athletes are welcome to be considered, from club sports to varsity. Please strongly consider those individuals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership both in and out of uniform, as well as those who have committed themselves to a lifetime of athleticism.
The nomination should include as much detail as you know, such as the individual’s company, photos, sport played, details of his/her Navy career, as well as any other information you believe to be pertinent.
Please send your submission to “classofficers@usna89.com” no later than 10 June.
Many thanks!
Denise
Posted by Ingar Grev on behalf of Denise Willert on 6/2/21
Happy May, everyone! The spring Council of Class Presidents was held virtually in late April, and I’d like to provide you the following update:
From VADM Sean S. Buck, USN, USNA ’83, Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy:
- Normalcy returning to the Yard
- As of late April, there were no cases of COVID in the Brigade; 99% of the Brigade and 86% of faculty/staff/coaches fully vaccinated
- Overnight liberty granted again with no issues
- Spring athletics a success story, despite having practice and games shut down for a month due to a COVID spike
- Commissioning Week to be in person
- Plebe Summer Induction 29/30 June
- Full summer training to resume this year
From Superintendent Q and A:
- Midshipman Standage is undergoing remediation; if he passes, he will graduate and commission
- A small handful of Midshipmen were seriously ill with COVID but all are back now
- USNA does not teach critical race theory
- Rising water levels at USNA: a formal engineering study to report out in December
- Youngster physics cheating scandal; Midshipmen involved being adjudicated by Honor Boards
USNA Alumni Association and Foundation update:
- Alumni Diversity and Inclusion survey complete; 12 percent alumni response
- 2020 Distinguished Graduates to be recognized in September; 2021 DGAs to be recognized Spring 2022
- New Alumni Center is on schedule and on budget
Mr. Chet Gladchuck, Jr, Athletic Director:
- Looking forward to football resuming!
- Another opportunity possible to go to Ireland; Navy Notre Dame, 2023
Anthony Whalen, USNA Memorial Affairs coordinator:
- The Columbarium will run out of space in three years; working on an expansion project
That’s the update for this spring. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out and let me know. All the best to everyone … Now’s the Time, 89!
Fondly,
Denise
’89 Class President
Posted by Ingar Grev on behalf of Denise Willert on 5/28/21
The USNA Council of Class Presidents meets twice a year to discuss issues of importance to the Naval Academy and its alumni. Below are highlights from this fall’s meeting, held virtually in early November:
Comments from guest speaker LTGEN Dave Beydler, USMC (Ret.), Co-Chair, Special Committee on Alumni Culture, Diversity and Inclusion:
- Committee conducted weekly two-hour meetings with input from alumni this summer and fall
- Preliminary recommendations support fostering greater appreciation of each other, greater transparency, and expansion of diversity participation and engagement
- An all-Alumni survey is forthcoming
Comments from the US Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation:
- Chapel Dome memorabilia sales are greater than $1.2 million, providing support to the Midshipman Activities Fund
- Hopper Hall Cyber Security Center ribbon cutting was held on 15 October
- The Naval Academy Campaign closed in September with more than $500 million raised
- The Service Academy Career Conference (SACC) experienced 20 percent increase in alumni attendance
- More than 4000 alumni participate in the Alumni Mentoring Program (AMP)
Update on the Alumni Center Project:
- The project is on budget, expected completion summer/fall 2022
- The Center will be a 68K square foot building with on-site and nearby parking for more than 100 vehicles
- Class giving opportunities at the $250K and $100K levels
- Individual plankowner opportunities for those who pledge $12,500 by December 2022
Guest Speaker VADM Sean Buck, Superintendent:
- Social distancing protocols continue in place on the Yard
- Random COVID testing weekly for 10 percent of the USNA population
- 372 midshipmen are housed in St. John’s College dormitories to permit establishment of isolation rooms in Bancroft
- Midshipmen will start winter break after the Army Navy game; the Brigade will return 5 January 2021
- Midshipman 1/C Standage case: currently under litigation
- Diversity:
- Racism not systemic at USNA, a task force established to take a top-down look
- Changes to the names of buildings will only come from top-level Navy leadership
- There’s been a temporary pause on painting Tecumseh due to feedback from the Midshipmen Diversity Team
Update from Mr. Chet Gladchuk, Jr, Athletic Director:
- There’s been a loss of revenue due to COVID constraints
- We need to do all we can to sustain our athletic programs
- Football team will play Army at West Point this year
Take care, friends, and have a wonderful December!
Now’s the Time, 89!
Denise
’89 Class President
Dear Classmates,
I hope this update finds you and your family well during this very challenging and difficult time. Remember, we’re all here for each other, so if you’re needing some assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Please allow me to share highlights from the recent Council of Class Presidents meeting, a twice-a-year gathering sponsored by the Alumni Association and Foundation. This spring’s meeting was virtual and well attended, with an interesting variety of important topics discussed:
Current state of USNA and the Brigade (as briefed by the Commandant, Captain Thomas R. Buchanan):
- All midshipmen are sheltering in place INCONUS, with approximately 40 to 50 midshipman residing in Bancroft Hall.
- The number of midshipmen infected by COVID is in the single digits, with no hospitalizations.
- A virtual graduation is planned for the class of 2020, with more details to be announced.
- Plebe summer will occur, with details under discussion.
Alumni Center project
- $22M building project for a 65,000 square foot building across from Bishop Stadium on King George Street.
- Construction begins October 2020, and is complete July 2022.
- August 2020 Shipmate will discuss class naming opportunities, similar to those at Navy and Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.
- Expected class naming opportunities at 100K and 250K milestones.
- Individual recognition opportunities at 12.5K; this donation also counts toward the class financial milestone.
Virtual Service Academy Career Conference (SACC)
- Outstanding participation: 63 companies and 502 job seekers.
- SACC Central is online with postings for jobs.
Alumni Mentoring Program (AMP)
Almost 4,000 alumni participate in a Mentor/Protégé relationship through the Alumni Mentoring Program (AMP). Please consider participating! We have a lot to offer to fellow alumni that might be transitioning out of the service or to a new career field.
Chapel Dome Heirlooms
Renovations are currently underway to replace the aging copper dome. Herff Jones is offering heirlooms from material salvaged, to include ornaments, jewelry, challenge coins, and framed heirlooms. Click here for more information and to purchase!
Objective Zero
Objective Zero, a Class of 1998 initiative, is an app that leverages existing support networks (classmates) to provide timely support to Veterans through their hard days. The objective of the initiative is zero additional suicides. A motion was approved by the COCP to formally request that the Alumni Association and Foundation and NAAA recognize Objective Zero at Navy sporting events.
I hope you’ve enjoyed this brief update, and I’m glad to answer any questions you might have. Please feel free to contact me anytime at denise.willert@1989.usna.com.
Stay safe and healthy! Now’s the Time, 89!
Fondly, Denise
Posted by Ingar Grev on May 5, 2020
