News Article Release

Midshipman 1st Class Poole Takes Command of the Brigade

August 29, 2012

By MC2 Alexia Riveracorrea

While being accepted to the Naval Academy is a challenge, maintaining a sense of drive and enthusiasm through all four years the years can be even more difficult. Remembering what got you here is the lesson embraced by this semester’s brigade commander.

“I want everyone to wake up in the morning and remember why they came here in the first place and continue to become that naval officer they’ve always wanted to be,” said Midshipman 1st Class Jonathan Poole, of Yarmouth, Maine.

Poole said it’s sometimes difficult to maintain the extremely high level of focus and effort continuously required at the Academy. Despite being involved in many activities around the Yard, including the cycling team and the mathematics club, he felt during his second year at the academy that he had lost track of who he was and why he wanted to be at the Naval Academy.

“During plebe year I was very focused and busy. There was so much going on, and I felt like I had a purpose. After Plebe year it was challenging trying to figure out how to maintain the enthusiasm I had at the beginning,” he said.

During spring semester of his youngster year, he felt a renewed dedication to his personal development and the Naval Academy mission. “I’m not sure what happened, but I regained the drive I had originally,” said Poole. “I started to work harder than ever.

“I think the most important thing I have learned at the academy is how to become more personable and social,” he said. “One of the most important parts of leadership is communication, and I found it necessary to come out of my shell as time went on.”

Poole also believes taking care of and inspiring your people is one of the most important aspects of good leadership.

“Two of the biggest skills instilled in me by my parents were a strong work ethic and how to be compassionate,” he said. “I wake up every day at the academy with the intention of making myself a better leader and a better midshipman. I hope that during my time here I have instilled this same work ethic in at least one person.”

As the new brigade commander, he looks forward to the challenges that will help him become a better leader.

“The Naval Academy is a place where we can experiment with different leadership styles. Being able to practice public speaking, make leadership decisions and handle complex situations before we become officers is integral to preparing us for real-life situations.”

Being at the Naval Academy has been a challenging and humbling experience, said Poole, an applied mathematics major who hopes to be commissioned as a surface nuclear officer.

“Coming from a tiny town in Maine, I never thought it would be possible to attend this great institution and be successful,” he said. “It’s amazing to be part of one of the greatest institutions in the world. Every single day is a new experience, and I try to do the best I can.”