Past Events

Anne Arundel's Martin Luther King committee organized its 32nd annual MLK Banquet on 17 January 2020. The Naval academy's Color Guard and Gospel Choir put on two impressive performances throughout the night.VADM Sean Buck, the Naval Academy's Superintendent, gave the keynote address, remembering the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and to "Keep the Dream Alive", similar to the banquet's theme.

It was a night of inspiration and an opportunity for the community to get together and recognize the incredible achievements and efforts of members in the community. One of the Naval Academy's company officers, LT Oheneba Duodu was recognized as the MLK's Drum Major award honoree. This award is given to a member of the community who has invested many hours of their personal time to community service and involvement. We are incredibly proud and honored to have one of our own staff members be recognized at such an event.

The Filipino American Club hosted its first annual Filipino-American History Month Banquet on October 26, 2019. Our guest speaker was CAPT Rafael A. Miranda, CEC, USN. He is a United States Naval Academy graduate of the Class of 1997. CAPT Miranda commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer and later lateral transferred into the Civil Engineering Corps.

CAPT Miranda spoke on the topics related to his experiences as a Filipino in the fleet as well as the importance of creating an environment of understanding and acceptance among his sailors regardless of what their background may be. 

On Tuesday October 22nd at the O-club here at the Naval Academy, the Latin American Studies Club hosted their Hispanic Heritage month Banquet. Hispanic Heritage month is from September 15th-October 15th. Hispanic Heritage Month is a way to celebrate the Hispanic culture and the Hispanic community and to commemorate those Hispanic and Latino Americans that have done so much for our community.

The Latin American Studies Club has over 100 members and over 70 members of the club attended the club's banquet. Our keynote speaker was LCDR Machado, a 2009 graduate from the Naval Academy. LCDR Machado is a Surface Warfare Officer who is now stationed in Norfolk, VA. 

Members of the Chinese Culture Club & Filipino-American Club from Naval Academy attended the 6th Annual Leadership Luncheon by Pan-Pacific American Leadership and Mentors (PPALM) at the Mandarin Oriental in Washington, DC. The Military Leadership Luncheon is dedicated to promoting leadership diversity and Asian American and Pacific Islander representation within the military. The event was a celebration of the culture, traditions, and contributions that Asian American and Pacific Islanders have made to the service.

The evening's guest speaker was Lt. General (Ret.) Thomas P. Bostick.  General Bostick currently serves as Chief Operating Officer and President, Intrexon Bioengineering at Intrexon Corporation.  He served as the 53rd Chief of Engineers and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and also served as the Deputy Chief of Staff, for personnel.  He is a 1978 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and holds Master of Science Degrees in both Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University, and a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering from George Washington University.  The midshipman at the event enjoyed networking and listening to all the great accomplishments of Asian American service members that came before them.  The lunch also recognized Chinese-American WWII veterans for receiving the Congressional Gold Medal for their commitment to serve during that time.

The 2019 Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month banquet was hosted by USNA Asian American and Pacific Islander Clubs at the Naval Academy Club. The event was a celebration of the culture, traditions, and contributions that Asian American and Pacific Islanders have made to the service. The evening's guest speaker CDR Gervy Alota. CDR Alota is a native of Guam and was raised in San Diego, CA. He is a 1998 graduate of the United States Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Oceanography. CDR Alota currently serves as the Deputy Executive Assistant of the Vice Chief of Naval Operations. He is a Surface Warfare Officer and has commanded USS COMSTOCK (LSD 45) and USS HARPERS FERRY (LSD 49).

While in command of USS COMSTOCK (LSD 45) and USS HARPERS FERRY (LSD 49) the ship and its crew were awarded the Battle E. CDR Alota’s message to the midshipman were to be on time, write everything down, and have a sharp uniform. Additionally, he wanted midshipman to have a winner’s mentality and to find a way to “be great and learn something new every day.”

Members of the Joy Bright Hancock Organization (JBHO) hosted an annual banquet at the Naval Academy Club to conclude Women's History Month.  The evening's guest speaker was Ms. Lauren Gulotta, a nearly 20 year veteran of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  She currently serves as a Supervisory Special Agent in the FBI's International Operations Division, where she manages FBI Legal Attaché offices in Eastern Europe and Eurasia.  Gulotta previously served for eight years as a Special Agent in the FBI's Washington Field Office (WFO), working National Security matters.  During her tenure at WFO, Special Agent Gulotta worked several high profile espionage and media leak investigations.

Prior to her selection as a Special Agent, Gulotta served as an Intelligence Analyst in the FBI's Counterterrorism Division.  She graduated from Rutgers University in 2002 with degrees in Administration of Justice, Women's Studies and Communication.  She also earned All American and Academic All American honors as a goalie for the Scarlet Knights women's lacrosse team.  She grew up in Annapolis and currently lives in Alexandria, VA.  Ms. Gulotta spoke on her experience in the FBI and gave her advice based on lessons she’s learned throughout her impressive career.

Naval Academy Faculty & Staff honored Women's History Month by hosting a presentation at the Naval Academy.  The guest speaker was CDR Dede Duncan-White, USN (Ret.).   CDR Duncan-White serves as the Assistant Athletic Director for Academic Support Services after serving in the U.S. Navy for 23 years. CDR Duncan-White's presentation highlighted the contributions of women in the military spanning back to the Civil War.  She also talked about her journey and how she was able to make the Navy a career.

Midshipmen Black Studies Club hosted the 2019 Black History Month Banquet at the N Star Room in Navy Marine Corps Stadium. 

The event's guest Speaker was Major General Charles F. Bolden Jr. (USMCR).  Major General Bolden gave a simple message "take care of your people!"  He also talked about a book called "We Are All The Same," which was about a boy named Xolani Nkosi who was born with HIV and in his short life became an advocate for the rights of people with HIV/AIDS and a symbol of success and strength despite his circumstances.  General Bolden highlighted that "we are all the same" and that we should treat everyone, especially our people, with dignity and respect!  

 Pictured: (Middle) Major General Bolden

On Tuesday, November 20, 2018 the Native American Heritage Club hosted a great heritage month banquet at the Naval Academy Club.  The keynote speaker for the event was Mr. Paul Chaat Smith, a Comanche author, essayist and curator.  He gave a great presentation that culminated to him giving thanks to Native Americans that served in the military. 

Special thanks to Midshipman Second Class Miles James (Club President), Professor. Christy Stanlake (Faculty Representative), and LCDR Sara Pulliam (Officer Representative) for putting together a great event.  Additionally, thank you to RADM Julius Caesar and Capt. Sage Cesspooch for celebrating Native American Heritage Month with midshipmen, faculty and staff. 

The Latin American Studies Club hosted a fantastic Hispanic Heritage Month Banquet on November 12, 2018 at the Naval Academy Club.  The keynote speaker was Captain Mary-Angela Sanabria Katson, Branch Head, Enlisted Plans and Policy.  She gave a powerful speech about what it “means” to be a Latin American and gave a few insights about her career and how to be successful moving forward. 

Thank you to our Distinguished VIPs RADM Julius Caesar and RADM Sam Perez for celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with midshipmen, faculty and staff. 

Bottom:  RADM Julius Caesar (Far Left) and RADM Sam Perez (Far Right)

1. Have a Servant’s Heart.
2. Use a Bedside Manner.
3. Have a Socratic Mindset.

 Top: RADM Jonathan Yuen  Right: CAPT Derrick Turner

Members of the Joy Bright Hancock Organization (JBHO) concluded Women's History Month with a banquet at the Naval Academy Club. The evening's guest speaker was Ms. Meghan Ogilvie, CEO of Dog Tag Inc. Their mission is to empower service-disabled veterans, military spouses, and caregivers to discover personal and professional fulfillment in the civilian world through an innovative business and entrepreneurship fellowship program. Ms. Ogilvie's speech was inspiring and she spoke of three important topics:

1. Life is full of unexpected opportunities, don't be afraid to go after them.
2. You have to be hungry and relentless in the pursuit of your goals.
3. Take someone with you, mentor those who are also trying to achieve. 

To conclude her speech she put a Women's History Month spin on Theodore Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" titled "Woman in the Arena."

The Midshipmen Black Studies Club hosted the 2018 Black History Month Banquet at the N Star Room in Navy Marine Corps Stadium.  The event's guest Speaker was Reverend Dr. Francys Johnson, brother to USNA's YNC Tina Colding (biography displayed below).  Reverend Johnson gave a great speech that was driven by 3 P's: Pay Homage, Pay Attention, and Pay it Forward. 

United States Naval Academy Minority Association (USNAMA) also presented a $10,000 check to the Naval Academy Alumni Foundation in order to support Gospel Choir trips, Summer Seminar and STEM Scholarships. Lastly, the Chenault Leadership Series was introduced by Captain Tamika Lindsay on behalf of Mr. Kenneth Chenault, an American business executive and former CEO and Chairman of American Express.  Mr. Chenault is donating a total of $100,000 dollars to develop a leadership series that is meant to inspire Midshipmen and hopefully produce the next Admiral, General, or Fortune 500 CEO.  

  Top-left: (from left to right) Rev. Dr. Francys Johnson, LCDR Robert Crosby, VADM Walter E. Carter Jr. (USNA Superintendent), Honorable B.J. Penn, Dr. William F. Bundy                                                                                              Middle: (from left to right) VADM D.C. Curtis, RADM Julius S. Caesar, CAPT Timikia Lindsay, Mr. Byron F. Marchant, Mr. Carl Willis, VADM Walter E. Carter Jr., Mr. Bruce Latta

In celebration of Black History Month, USNA organized a dynamic panel of active duty and retired Flag and General Officers for a discussion on leadership, innovation, and mentorship highlighting work from Inspiring Innovation, the first publication from the John A van Beuren Leadership and Ethics Series from the Naval War College.

• The Honorable B.J. Penn, former Secretary of the Navy
• ADM Cecil D. Haney (Ret.), Navy’s 2nd Black four-star Admiral and former Commander, U.S. Strategic Command
• VADM Kevin D. Scott, Navy’s Active Senior Black Aviator and Director of Joint Force Development, J7
• RDML Annie B. Andrews (Ret.), Navy’s 3rd Black Female Admiral and former Commander, Navy Recruiting Command
• BGen Brian W. Cavanaugh, Deputy Commander, Marine Forces Pacific

Moderator – LCDR Robert Crosby, Jr., author of Inspiring Innovation and former Submarine Officer

Inspiring Innovation documents the operational, policy, and technical contributions of Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. and the Black Admirals that followed in the trail he blazed as the first Black U.S. Navy Admiral. The book captures the personal stories of the admirals and leaders who followed VADM Gravely and the honor, commitment, and moral courage it took to follow in his path of extraordinary personal achievement and senior leadership.

Top: (from left to right) The Honorable B.J. Penn, Admiral Cecil D. Haney, VADM Kevin D. Scott, RDML Annie B. Andrews, BGen Brian W. Cavanaugh, LCDR Robert Crosby

After the panel, Midshipmen went to separate breakout rooms to receive additional mentorship from several retired Admirals and senior military personnel.

This January, various members of the Association of Naval Services Officers (ANSO) met with Midshipmen here on the Yard and held a mentoring session, where several topics related to life outside the Naval Academy were discussed.

Opportunities to interact with officers from various services and career fields like this make professional organizations like ANSO so vital to developing well-rounded Midshipmen.

This past February, the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, & Equal Opportunity, in partnership with the Midshipmen Black Studies Club, celebrated Black History Month with a multitude of events throughout the Yard.  Included in the photos below are just some of these celebrations, including a Gospel Choir concert, Poetry Slam, and culminating Banquet - which featured Rear Admiral Larry Chambers (USNA '52) as our guest of honor.  

RADM Chambers is the oldest living African-American graduate of the Naval Academy and first USNA grad to reach flag rank, in addition to being just the second African American to graduate from USNA (behind LCDR Wesley Brown).

MIDN and Guest of Honor RADM Larry Chambers (Ret.) (USNA Class of 1952) at the 2017 BHM Banquet

MIDN 1/C Jarred Red-Dixon performs during the 2017 BHM Gospel Choir Concert

LT Alana Abernethy sings along to USNA "Blue and Gold" at the 2017 BHM Banquet

USNA Strategic Outreach Coordinator Mrs. Marti Kwon speaks with RADM Larry Chambers

USNA MIDN pose for a photo after the 2017 BHM Annual Poetry Slam

RADM Larry Chambers is presented with a USNA track suit following his remarks at the 2017 BHM Banquet

USNA Chief Diversity Officer CAPT Pat Williams and Assistant Chief Diversity Officer LT Bailey Hackbarth recently completed a Certificate of Mastery in Diversity and Inclusion program in February. The Institute for Federal Leadership in Diversity and Inclusion, a collaboration between Georgetown University and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, convened from 2016-2017 and certified our staff in six core competencies for D&I.  

CAPT Williams and LT Hackbarth were among the 1st graduating class.

This November, USNA celebrated Native American Heritage Month - and was proud to welcome the President of the Navajo Code talkers Association and one of only 13 surviving Code Talkers from World War II Mr. Peter MacDonald.

Below are some photos from the events, courtesy of Ms. Hope MacDonald LoneTree and Prof. Christy Stanlake.

From September 15 - October 15 USNA celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month.  The USNA Latin American Studies Club put on a successful HHM banquet on 23 September 2016 that celebrated the accomplishments and contributions of Latinos across the fleet.

A Facebook album from the event can be found here.

Midshipmen, faculty, and staff also celebrated the month with Anne Arundel County Latino community members and leaders in October.  A video summary of the event can be found here.

The annual conference of the U.S. Naval Institute was held at USNA from 8-9 September 2016 and was titled "The Athena Conference: Heroines of Past, Present and Future”—honored ground breaking women across services and industries, in and outside of the military. Speakers included General Ann Dunwoody, USA (Ret.), Vice Admiral Jan Tighe '84, USN, Ms. Mary Barra (CEO/Chairman of General Motors Company), and Ms. Indra Nooyi (CEO/Chairman Pepsico).

More information, including videos of the keynotes and panels, can be found here (archived), and photos from the conference are located here.

2016 marks the 40th anniversary of women being inducted into the Naval Academy, and USNA has been celebrating through various events and recognitions throughout the year.

• "Ability, not Gender" USNA Museum Exhibition
• USNA "80's Night" Story
• USNA Alumni Association & Foundation 40 Years of Women Video
• Navy Athletics 40 Years of Women Video
• Washington Post Article on 40 Years of Women at USNA
• Senator Mikulski Senate Resolution

The USNA STEM Center and the Office of Diversity hosted the Summer Heroes Youth Program (SHYP) onsite at the U.S. Naval Academy in June 2016. This pilot program, facilitated by dedicated midshipmen, introduced middle school students from Baltimore, MD to the excitement of studying science, technology, engineering and math, while being mentored by midshipmen role models.

• SHYP Website and Photos
• Capital Gazette Article on SHYP