USNA Celebrates 180 years
POSTED ON: Tuesday, November 25, 2025 9:46 AM by MC1 Sarah M. Thielen
The U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) celebrated Founder's Day on Oct. 10, 2025, marking 180 years of developing leaders for the Navy and Marine Corps during a year that also commemorates the U.S. Navy’s 250th anniversary.
Throughout its history, the Naval Academy has played a central role in the professionalization of naval officers, responding to the evolving needs of the fleet from the age of sail to the cyber and space domains. Graduates have served in every major American conflict since the Mexican-American War and have gone on to become admirals, astronauts, ambassadors, and national leaders.
Founded in 1845 by Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) George Bancroft, the Naval School was established to address both emerging technologies and the nation’s growing presence on the world stage.
Marching to Chapel, 1911.
“In the 1840s, the U.S. Navy was facing two challenges: the rise of steam propulsion in warships and America's desire to rise to great power status,” said Navy Capt. Benjamin Armstrong, the director of the Naval Academy Museum. “These two elements, the technological and the human, made a common educational foundation necessary for all future officers.”
That foundation was laid on the grounds of what was previously Fort Severn, a nine acre tract of land under Army ownership. Capt. Armstrong states that with a little persuading from Secretary Bancroft, the first class of 50 midshipmen and seven professors was established without Congressional funding.
“Putting the Naval Academy in Annapolis allowed the Navy to have it in a place with deep maritime roots, while also avoiding big cities like Boston or New York where the main naval bases were located but which might have too many distractions for young aspiring officers,” said Armstrong.
In 1850, the Naval School officially became the United States Naval Academy.
An updated four-year curriculum went into effect along with requiring midshipmen to train aboard ships each summer. Similar to the curriculum in 1850, the curriculum today focuses on modern problems and advancing technologies to ready graduates for the fleet.
Today, the size of the brigade has grown to over 4,000 midshipmen, the acreage has increased from nine to 338, and the faculty sits at over 550.
As the Navy reflects on 250 years of service and sea power, the Naval Academy remains a vital part of that legacy, committed to developing midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically for their career in naval service. Since its founding, approximately 91,000 midshipmen have graduated from USNA.
For more information on the Navy 250th Anniversary and to find events near you, visit navy.mil/Navy-250.
Category: Midshipman, General Interest, Press Releases