Sing Second Alumni

Mid-September brings the return of your favorite Alumni Association & Foundation Podcast. Chris and John break down the first road game of the year. The football result wasn’t what we wanted, but the tailgate was 200+ strong. We had astronauts and Thriving as Leaders awardees in attendance…and that was just the Class of ‘77! Either way, great connections down in Boca. Next up…Birmingham. We also wrap up our historic 9/11 coverage last week, which included our multi-media features which provided the alumnus a sneak peak of the new shipmatemagazine.com. And our featured interview this week is with Jeff McLean ‘04. Jeff joins us from “Sconny” and chats up his time as a fighter pilot, his transition to the civilian world of leadership and his role as a new member of the Alumni Association Board of Trustees. Jeff has amazing leadership lessons and stories. Be sure to listen in! That and more on the best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast in the land. Beat Army. Always.

Welcome to Sing Second’s special commemoration of the 9/11 25th Anniversary. We remember the 14 alumni who passed away on that fateful day, and Chris and John discuss how we are still touched and haunted by what 9/11 was and is. And we remember that day from several perspectives with a four-pack of interviews. VADM John Ryan recounts what it was like to lead the Academy as the Supe in the hours and weeks after the tragedy. Chris Hoffman ‘96 was the Officer of the Watch that day on the yard. Chris lends his perspective on the leadership and logistical challenges of “standing the watch” that day. Ed Malinowski was a firstie and the Football team captain when the planes hit. Ed recounts how it impacted him and the football team during a particularly challenging season. And there was only one American not on earth on 9/11…Frank Culbertson ‘71. Frank gives us his perspective on learning of the events from the space station and how it impacted him and his crew. That and more on the best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast in the land. Beat Army. Always.

Well...that's a wrap on an amazing week. We wrap up Thursday's Distinguished Graduate ceremony, preview Saturday's big game and provide all the good updates on 2/c Parents Weekend on the yard. We also chat with AD Michael Kelly about the new stadium renovations in the South End Zone at Navy/Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. We also called into Coach Brian Newberry's press conference before the Towson game to get his thoughts. And do you want to know about the weather for tomorrow's big day? We are ecstatic to bring back WBAL weather expert Ava Marie. Ava likes the outlook Saturday. So do we. 100% chance of fun and a Navy win. That and more on the best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast in the land. Beat Army. Always.

Let’s keep it rolling, people. We’re arrived at DGA Day…and our last pod drop is a special crossover event. Do you remember when Magnum PI and Simon & Simon did the crossover on TV? It was a special moment. Well, that special moment returns with the first ever Sing Second and Voices from Orbit podcast crossover. Capt. Cassidy sat down with Shipmate Editor-in-Chief Jimmy DeButts for a wide-ranging conversation on the Voices from Orbit podcast presented by the Alumni Association. Cassidy reflects on his time as a SEAL, an astronaut and his feelings on being selected for the DGA. The interview took place earlier this week and is a “can’t miss.” Chris and John also chat about the DGA ceremony and preview a big pod dropping Friday when we welcome Athletic Director Michael Kelly, Head Football Coach Brian Newberry, and a special weather report for the Alumni Pregame and the Football game from WBAL Baltimore Meteorologist, Ava Marie. That and more on the best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast in the land. Beat Army. Always.

What a week it’s been, friends! We get to mid-week with a motivational YUT. We talk to Lt. Gen. David Beydler ‘81 about his career, his selection as a Distinguished Graduate, his time on the Alumni Association Board of Trustees…and much much more. General Beydler loves the Naval Academy, and it remains a great honor to give interviewees the megaphone they need to talk about their affection. Congrats to the Marine in the group on being a DGA and an overall great American. Chris and John also dish a little bit on the new amenities and features at Navy/Marine Corps Memorial Stadium this season. Of note - the new Naval Academy Athletic Foundation Tower in the South End Zone. They’re painting it now…so it has to be ready by Saturday!That and more on the best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast in the land. Beat Army. Always.

Day two of DGA week. Stay hydrated, people. The Pod welcomes Mark Fox on the eve of his recognition as part of the 2026 Distinguished Graduate class. Fox joins us to reflect on a lifetime of leadership, service, and the lessons learned from his journey following graduation from Annapolis. Chris and I also break down the football season opener and discuss Coach Brian Newberry's press conference as Navy prepares to take the field. We share our thoughts on the team's outlook, key storylines heading into the season, and what fans should be watching as Navy begins its campaign.And because no Navy football weekend is complete without a trip downtown, we highlight a few new Annapolis businesses that alumni and fans can check out before or after Saturday's game. Whether you're back in town for reunion season, visiting the Yard, or simply looking for a new favorite spot, we've got you covered. That, plus updates from around the alumni community and much more on the best alumni podcast in the land.Listen, subscribe, and share. Beat Army. Always.

It's a big week! We honor four new Distinguished Graduates this week. And where else are you going to get an exclusive interview with each one? Sing Second. We have Daily Drops this week with each DG. Our featured guest today is ADM Patrick Walsh ’77, USN (Ret.), one of the most accomplished naval leaders of his generation. A Naval Academy graduate, former Blue Angel, combat aviator, and four-star admiral, Admiral Walsh capped off more than 34 years of service as the 59th Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, responsible for operations across the vast Indo-Pacific region. He also served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations and Commander of the U.S. Fifth Fleet. In a wide-ranging half-hour conversation, Admiral Walsh reflects on leadership lessons learned from the cockpit, the importance of character and trust in high-performing teams, and how the Naval Academy prepared him for a lifetime of service. Chris and John also catch up on all things Alumni Association & Foundation, talk about what’s happening around the Yard this week and start previewing the first football game of the year against Towson. Whether you're a Midshipman, graduate, active-duty officer, veteran, or simply interested in leadership at the highest levels, this is an episode you won't want to miss. That and more on the best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast in the land. Beat Army. Always.

Let’s get after it. Chris and John talk about this past weekend’s road trip to San Diego for Men’s Soccer, the new Volgeneau Auditorium in Mahan Hall and our excitement for the upcoming football season. Don’t forget our first “Alumni Pre-Game” 1130-1330 Sept. 5th before the Towson game! Our alum interview this week is with Stephen DiBartolomeo ‘16. Stephen graduated, served in the Intel/Crypto community and is now making his own way as an Entrepreneur and business leader in the tech space with Chiplytics. We have a great conversation about the challenges in that sector and how making that transition worked out for Stephen. And we shout it out to Run To Honor as we approach this weekend’s big Annapolis 10 Miler. That and more on the best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast in the land. We…are….OUT. Beat Army. Always.

Here we go. As we recorded Ep. 2, the first day of classes of the 2026-2027 academic year were just getting underway. So, Plebe Summer is done. Athletic competitions are underway. And the first football game and Distinguished Graduate weekend is just around the corner. Chris and John talk about welcoming the class of 2030 to the FAC to engage them about membership, the Class of 2028 and their 2 for 7 experience last week and the Class of 2027 and challenges that await them this year and in the Fleet and Marine Corps that awaits them. We also talk about the new Leadership Institute Director position at USNA, which was advertised last week. We also break down "YP Next" and the autonomous training and collaboration USNA worked into its summer training regimen. And we're way excited to talk about the new "Alumni Pre-game," our pre-game get-togethers for every home game this season. Up first - September 5th from 11:30am to 1:30pm at the FAC for the Towson game. We'll have a live pod with guests from the two reunion classes ('81 and '96) and some other awesome guests. And, as always, there will be food and drink. So come be a pre-gamer at the FAC and help us usher in the new season. And our alum interview this week is with Nathan Getty '08. Nathan and his wife, Lindsay, join the pod to talk about their company, Story Sprouts. Find it at storysprouts.co for more info, but Lindsay and Nathan are making books as collectibles for your life events and memories. It's an awesome concept and a great way of having paper remembrances if you're trying to get Out of the digital world. They're giving a discount code - SINGSECOND - on your order. Check out their site and listen to their interview. That and more on the best Alumni Association & Foundation podcast in the land. We…are….OUT. Beat Army. Always.

We're back, people! What started as something to kill time during Covid has turned into an amazing engagement opportunity for all of us as we bring you the stories BEHIND the stories of how our alums make In happen from the Fleet to the C-Suite. Men and Women of character and consequence sharing their visions...their perspectives...and their leadership advice on this Ted Talk-like pod. This week...Chris and John bring the pod back where it all started - Dry 85. We chat about Plebe Parents Weekend and the upcoming Ac Year. And our guests this week break it down on the impact of giving back. Setting the "BLUE AND GOLD STANDARD" is the great class of 1972. Jeff Beard and John Dillon join the pod to talk about class giving and their thoughts on what makes USNA special today. That and more on Sing Second. Beat Army. Always.

In this episode, John Schofield, Jimmy DeButts, and Emily Lucht discuss the July/August issue of Shipmate Magazine, featuring the iconic Herndon Climb on the cover. They catch up on I-Day for the Class of 2030, recap the successful Entrepreneur Summit that welcomed more than 200 attendees to the Fluegel Alumni Center, and follow Flat Bill on his latest adventure to the Brickyard in Indianapolis—so keep those photos coming! The center piece of the conversation, a remarkable interview with Charlie Duke '57, USAF (Ret.), the last living Naval Academy alumnus to walk on the moon, as he shares memories from his historic journey into space. Plus, we are adding to the Sing Second Fleet of podcasts, Voices from Orbit, launching in August and dedicated to sharing out-of-this-world stories from Naval Academy astronaut alumni. And that's not all. The team also takes listeners inside The 19th Hole, the new restaurant and gathering space at the USNA Golf Course, made possible through alumni philanthropy and led by CDR Jim Kelly '77. It's a new place for alumni and friends to connect, relax, and enjoy the camaraderie that makes the Naval Academy community so special. All this and more on Sing Second Shipmate. Thank you for reading—and listening to—Shipmate.

That’s a wrap, party people. Like Bill Murray in Ghostbusters…We came…we saw…we kicked it’s butt!! What a season. We journeyed into June for the first time in our Pod career. We stopped talking about the Orioles…because they’re an abomination…and we built a legion of loyal followers getting their updates and interviews here on Sing Second. 20,000 of you can’t be wrong. We end Strong Like Bull with a discussion about the new Plebe Class and the triple digit temps that await the young plebes in their first week on station. Chris and John also preview next season, which comes your way in early August with interviews from the newly-opened 19th hole at the golf course, conversations with our new Distinguished Graduates and a continued focus on our alums in the C-Suite with our Entrepreneur series. And our interview this week is with Dave Cuthbert ‘97. Dave joined us from the mountains of Colorado to chat about his amazing company - Top Cups. He chats with us about his time in EOD and his transition to the civilian community. And - as always - we chat leadership. See you on August 11th on Season 7 of Sing Second. We…are….OUT. Beat Army. Always.

It’s I-Day! And the Sing Second team welcomed the Class of 2030 and their parents to Naptown with a live recording from the Pod's original sponsor - Dry 85. Grant Vermeer '17 of Academy Insider joined John Schofield for a discussion about I-Day with parents and alums in attendance at Annapolis' best Bourbon Bar. Jason Salata '94 dropped his son, Leo, off today. He talks about his experience...the emotions...and the leadership lessons he gleaned from his plebe summer experience. Isaac Phillips '19 joins the pod, as well, to talk about his I-Day experience and some of the programs we have in place at AA&F to engage Mids and their parents now and in the future. That and more on the best Alumni Pod there is. Beat Army. Always.

It’s I-Day week here at the Alumni Association & Foundation, and we welcome the Class of 2030 to Annapolis with gusto. Chris and John talk a little about I Day and some podcast fun we have planned for the big day. We talk about the new Commandant, too. Capt. Clint Cornell ‘01 took the helm as the Dant June 22nd in a ceremony in Dahlgren Hall. We wrap up a successful week at Fluegel with the Entrepreneur’s Summit and we chat about the ceremony to present the Ripley family the Medal of Honor last week at the White House. Our feature interview brings us a conversation with three alums. Chance, Spencer and Bonnie work at Academy Securities. They talk about the company, their mission and their experiences as alums. That and more on the best Alumni Pod there is. Beat Army. Always.

We arrive at mid-June with an awesome pod updating you on the summer happenings in Annapolis. The big one this week is the Entrepreneur Summit. This annual event takes place at the Fluegel Alumni Center and features an all-star lineup of panelists, graduates and experts in the entrepreneurial journey. This is the true connection and support the Alumni Association & Foundation is here for. We preview the summit. We also chat about the AA&F Travel Program...our amazing service to alumni allowing them to connect all around the world through incredible vacations and excursions. John Schofield talks about his recent trip on the Historic Rivers of Europe. Our interviews this week feature AJ Bauer...our Teammate at the Alumni Association & Foundation. AJ is the Associate Vice President for Development. She talks about her amazing team...the national and global reach of the development team and the impact of philanthropy at USNA. Get to better Know one of our amazing teammates. And we chat with Valhalla Sailing's Mike Wood and Michael Kuiper '06. They discuss the organization's critical mission of the organization to help vets...period. They deliver the camaraderie and sense of belonging that many veterans struggle to find after transitioning to civilian life. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always

June is here…and the pod keeps on keepin on. We jump into the summer season with a little discussion about the progress on the yard with McDonough Hall and the other major NAAA announcements about the Navy/Marine Corps Stadium south end zone renovation project and the new Naval Academy Athletic Foundation Pavilion. Chris and John discuss. We chat about the travel program and some of the happenings on the calendar in June. And our Alumni interview this week is with Clint Carroll ‘89. Clint is a proud member of the Class of 1989. Served as a SWO. Came back to USNA to serve as the DepDant as a Captain. And now he’s in the Pentagon…retired…working as a civilian for the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, ADM Jim Kilby ‘86. Clint and John talk Black Shoe Navy…what makes the Academy so special…and a little about Warren Zevon. Clint is a worldly guy with amazing perspective. We loved this interview. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always

Don’t like reading magazines? Want to hear some of the behind the scenes of how the greatest Alumni Association & Foundation Magazine comes together? Tune in for Sing Second Shipmate…where Emily Lucht, John Schofield and Shipmate Editor Jimmy DeButts talk about the stories in the latest issue. From the amazing cover photo to discussion about the continued 50 Years of Women Legacy of Valor series, this pod dives deeper into the content of your magazine. Jimmy breaks down the details of his exclusive interview with Tom Ripley about his father’s medal of honor…and we dish about the great Sandy Spadaro, who is featured in the magazine on the occasion of her retirement from AA&F after 29 years. Tune in for a great conversation.

Commissioning Week came and went. The Blues did their thing. The graduation speakers were spot on. And the Class of 2026 joined the Fleet and Marine Corps. John and Chris recap the Ac Year and preview the summer ahead. Our featured interview this week involves a little conversation with two alums about Quantum Computing. Gib Armstrong ‘91 and Capt Peter Brereton ‘01 join John Schofield for a conversation about their thoughts on Quantum Computing and how they are advancing Quantum Computing forward from industry - Gib - and from the classroom - Peter, a Professor at USNA’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. What will happen when Quantum meets AI? Are the Mids postured and educated in this environment to meet the challenges of Quantum and speed of information? A fascinating discussion. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always

Commissioning Week marches on…and the threat of rain is real. There is a forecast for rain for graduation, but the Sing Second team has your graduation day content in case you’re riding out the graduation in the rain. John and Chris talk about the graduation speaker - spoiler alert…there is no set schedule of speakers, so it wasn’t an oddity that POTUS didn’t speak. We shout out Maren Louridas ‘26 as the recipient of the annual Naval Academy Alumni Association Award, and we send an appreciation to the Class of 1976 as they see off the 2026ers as their Link in the Chain mentors. And our interviews this week are three mini-panels with our Thriving As Leaders Awardees. Hear from Bob Kuberski ‘93, Adrienne Griffen ‘87, Kevin White ‘92, Jake Harriman ‘98, Tom Schram ‘69, Kerwin Miller ‘75, John Schmorhun ‘77, Stefanie Goebel ‘80 and Lou Giannotti ‘69. These three panels drop the knowledge on leadership, resilience, giving back and continuing to serve. These panels are special. We also chat with Angela Domingos '00 this week about how to nominate amazing alums for these awards going forward. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always

Commissioning Week is here, and John and Chris are pumped for the Class of 2026. The class of 2029 had a good week last week...Sea Trials...scaling Herndon in 2:17...Plebes no more!! Shout out to Jason Hedberg '94 and Mikie Sherrill '94, whose son Lincoln '29 was the capper. We also chat about a very special season for Navy Women's Lax, whose season ended in the elite 8 with a heartbreaking loss to Maryland. And we give the rundown on the activities that await during Commissioning Week. Our alumni interview this week features Bob Ravener '81, recently honored at our Joint Board meetings last month as one Of our Thriving as Leaders awardees in the Alumni Outstanding Achievement – Professional (AOA-P) category. Ravener’s visionary approach to veteran hiring has led to the employment of over 150,000 veterans across major companies like Home Depot, Starbucks, and Dollar General—each earning the Department of Defense’s Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Freedom Award under his leadership. We also chat with Angela Domingos '00 this week about how to nominate amazing alums for these awards going forward. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always

Here we go! Welcome to May. The Sing Second team is steaming toward the end of the season with a special double interview segment featuring Perry Martini from 71 and CAPT Sydney Barber '21. Ever wonder why the Bill the Goat mascot wears #71? Well...Perry Martini can tell you. Perry also dishes about his time in the Athletic Department back in the day and being a long-time class president. Also joining us is Sydney Barber. Sydney was the first feamle African-American Brigade Commander back in 2021, but we chat less about that and more about what she learned as a leader balancing a Mechanical Engineering major, being a Track & Field varsity athlete and trying to lead the Brigade through COVID. An amazing conversation. Don't miss two different alum perspectives from two Link in the Chain classes. Chris and John also break down a great weekend for Patriot League Champion Navy Women's Lax and a successful Board Season for the AA&F. And it's now GREAT CLASS CHALLENGE week!! Get out there and give. Which class will run this ship? Let's see. And finally, we offer some appreciation for the Naval Academy community and our fellow podcaster and soon-to-be college alum Colin Schofield. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always

Two pods in one week?!? Yesssssir. Chris and John run back another pod to celebrate the arrival of May. They discuss the recent Council of Class Presidents meeting and preview the weekend ahead…which features Navy Rugby playing for the National Title! And our interview this week features another prime example of our alums making it happen from the Fleet to the C Suite - Prudential Chairman and CEO Andy Sullivan. Andy talks about his origins in Delaware, his perspectives on leadership and his vision for Prudential. A great convo on a wide range of topics. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always

A great pod this week as we talk about a bunch of stuff happening at AA&F and around the yard. Two alums were drafted this weekend in the NFL draft. We talk about the storybook night for Landon Robinson and Eli Heidenreich Saturday…and a pretty special moment for Margo Darragh ‘16, too. WWe also chat about the last Roadshow of the Winter/Spring season and the upcoming Great Class Challenge. And our Alumni interview this week is with Capt. Erik Kenny ‘02. Erik is the CO of USS John P. Murtha (LPD 26), the ship that just recovered the Artemis and her crew a couple weeks ago. Erik joins the pod to talk about it all and the leadership required to command a crew through such a high-vis evolution. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.

A full plate this week as we dive deep into the NFL draft this weekend with a guy who’s likely going to hear his name called Saturday…Landon Robinson. The Football Team Co-Captain talks about the Prospect of being drafted and his favorite memories from his four years on the Severn. One of those memories was a post-game visit on the field in Baltimore with Kenneth Jary, an 83-year-old U.S. Navy veteran and TikTok sensation from Minnesota known for spreading joy and patriotism. We talk to Patriotic Kenny about Landon and his own health journey now. We also chat with Murphy Smith ‘25, who just finished the Boston Marathon at 2:08:58…the fastest marathon time of any USNA alum…EVER. And we also chat with new St. John’s President J. Walter Sterling about the Croquet match…a match USNA just won again this weekend. Chris and John also chat about this past weekend’s 50 Years of Women Celebration at the Fluegel Alumni Center and many more topics on a supersized version of the Sing Second Pod. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.

Welcome to the best Alumni Podcast in the business, people. Chris and John bring the goods this week with an exclusive conversation with Bill Moran ‘81 and Becky Haase ‘94 about the name change of the Athletic & Scholarship Programs (A&SP) to the Naval Academy Athletic Foundation. The Admiral and Becky open up about the conversations behind changing the name and take the time to talk in plain terms about the organization’s mission and real impact to the physical mission at USNA. The Athletic Foundation is all about leader development. Don’t miss this amazing conversation about that and many other hot topics around the physical mission. Chris and John also preview next week’s 50 Years of Women gala and the other happenings on the yard as the ac year starts wrapping up. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.

Sing Second Podcast featuring interviews with Athletic Director Michael Kelly and Lacrosse alums Jeff Johnson ’79 and Jon Brianas ’00 about the groundbreaking of the new Navy Lacrosse Center. The Naval Academy Athletic Association, in partnership with the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association & Foundation, held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday for the new Navy Lacrosse Center, a 35,000-square-foot state-of-the-art training facility for Navy's men's and women's lacrosse programs. We are joined by AD Michael Kelly to discuss the new facility and the positive momentum behind it and all of Navy Athletics right now. As Michael said at the groundbreaking, “We are investing. We're building. We're demonstrating through action our belief in the physical mission and not only what it'll do on our fields and courts here for Navy athletics, but what it'll do for our country, because at Navy, we truly believe that we represent what college sports is at its very best. Navy athletics is college sports at its best now and forever.” We also chat with Jeff Johnson ‘79 and Jon Brianas ‘00, who attended the ceremony and very generously donated to the building’s fundraising. And Chris and John discuss the significance behind this week’s Bonds of Gold ceremony and recap a great weekend for USNA sports. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.

The last pod of March! Can you feel it? It’s the ending of the dark ages and the beginning of the countdown to Graduation and Commissioning. The Sing Second Pod team brings you the latest from the Army-Navy star series…some news about the new Lacrosse building on the yard…and an appreciation for our AA&F teammate, John Taylor, who just retired after 54 years here. 54!!! We have a great conversation with our very own Tony Spinler ‘91 about Alumni Support Services. And our alumnae feature for the last pod of Women’s History Month is with LCDR Emma Manzi ‘12. Emma is a SWO, a small business owner and a soon-to-be-mom. How does she balance it all? She joins the pod to give the scoop on that and her business - Grace and Yarmouth. Check out the “SWO Mama” and her stuff at https://www.graceandyarmouth.com/ . That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.

March is winding down, but the Sing Second Pod team couldn’t be happier, because that means it’s officially Orioles season! Chris and John talk about the great sporting events - like Army/Navy - that become great settings for connection and memories. Orioles Opening Day is that for the pod hosts. What is it for the alumni? Reunions? Croquet? Army/Navy? Blue Angels? The hosts also discuss the recent Presidential order protecting the Army-Navy game, and we talk about the invaluable heroes of the Naval Academy - Sponsor families. Our featured interview this week is Susan Yoshihara ‘86. As we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month and prep for April’s 50 Years of Women gala at the Fluegel Alumni Center, Susan brings home the goods about her amazing experience in and out of uniform. Susan is founder and president of the American Council on Women Peace and Security (ACWPS), a non-partisan nonprofit organization advancing women’s leadership in international peace and security, and she served for 20 years as an active-duty U.S. Navy helicopter pilot in the Western Pacific. We have a great convo. Don’t miss it. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.

March Sadness continued on the yard as the Women’s Basketball team joined the men’s team in getting upset in the Patriot League Tournament. So…no March Madness for Navy basketball, but the teams still get to play in some postseason tournaments. Chris and John discuss. March 16th is also the drop date for the AA&F Travel Catalog. We follow up last week’;s successful Travel Showcase at the FAC with interviews with AHI Travel and the WWII Museum about some of the trips they offer in partnership with us. Take it from us…it’s better to travel with an AA&F program. And our feature interview this week is with one of John’s old bosses, Jim Shannon ‘81. The Admiral helps us continue to mark Women’s History Month by offering his perspectives from his time as a Mid when the first classes of women arrived…his leadership perspectives from a great career in the Fleet and his “Pee Wee Reese” moment when it came time to really support his female Shipmates. It’s always good to chat with an Irishman on St. Patty’s, and Jim is indeed one of those. Slainte!! That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.

March is a cruel month, Pod Fans! We bring you the newest pod just a day removed from Boston University’s last second game-winner, a shot that ended Navy’s magical Patriot League run and took them out of the NCAA tournament. Chris and John break down the heartbreaker. We also chat about the amazing news about Col. John Ripley ‘62 being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for his heroic actions in Vietnam. Was also have a football schedule and a date for the Distinguished Graduate ceremony. We break it down. And our feature interview this week is with Mary Brigden ‘81. Mary was an All American sailor, an Olympic hopeful and still sails the mean waters of Coronado. She talks about her experience in one of the first classes of women at USNA and chats about the amazing fundraising women alums and the USNA Women SIG are organizing to support the April Gala and the Naval Academy. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.

Welcome to March, Pod Fans! The way our basketball teams are playing, this March looks to be a pretty fun time on campus. Both teams will host the Patriot League Tournament on the Yard this year, starting with the men this week and women next week. Let’s go Dancing! Our Alumni Feature is a good one! Kristi Bickel just wrote a children’s book - Rosie’s Day on a Warship. That’s good SWO reading right there. We talk to Krisiti about her journey to becoming an author. And we chat with her about the upcoming Celebration of 50 Years of Women at USNA. Krisit is in charge of the Comms for the event. She gives us an update. And we chat with John O’Leary about this weekend’s Hooley at the FAC. Another great opportunity this weekend to connect with the city of Annapolis and the supportive citizens of our town. John talks about the event and why he loves the Fluegel Alumni Center. And finally…we have to acknowledge the events taking place in the Middle East and the military operations taking place in Iran. Chris and John discuss the impact on the current Mids, alumni…and they chat about a pretty impactful correspondence the Supe sent the Brigade as the operations unfolded. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.

The final days of February are upon us…and we’ve already won the Star Series against Army. A great weekend for Men’s and Women’s Basketball up in scenic Highland Falls resulted in two Star wins. With those wins, both teams clinched the regular season Patriot League titles and clinched the Star Series for Navy. Sing Second!! We also just got back from a little record-breaking Roadshow in Tennessee. We talk about that. And we have two amazing interviews. Iron Mike Steadman is making it out there in the entrepreneur space. Want a Ted Talk? Mike gives it. From helping to launch the USNA Entrepreneurs Group (who just held an amazing event at the FAC this past week) to being a Brigade Boxing Champ, Mike has stories. You want to hear them. ANd we chat with Under Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao ‘96. The Under dishes on his time as a Mid and the Navy & Marine Corps the Class of 2026 is about to join. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.

February keeps marching on. The snow and ice are melting…a little…and Lacrosse is back! The pod marches on this week with a great live pod from the Fluegel Alumni Center, where on Feb 13 we welcomed dozens of Navy Women’s Lacrosse friends, family and alums to help the ladies kickoff their home season. Bill Wagner joined John Schofield, head coach Cindy Timchal and Women’s Lax Alum Cynthia Lisa ‘00. We chat about the coming season and how the Fluegel Alumni Center has become a great home base to connect with our athletes, alums and parents. We also chat about the Commissioning 101 event that took place at the FAC Saturday…another great investment in our Naval Academy and the parents as we deliver the gouge about Commissioning Week to hundreds of parents from the Class of 2026. In addition to the briefings, we had more than a dozen vendors in the building for an Expo. One of those vendors is Made Plus. Want to hear more about the amazing N* shoe? Listen to the interview and check out Made Plus. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.

Special pod drop! What sort of coaches are on Michael Kelly's radar to lead the young athletes of the Naval Academy? The very best, obviously. Navy shook the Etch-A-Sketch and hit a homer with a major league hire for Men's Soccer. After a coaching career that was marked by success developing championship-caliber players with the U.S. Soccer men’s and youth national teams as well as at the MLS, MLS NEXT Pro, USL and Division I levels, John Hackworth became just the seventh head coach in the 105-year history of the Navy men’s soccer program Dec. 5th, 2025. We sit down with the new head man to chat about his goals, expectations and his plan to engage the Soccer Alumni. We talk big names "Hack" has coached through the years. DeMarcus Beasley, Landon Donovan...and David Beckham! Don't worry, there wasn't enough time in the interview for some extensive Manchester United talk, but we have a great conversation about how and why the legendary coach chose to come to Annapolis. Let's just say that having a chance to develop the future leaders of America was too good to pass up. Coming back for the Men's Soccer Reunion weekend April 10-11? You should. Coach Hack and program need your support. Enjoy the Pod. Go Navy! Beat Army!

February marches on and announces itself with authority here on Super Bowl Weekend. Pats v Seahawks? Yawn. We're talking about FOUR STAR MATCHUPS this weekend with Navy battling Army in Rifle, Indoor Track and Field (Women & Men) and Gymnastics. We chat about the new Atlas Restaurant opening in the old Stevens Hardware building - Admiral's Cup. ANd we have an AMAZING interview with Cam Kinley '21. Circle this interview, people. Bookmark it and send it to your friends. Cam Kinley has it figured out. He talks about his playing days a little, being Class President during the 2021 COVID ROM year, putting on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers uniform and why he serves now on the Board of Trustees. Cam talks about leadership, giving back and whether politics might be in his future.That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.

Welcome to February and the thick of the dark ages. Chris and John preview one of the Naval Academy’s signature events, Thursday’s Ship Selection Night from Alumni Hall. We also talk about the recent snow storm here in Annapolis that made those dark ages a little darker. And we preview a big weekend for Rifle, Men’s and Women’s Indoor Track & Field and Gymnastics as they compete for the Star against Army. And this week’s alumni feature is with Karla Murphy ‘12. Karla reps the Eastern North Carolina Chapter, and after a discussion with John at their Founder’s Day Dinner in the fall…a conversation started. Karla is a former Marine, and now an entrepreneur, an executive coach and the author of a new book: Be One of Zero: Why the Obsessed Always Win, A Leadership Operating System to Upgrade the Founder & the Business. Karla talks about leadership and introduces a leadership operating system for founders and executives who want to scale without sacrificing their health, relationships, or sanity. A great conversation about making that transition out of uniform and making a difference on your own path. Learn more about Karla and her company at https://foundersforge.pro/ and check out her book here. That and more on the best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army. Always.

The first hard copy of the Magazine for 2026! Just in time to get you through the dark ages. Emily Lucht, John Schofield and Jimmy DeButts bring you the best Alumni magazine in the business in audio form. The Jan/Feb issue hits mailboxes next week, but here is your sneak peak and your behind-the-scenes access to how the stories are written, the context behind the content and a little more explanation of how said content arrives in your mailbox every two months. In this issue we discuss an amazing gift from the Volgenau '55 family, Service Selection for the class of 2026 and even Tom Selleck! Our 50 years of women series continues with stories about the "admission rush" and other great vignettes. We have a great conversation with Michael Kelly and we hear from a CH-53E pilot. That and more as we bring you a preview of a great issue of Shipmate!

The last full week of January was marked by some great stuff. Chris joined John in Annapolis for the Army-Navy Basketball doubleheader at Alumni Hall. Chris and John break down a great day from Pod Sponsor Dry 85 in Annapolis. We also chat more about our South Carolina roadshows (they just wrapped up) and other great updates from AA&F. Our feature interview this week is with Jim Petersen '76. Jim has stories!! And he's a published author. Jim's books connect directly to themes important to today’s midshipmen and alumni: decision-making under uncertainty, leading with integrity, navigating misinformation, personal growth, and building teams that thrive under pressure. These insights draw from his Naval Academy experience, his career as a Navy Captain (Ret.), and his current work as CEO of Diversified Professional Coaching. And we finish off our interview series with our candidates in the Eastern and Central regions. Caleb Cronic ‘11 and Scott Herbener '87 introduce themselves to the alumni and talk about why they are running to Be trustees. That and more on America’s best Alumni Association Podcast. Beat Army.

A special Sing Second Podcast for your Annapolis snowday. Before the skies opened and the temps dropped, the Alumni Association & Foundation joined the USNA Women Shared Interest Group in celebrating a new display at Historic Annapolis in downtown celebrating the journey of USNA Women in words and photographs. Dozens of alumni joined AA&F President & CEO Jeff Webb ‘95 in hearing from USNA Women SIG leadership and Historic Annapolis museum curators about the important bond between the Naval Academy and the city of Annapolis over 50 years since women arrived for I-Day. Sing Second’s John Schofield interviewed Linda Postenrieder ‘82, Allison Webster Giddings ‘84 and Historic Annapolis’ Elizabeth Cox about the exhibit and the ceremony.

Week 3 of 2026, and we are hitting our stride. Chris and John talk a little about their Live Sheehy Lexus pod with Bill Wagner, the coaches from NAAA and Longtime USNA and AA&F supporter Paul LaRochelle. We also chat about the official end to the College Football season (Congrats, Indiana) and how Navy will remain relevant in this landscape as a football program and as an institution. Our alumni interview is a special conversation about entrepreneurship. Rob Johnston ‘08 has a simple LinkedIn profile title - “Technology Entrepreneur.” But he’s so much more than that. We discuss his origins at USNA, his time in the Marine Corps and how he made it big in the Cyber space. And we continue our interview series with our candidates in the Eastern and Central regions. Jen Tyll ‘01 is running in the Eastern region. Jeff Griffen ‘04 is running in the Central. Get to know them on the pod. That and more on America’s best Alumni Association Podcast. Beat Army.

Sing Second Podcast featuring Vet Boats’ Terry Moran ‘87 and a convo with New Director of Alumni Support Services, Tony Spinler ‘91. Sing Second Podcast with Rob Ackerman '07 and our first Candidate Interviews. 2026. Week 2. Let’s go. The pod team gets together in person at the Fluegel Alumni Center to bring you the latest updates from USNA, AA&F and more. Connect, Communicate, Support and Anchor? That’s what we do. Tony Spinler ‘91 is big in the SUPPORT game. The new Director of Alumni Support Services joins the boys in studio to talk about his job and what he has in store to help our alums in uniform, out of uniform and in between. And we chat with Terry Moran ‘87 of Vet Boats. Terry takes us on his journey from Annapolis to the Fleet…and now giving back to Veterans through the therapeutic experience of being on the water. And we continue to feature short interviews with alums running for Trustee positions with the Alumni Association in the East and Central regions. We chat with Clay Davis ‘94, running in the Central Region. That and more on America’s best Alumni Association Podcast. Beat Army.

We're back!! We hope you had the happiest of holiday seasons. But the holidays are over. Navy won another bowl game. Ho hum. January is here. The Pod team has re-formed and is ready to embrace the dark ages. Ease back into the second half of the pod season by enjoying a great conversation about entrepreneurship with Rob Ackerman '07. Rob is crushing it in the tech private sector and is now running Data Tribe. Data Tribe is a unique startup foundry that takes startup teams focused on Cyber Security and Data Science technologies out of Government Agencies, Defense, Technology Centers and Research Labs to co-build fast growing commercial technology companies solving complex business and Global enterprise problems. It's a great convo! And we preview some other pod specialties coming this year. And our January podcasts will feature short interviews with alums running for Trustee positions with the Alumni Association in the East and Central regions. We chat with Devin Winklosky '93 (East) and Darryl Smith '88 (Central). Voting opens for the elections 17 Feb. That and more on America’s best Alumni Association Podcast. Beat Army.

Happy Holidays, teammates. The holidays are always brighter with a win vs Army in our pocket. The boys chat about the big game, the awesome alumni presence and what we're looking forward to for the Cincy Bowl Game. Hint - It's a live pod and watch party at Dry 85 in Annapolis. We also talk about a major $15 million gift from Ernst '55 and Sara Volgenau, and chat with Natalie Brianas from the Foundation about that gift and the importance of alumni philanthropy. She also riffs on some unique family connections she has. And we chat with the amazing team at Synchrony...a company that has some great opportunities for alums, advice for transitioning out of the service and more. And we have a quick convo with an alum at Synchrony, Gabriel Ives 04 from the class of 2004. This is the last pod until January 6th, so happy holidays and safe travels! That and more on America’s best Alumni Association Podcast. Beat Army.

We rang in the Army-Navy game with a special podcast from Checkerspot. We chat with alums, USNA staff and bring in Jeff Webb ‘95 at the end for some final thoughts on a great rivalry, a great game and an amazing tailgate for our alums. Colin Schofield does a little guest hosting in place of Bill Wagner. We made some predictions. Some came through (the under). Some didn’t (Navy covering). But all that matters is that we had great conversations. A great game was played. And Navy Sang Second. Enjoy.

Today's show features interviews, game and season analysis and commentary from the team. Go Navy, Beat Army!

Phew…we made it. That was a long week. Chris and John close out 5 Days of Army Pods with our final predictions and observations about the events happening around the big game. We talk a little bit about the O’s first baseman of the future…but only a little bit…and close out the week with an appreciation of the greatest rivalry in sports. Our featured interviews are big ones. The first female veteran to ever be elected Governor of a U.S. State? Come right up! Mikie Sherrill joins the boys to talk about her 1-3 record vs Army, the origins of her USNA journey and her philanthropic drive as an alumna. And Tim Sheehy went from SEALs to Senator. That’s No small feat. Tim talks about the great class of ‘08, what part of Montana is the most beautiful and his drive to continue his service to the nation in DC. That and more on America’s best Alumni Association Podcast. Beat Army.

Army Week. Day 4. Let’s go. We get ready for the big game with some Q&A with head football coach Brian Newberry, and our feature interview this week is with Mike Canders ‘77 (the pilot), Corky Gardner ‘77 (the BATT-O) and ADM Gary Roughead ‘73 (the Dant), who in 1998 pulled off a pretty daring stunt that got Army Week really revved up. We chat with them about a great prank. We also chat about the days ahead and an amazing gesture by Landon Robinson in the patch he chose for his Army-Navy uniform. Hope you’re up for a great listen. That and more on the very best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army...always.

Army Week. Day Three. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, people. We jump into Hump Day with Big News. We have four new Distinguished Grads. Congratulations to ADM Patrick Walsh ‘77, VADM Mark Fox ‘78, Lt. Gen. Dave Beydler ‘81 and Capt. Chris Cassidy ‘93. Pretty amazing group. We talk about it and debut the big news that DGA ceremonies will now take place in the fall on a football weekend instead of March. We also talk about the Pep Rally, the Holiday Market and the greatest thing that happened for Chris and John this Christmas - Orioles Opening Day tickets. Our feature interviews this week is Don Bouchard ‘86 and Jason Salata ‘94 from BlackSea Technologies. That’s a lot. Hope you’re up for a great listen. That and more on the very best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army...always.

Day two of the Army Week pod-a-thon hits hard with a little Monday night recording from friend of the pod and sponsor Dry 85. We chat a little but more about the Monday pep rally, the chilly forecast for Saturday and a discussion about favorite Army-Navy game memories. Jason Salata ‘94 and Don Bouchard ‘86 from BlackSea stop by the bar to say hi. They’ll be featured on the Wednesday pod. And our feature interview is former boss to Chris and John - Admiral Harry Harris, USN (ret) ‘78. We talk to Harry about the heady days on the N3 staff at the Pentagon, his time as INDOPACOM and Ambassador to South Korea, but also about his three years chairing the Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA) selection committee. AA&F just selected the next set of DGs this weekend…and we will announce them Wednesday. Adm Harris gives us some perspective on the honor it was to chair a group with such a tall and important task. That and more on the best Alumni Association & Foundation Podcast there is. Beat Army…always!

Season 6 - Episode 16. It’s Army Week. Chris and John do their best work during this week. We got it started with Steelers-Ravens in freezing conditions in Baltimore. The next teams suiting it up on that field? Army and Navy. A lot to chat about as we kick off Army Week. Navy got matched up with Cincy in the Liberty Bowl Jan 2nd. We break that down. Navy got two swimming stars over the weekend. And we set some crazy records on Giving Tuesday. Our interview today is with Jeff Eggers ‘93. Jeff went from USNA to Oxford…and then to the SEAL Teams. He saw it all in uniform and out on the National Security Council and with the McChrystal Group. Now he’s on a more entrepreneurial path. He talks to the boys about his journey. That and more on the very best Alumni Association podcast there is. Beat Army...always.