2020 USNA Distinguished Graduate Award Medal Ceremony

2020 AWARD RECIPIENTS The 2020 Distinguished Graduate Award medal ceremony marks the 22nd year of honoring and celebrating the lives of alumni through the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award program.

Each year, distinguished graduates are honored for their demonstrated and unselfish commitment to a lifetime of service, their personal character and the significant contributions they have made to the Navy and Marine Corps or as leaders in industry or government. They are the living embodiment of the Academy’s mission to develop leaders to “assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.”

We honor these four individuals for the principles they stand for— today and always.

VICE ADMIRAL EDWARD M. STRAW ’61, SC, USN (RET.) COLONEL ROBERT D. CABANA ’71, USMC (RET.) ADMIRAL KIRKLAND H. DONALD ’75, USN (RET.) THE HONORABLE SEAN J. STACKLEY ’79

DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD SELECTION PANEL DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD SELECTION PANEL CHAIRMAN Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert ’75, USN (Ret.) U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION PRESIDENT AND CEO Mr. Byron F. Marchant ’78 PANEL MEMBERS Admiral Timothy J. Keating ’71, USN (Ret.);ASSOCIATION Admiral Samuel J. Locklear ’77, USN (Ret.); U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY ALUMNI Lieutenant General John E. Wissler, ’78, USMC (Ret.); Vice Admiral Bruce E. Grooms ’80, USN (Ret.); Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck ’83, USN; Ms. Greer Lautrup ’85; Captain Karin A. Vernazza ’90, USN (Ret.); and Major Jeffrey V. “Murph” McCarthy ’00, USMC (Ret.) 2 SEPTEMBER 2021 • ALUMNI HALL

DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD MEDAL CEREMONY

2020 1

2020 AWARD RECIPIENTS The 2020 Distinguished Graduate Award medal ceremony marks the 22nd year of honoring and celebrating the lives of alumni through the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award program.

Each year, distinguished graduates are honored for their demonstrated and unselfish commitment to a lifetime of service, their personal character and the significant contributions they have made to the Navy and Marine Corps or as leaders in industry or government. They are the living embodiment of the Academy’s mission to develop leaders to “assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.”

We honor these four individuals for the principles they stand for— today and always.

VICE ADMIRAL EDWARD M. STRAW ’61, SC, USN (RET.) COLONEL ROBERT D. CABANA ’71, USMC (RET.) ADMIRAL KIRKLAND H. DONALD ’75, USN (RET.) THE HONORABLE SEAN J. STACKLEY ’79

DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD SELECTION PANEL DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD SELECTION PANEL CHAIRMAN Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert ’75, USN (Ret.) U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION PRESIDENT AND CEO Mr. Byron F. Marchant ’78 PANEL MEMBERS Admiral Timothy J. Keating ’71, USN (Ret.); Admiral Samuel J. Locklear ’77, USN (Ret.); Lieutenant General John E. Wissler, ’78, USMC (Ret.); Vice Admiral Bruce E. Grooms ’80, USN (Ret.); Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck ’83, USN; Ms. Greer Lautrup ’85; Captain Karin A. Vernazza ’90, USN (Ret.); and Major Jeffrey V. “Murph” McCarthy ’00, USMC (Ret.) 1

2020 AWARD RECIPIENTS The 2020 Distinguished Graduate Award medal ceremony marks the 22nd year of honoring and celebrating the lives of alumni through the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award program.

Each year, distinguished graduates are honored for their demonstrated and unselfish commitment to a lifetime of service, their personal character and the significant contributions they have made to the Navy and Marine Corps or as leaders in industry or government. They are the living embodiment of the Academy’s mission to develop leaders to “assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.”

We honor these four individuals for the principles they stand for— today and always.

VICE ADMIRAL EDWARD M. STRAW ’61, SC, USN (RET.) COLONEL ROBERT D. CABANA ’71, USMC (RET.) ADMIRAL KIRKLAND H. DONALD ’75, USN (RET.) THE HONORABLE SEAN J. STACKLEY ’79

DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD SELECTION PANEL DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD SELECTION PANEL CHAIRMAN Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert ’75, USN (Ret.) U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION PRESIDENT AND CEO Mr. Byron F. Marchant ’78 PANEL MEMBERS Admiral Timothy J. Keating ’71, USN (Ret.); Admiral Samuel J. Locklear ’77, USN (Ret.); Lieutenant General John E. Wissler, ’78, USMC (Ret.); Vice Admiral Bruce E. Grooms ’80, USN (Ret.); Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck ’83, USN; Ms. Greer Lautrup ’85; Captain Karin A. Vernazza ’90, USN (Ret.); and Major Jeffrey V. “Murph” McCarthy ’00, USMC (Ret.) 1

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE Welcome to the 2020 United States Naval Academy Distinguished Graduate Award Ceremony.

To this year’s awardees: congratulations and thank you for your dedicated service, both in and out of uniform. Your energy, passion and devotion to your vocations have made an incredible difference. We are especially grateful to your families, who served with you and continue to support you.

Selecting today’s honorees from a field of accomplished alumni was both challenging and humbling. There are many accomplished graduates who deserve recognition. While each path was different, all of today’s honorees began their careers of service right here.

This great institution continues to serve as the foundation of service, leadership and character that has put our honorees on their journey to success. Being here with these distinguished graduates, and with you future distinguished graduates in the audience, is especially meaningful.

My sincere thanks to the selection panel and to the DGA staff for planning and executing today’s ceremony. To the Brigade, our alumni and guests: thank you for joining us for this special event as we celebrate the extraordinary careers of our fellow graduates.

Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert ’75, USN (Ret.) Former Chairman, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award Selection Panel

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PROGRAM INTRODUCTION OF THE 2020 DISTINGUISHED GRADUATES NARRATOR Midshipman Andre Rascoe ’22 Class President

THE NATIONAL ANTHEM INVOCATION Captain Richard Bonnette, USN Senior Chaplain

WELCOME AND REMARKS Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck ’83, USN Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy

PRESENTATION OF DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD MEDALS Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck ’83, USN Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy Admiral Samuel J. Locklear ’77, USN (Ret.) Former Chairman, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees and Midshipman Jackie R. Booker ’22 Brigade Commander

REMARKS Distinguished Graduate Award Recipients

“NAVY BLUE AND GOLD” DEPARTURE OF THE OFFICIAL PARTY

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STRAW “Ed, by any measure, has been that ‘beacon lighting the way’ for so many because he exemplifies what character, service, commitment and personal courage are all about.”

— Admiral Leighton W. “Snuffy” Smith ’62, USN (Ret.)

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VICE ADMIRAL EDWARD M. STRAW ’61, SC, USN (RET.) The first career supply corps officer to receive the Distinguished Graduate Award, Vice Admiral Edward M. Straw ’61, SC, USN (Ret.), had a rewarding, challenging and highly impactful career in the Supply Corps, dedicating 35 years of his life to improving warfighter readiness at lower costs. From the Vietnam War to the lean years of the 1970s to the rebuilding of the Navy in the 1980s, then through Operation Desert Storm and the subsequent streamlining of the Department of Defense in the mid-1990s, Vice Admiral Straw led significant readiness, efficiency, effectiveness and process transformations during Washington budget wars and real wars on the ground. In 1992, he became the first supply corps officer promoted to vice admiral in 11 years and just the 14th selected in nearly 200 years.

Highlights in his first 30 years after graduating from the Academy included managing inventory and worldwide suppliers to improve unreliable electronics systems in aircraft deployed in Vietnam, logistics sustainment of DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER’s lengthy deployment in the Arabian Sea during the Iranian Hostage Crisis, defending the Navy supply system against unwarranted charges involving the theft of F-14 parts by a foreign smuggling ring in the mid-1980s and implementation of an innovative spares funding approach that greatly enhanced aviation and ship readiness across multiple weapons systems. Next, he was the Navy’s lead for logistics planning for material and ordnance support during Operations Desert Shield and Desert

Storm while serving as the senior supply officer on the Chief of Naval Operations’ staff. During this period, he also led the Navy’s response to the Defense Management Review, enabling $28 billion in operational savings between 1990 and 1997.

His active duty career culminated with his 1992-1996 service as Director of the Defense Logistics Agency while DLA’s role expanded to be the primary provider of global supply chain support for America’s armed forces. His innovative implementation of private sector best practices, including Just-in-Time inventory management, led to greatly improved support and an estimated $10 billion in cost savings to the Services between 1992 and 2002.

Following his retirement from the Navy, Vice Admiral Straw, a graduate of the National War College with an MBA from The George Washington University, transferred his expertise in logistics, supply chain and financial management to the private sector as president of Ryder Integrated Logistics, senior vice president of Compaq Computer Corporation and president of global operations at Estee Lauder. Of particular note were significant improvements in Estee Lauder’s global supply chain during his five years there, which drove major stock-price-impacting savings to the bottom line. Today, he is founder and managing partner of Osprey Venture Partners, a venture capital firm focused on finding equity for young entrepreneurs with innovative, start-up companies. He also serves on numerous corporate boards and the Defense Science Board.

Throughout his military and private sector careers, Vice Admiral Straw has remained devoted to the Academy, where he has contributed to the recruitment, retention and mentoring of midshipmen.

He has been a major philanthropic supporter of the Academy, particularly its Athletic Excellence program. Vice Admiral Straw has also served his nation’s veterans by successfully advocating for legislation extending disability/medical benefits to Blue Water Vietnam veterans suffering from Agent Orange-related diseases. In addition to many military honors, including two Defense Distinguished Service Medals, the Navy-Marine Corps and the Air Force Distinguished Service Medals, for significant improvements to warfighting readiness, Vice Admiral Straw also received the Ford Foundation’s Innovations in American Government Award and the Society of Logistics Engineers’ Founders Medal.

Vice Admiral Straw lives in Washington, DC, with his wife Christine, an adjunct professor at Columbia University and Middlebury College. He has three adult daughters—Silvana, Margaret and Katharine.

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CABANA “It didn’t take long for me to realize that Colonel Cabana was the astronaut to look to for guidance and the astronaut whose performance I would always strive to emulate.”

— Captain Wendy B. Lawrence ’81, USN (Ret.)

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COLONEL ROBERT D. CABANA ’71, USMC (RET.) Minneapolis native Colonel Robert D. Cabana ’71, USMC (Ret.), graduated from the Naval Academy and began his career as a naval flight officer for the Marine Corps, serving as an A-6 bombardier/navigator at Cherry Point, NC, and Iwakuni, Japan, before returning to Pensacola to begin pilot training.

In 1976, he was named the top Marine to complete flight training that year.

Colonel Cabana went on to graduate with distinction from the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School in 1981 and served in the Flight Systems Branch at the Naval Air Test Center until 1984. Throughout his career, Colonel Cabana logged more than 7,000 hours in 50 kinds of aircraft.

In 1985, Colonel Cabana was selected as an astronaut candidate for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and completed his initial training the following year. A veteran of four space flights, he has logged 38 days in space while serving as pilot on DISCOVERY (STS 41 and STS 53) and mission commander on COLUMBIA (STS-65) and ENDEAVOR (STS 88). His fourth flight was the first assembly mission of the International Space Station, and Colonel Cabana became the first American to enter it. In addition to these missions, he also held leadership roles at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center Astronaut Office

in Houston, TX, including lead astronaut in the Shuttle Avionics Integration Laboratory, Mission Control Spacecraft Communicator and chief of the Astronaut Office.

Following his retirement from the Marine Corps in 2000, Colonel Cabana continued his career as a member of the Federal Senior Executive Service, rising in NASA’s senior management ranks at the Johnson Space Center, serving as director of the John C. Stennis Space Center in Mississippi and becoming the 10th director of the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Colonel Cabana currently serves as the Agency’s Associate Administrator, the third highest-ranking executive and highest-ranking civil servant.

It was under Colonel Cabana’s leadership that the Kennedy Space Center navigated the retirement of the Space Shuttle program in 2011. His compassion and dynamism helped more than 6,000 of the Space Center’s civil servants and contractors find new employment, complete retraining for future Center operations and attract new entrepreneurial partners to support the Center’s rise as a multi-user, government and commercial launch facility.

Colonel Cabana’s many honors include induction in the Astronaut Hall of Fame; recognition as an Associate Fellow in the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and a Fellow in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots; the

Defense Distinguished Service Medal, the Distinguished Flying Cross; two Presidential Distinguished Rank Awards and the Rotary National Space Trophy.

Committed to the future of his alma mater and the Brigade of Midshipmen, Colonel Cabana regularly returns to the Academy to participate in its annual Astronaut Convocation and has served as a guest lecturer for the aeronautical engineering department in space history and program management. He has also served on the Boards of Advisors for the College of Engineering at the University of Central Florida and College of Aviation at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, as well as volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and his church parish.

He and his wife, Nancy, have three children, including Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Cabana ’96, USMC, and six grandchildren.

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DONALD “Kirk Donald is an extraordinarily gifted and accomplished leader who has demonstrated throughout his military and post-retirement careers the character traits—intellect, poise, integrity, enthusiasm, resourcefulness and vision—which I believe are embodied in the Distinguished Graduate program.”

— Admiral Richard W. Mies ’67, USN (Ret.)

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ADMIRAL KIRKLAND H. DONALD ’75, USN (RET.) Born and raised in Norlina, NC, Admiral Kirkland H. Donald, USN (Ret.), followed his Naval Academy graduation with nuclear power and submarine training, serving on BATFISH, MARIANO G. VALLEJO and SEAHORSE before assuming command of KEY WEST. During this period, he made numerous deployments to the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, and KEY WEST received the Submarine Squadron Eight Battle Efficiency “E” for operational excellence.

Admiral Donald continued to advance through the submarine and nuclear propulsion communities, serving as Commander, Submarine Development Squadron 12 and Commander, Submarine Allied Naval Forces South, commanding U.S. and allied submarines in the Mediterranean during Operation Active Endeavor and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He later took command of Naval Submarine Forces, Allied Submarine Command and Task Forces 84 and 144 in Norfolk, VA, in October 2003 and served in that capacity until he became the fifth director of the Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program, also known as Naval Reactors. Shore assignments throughout his career included the Pacific Fleet Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board; the staff of the Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion; Bureau of Naval Personnel; and Deputy Chief of Staff for C41, Resources, Requirements and Assessments, U.S. Pacific Fleet.

As director of Naval Reactors, a position created and first filled by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, USN (Ret.), of the Naval Academy Class of 1922, Admiral Donald was responsible for the safe, secure and reliable operation of all nuclear propulsion plants on Navy submarines and aircraft carriers: 100 plants powering 83 vessels homeported in six U.S. cities, Guam and Japan and welcome in more than 150 ports worldwide. His eight-year tenure included the continuation of more than 7,000 reactor years and 160 million miles steamed without a reactor accident or excessive exposure; the recruitment of more than 24,000 officers and sailors; the integration of women into the submarine community; leading a comprehensive investigation into an incident involving the Air Force’s mishandling of critical nuclear weapons components; and leading the Department of Defense technical response to the Fukushima reactor accidents following the devastating 2011 tsunamis in Japan.

Admiral Donald also led a collaborative effort to assist the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy in improving delivery of its new class of nuclear attack submarines and other aspects of its naval reactor program. For his efforts, Queen Elizabeth II awarded him the title of Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

Upon retirement from the Navy after 37 years of service, Admiral Donald

received the National Nuclear Security Administration Gold Medal of Excellence for Distinguished Service and the National Award of Nuclear Science and History by the National Atomic Museum Foundation. Following his retirement, he joined Systems Planning and Analysis, a national security consulting company, where he became president and chief executive officer, serving until 2015. He serves on the boards of Entergy Corporation, Huntington Ingalls Industries, Battelle, CyberCore Technologies, Centrus Energy and the Naval Submarine League. Admiral Donald supports the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States by serving in security oversight positions at Rolls Royce North America, LANXESS Corporation and Sauer Compressors USA. He is also an advisor to the Government of Australia on matters related to submarine capability.

Admiral Donald and his wife, Diane, live in Mount Pleasant, SC.

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STACKLEY “Rarely does one encounter a trajectory such as his and witness the heart of the young man unchanged in the crucible of unforgiving and relentless work.

I can think of no finer person to receive a Distinguished Graduate recognition.”

— Rear Admiral Jeffrey A. Lemmons ’79, USN (Ret.)

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THE HONORABLE SEAN J. STACKLEY ’79 The Honorable Sean J. Stackley began his career as a surface warfare officer, serving in engineering and combat systems assignments aboard JOHN YOUNG. After completing his warfare qualifications, he transferred to Engineering Duty and served in a series of industrial, fleet, program office and headquarters assignments in ship design and construction, maintenance and program management. In the course of his career, having served as Project Naval Architect for the Canadian Patrol Frigate HALIFAX, Production Officer for ARLEIGH BURKE and Major Program Manager for SAN ANTONIO, Mr. Stackley uniquely served in a principal role in the design, construction, test and delivery of three first-of-class warships.

Captain Stackley retired from the Navy in 2005 to accept a position as a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee overseeing Navy and Marine Corps programs. In 2008, he was appointed as Assistant Secretary of the Navy (ASN) for Research, Development and Acquisition, responsible for Department of the Navy weapon systems’ development and procurement.

Confronting broad-ranging cost,

schedule and technical challenges, he established a close partnership with the Chief of Naval Operations and Commandant of the Marine Corps and worked closely with the Congress and industry to raise the bar on performance across all Navy and Marine Corps programs.

The only Department of the Navy appointee under President George W. Bush to be retained by President Barack Obama, Mr. Stackley surpassed Franklin Delano Roosevelt as the nation’s longest-serving ASN, placing 90 ships, 1,700 aircraft and 20,000 weapons under contract during his tenure.

In 2017, he served as (Acting) Secretary of the Navy under President Donald Trump and on special assignment to the Secretary of Defense leading the Congressionally directed reorganization of Defense Acquisition.

Today, Mr. Stackley is corporate senior vice president and president of Integrated Mission Systems at L3Harris Technologies. He has returned to his alma mater on numerous occasions to address the Brigade at the Society of American Military Engineers annual banquet, the Honor Courage and Commitment lecture and the Forrestal lecture. Mr. Stackley’s honors include

two Legion of Merit Awards, the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service, three Secretary of the Navy Awards for Distinguished Public Service, the Senate Tribute, the Small Business Administration Leadership Award and the United States Navy League Leadership Award. He holds master’s degrees in mechanical engineering and ocean engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Mr. Stackley and his wife Terry have four children, Erin, Tess, Scott and Maura, and two grandchildren. They have continued their service to the Academy by volunteering as sponsor parents for current midshipmen.

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PAST RECIPIENTS 1999

2002

Admiral Thomas H. Moorer ’33, USN (Ret.)

Vice Admiral Charles S. Minter Jr. ’37, USN (Ret.)

(1912-2004)

(1915-2008)

The Honorable James E. Carter Jr. ’47 Dr. John J. McMullen ’40

2000

Admiral Carlisle A.H. Trost ’53, USN (Ret.)

(1918-2005)

(1930-2020)

Admiral James L. Holloway III ’43, USN (Ret.)

Colonel John W. Ripley ’62, USMC (Ret.)

(1922-2019)

(1939-2008)

Vice Admiral William P. Lawrence ’51, USN (Ret.) (1930-2005)

Major General William A. Anders ’55, USAFR (Ret.) Mr. Roger T. Staubach ’65

2003

Ambassador William H.G. FitzGerald ’31 (1909-2006)

Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey ’35, USN (Ret.) (1913-2007)

2001

Captain John W. Crawford Jr. ’42, USN (Ret.) Admiral William J. Crowe Jr. ’47, USN (Ret.) (1925-2007)

Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale ’47, USN (Ret.) (1923-2005)

Admiral James D. Watkins ’49, USN (Ret.) (1927-2012)

Captain James A. Lovell ’52, USN (Ret.)

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Rear Admiral Robert W. McNitt ’38, USN (Ret.) (1915-2012)

Vice Admiral William D. Houser ’42, USN (Ret.) (1921-2012)

PAST RECIPIENTS 2004

2006

Lieutenant General Victor H. Krulak ’34, USMC (Ret.)

Captain Thomas J. Hudner ’47, USN (Ret.)

(1913-2008)

(1924-2017)

Vice Admiral Gerald E. Miller ’42, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Kinnaird R. McKee ’51, USN (Ret.)

(1919-2014)

(1929-2013)

Vice Admiral James F. Calvert ’43, USN (Ret.)

General Robert T. Herres ’54, USAF (Ret.)

(1920-2009)

(1932-2008)

Lieutenant General Charles G. Cooper ’50, USMC (Ret.)

Admiral Charles R. Larson ’58, USN (Ret.)

(1927-2009)

(1936-2014)

Rear Admiral Ronald F. Marryott ’57, USN (Ret.) (1934-2005)

2005

Captain Slade D. Cutter ’35, USN (Ret.) (1911-2005)

Rear Admiral Robert H. Wertheim ’46, USN (Ret.) (1922-2020)

2007

Rear Admiral Maurice H. Rindskopf ’38, USN (Ret.) (1917-2011)

Admiral Thomas B. Hayward ’48, USN (Ret.) Mr. Ralph W. Hooper ’51 (1928-2020)

Admiral Leighton W. Smith Jr. ’62, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Ronald J. Hays ’50, USN (Ret.) (1928-2021)

Mr. H. Ross Perot ’53 (1930-2019)

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PAST RECIPIENTS 2008

Mr. James W. Kinnear III ’50 Admiral Frank B. Kelso II ’56, USN (Ret.) (1933-2013)

Rear Admiral Benjamin F. Montoya ’58, CEC, USN (Ret.) (1935-2015)

Lieutenant General William M. Keys ’60, USMC (Ret.) Admiral Henry G. Chiles Jr. ’60, USN (Ret.)

2009

Mr. John E. Nolan ’50 (1927-2017)

Admiral Bruce DeMars ’57, USN (Ret.) Mr. J. Ronald Terwilliger ’63

2011

Rear Admiral Robert H. Shumaker ’56, USN (Ret.) Dr. Bradford N. Parkinson ’57 Lieutenant General Matthew T. Cooper ’58, USMC (Ret.) Mr. Corbin A. McNeill Jr. ’62

2012

Admiral Sylvester R. Foley Jr. ’50, USN (Ret.) (1928-2019)

The Honorable Daniel L. Cooper ’57 Captain Bruce McCandless II ’58, USN (Ret.) (1937-2017)

Vice Admiral John R. Ryan ’67, USN (Ret.) Mr. Daniel F. Akerson ’70

Admiral Joseph W. Prueher ’64, USN (Ret.) General Peter Pace ’67, USMC (Ret.)

2010

(1941-2020)

The Honorable John Scott Redd ’66

(1930-2021)

Ambassador Richard L. Armitage ’67

Admiral Leon A. Edney ’57, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Thomas B. Fargo ’70, USN (Ret.)

Mr. David J. Dunn ’55

Rear Admiral Thomas C. Lynch ’64, USN (Ret.) Admiral Joseph Paul Reason ’65, USN (Ret.) General Carlton W. Fulford Jr. ’66, USMC (Ret.) 14

2013

Mr. Roger E. Tetrault ’63

PAST RECIPIENTS 2014

2017

Lieutenant General Thomas P. Stafford ’52, USAF (Ret.)

Admiral Harry D. Train II ’49, USN (Ret.)

Rear Admiral William C. Miller ’62, USN (Ret.)

Milledge A. “Mitch” Hart III ’56

Admiral Steve Abbot ’66, USN (Ret.) Admiral Michael G. Mullen ’68, USN (Ret.) Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. ’70, USN (Ret.)

2015

Admiral Henry H. Mauz Jr. ’59, USN (Ret.) Admiral Richard W. Mies ’67, USN (Ret.) Admiral James O. Ellis Jr. ’69, USN (Ret.) Mr. David M. Robinson ’87

Vice Admiral Cutler Dawson Jr. ’70, USN (Ret.) Admiral Eric T. Olson ’73, USN (Ret.)

2018

Rear Admiral Lawrence C. Chambers ’52, USN (Ret.) Admiral James R. Hogg ’56, USN (Ret.) Senator John S. McCain III ’58 (1936-2018)

Major General Charles F. Bolden Jr. ’68, USMC (Ret.) Mr. Steven S. Reinemund ’70 Admiral Timothy J. Keating ’71, USN (Ret.)

2016

Vice Admiral Robert F. Dunn ’51, USN (Ret.)

2019

Dr. J. Phillip London ’59

The Honorable John H. Dalton ’64

(1937-2021)

Captain Carl H. June ’75, MC, USN (Ret.)

Admiral Robert J. Natter ’67, USN (Ret.) Colonel Walter P. Havenstein ’71, USMCR (Ret.) Admiral Robert F. Willard ’73, USN (Ret.) Captain Wendy B. Lawrence ’81, USN (Ret.)

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NAVY BLUE AND GOLD Now colleges from sea to sea, may sing of colors true, But who has better right than we, to hoist a symbol hue?

For Sailors brave in battle fair, since fighting days of old Have proved the Sailor’s right to wear, the Navy Blue and Gold.

MISSIONS UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION To serve and support the United States, the naval service, the Naval Academy and its alumni; by furthering the highest standards at the Naval Academy; by seeking out, informing, encouraging and assisting outstanding, qualified young men and women to pursue careers as officers in the Navy and Marine Corps through the Naval Academy; and, by initiating and sponsoring activities which will perpetuate the history, traditions, memories and growth of the Naval Academy and bind alumni together in support of the highest ideals of command, citizenship and government.

UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY To develop midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.

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2020 AWARD RECIPIENTS The 2020 Distinguished Graduate Award medal ceremony marks the 22nd year of honoring and celebrating the lives of alumni through the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award program.

Each year, distinguished graduates are honored for their demonstrated and unselfish commitment to a lifetime of service, their personal character and the significant contributions they have made to the Navy and Marine Corps or as leaders in industry or government. They are the living embodiment of the Academy’s mission to develop leaders to “assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.”

We honor these four individuals for the principles they stand for— today and always.

VICE ADMIRAL EDWARD M. STRAW ’61, SC, USN (RET.) COLONEL ROBERT D. CABANA ’71, USMC (RET.) ADMIRAL KIRKLAND H. DONALD ’75, USN (RET.) THE HONORABLE SEAN J. STACKLEY ’79

DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD SELECTION PANEL DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD SELECTION PANEL CHAIRMAN Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert ’75, USN (Ret.) U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION PRESIDENT AND CEO Mr. Byron F. Marchant ’78 PANEL MEMBERS Admiral Timothy J. Keating ’71, USN (Ret.); Admiral Samuel J. Locklear ’77, USN (Ret.); Lieutenant General John E. Wissler, ’78, USMC (Ret.); Vice Admiral Bruce E. Grooms ’80, USN (Ret.); Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck ’83, USN; Ms. Greer Lautrup ’85; Captain Karin A. Vernazza ’90, USN (Ret.); and Major Jeffrey V. “Murph” McCarthy ’00, USMC (Ret.) 1

2020 AWARD RECIPIENTS The 2020 Distinguished Graduate Award medal ceremony marks the 22nd year of honoring and celebrating the lives of alumni through the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award program.

Each year, distinguished graduates are honored for their demonstrated and unselfish commitment to a lifetime of service, their personal character and the significant contributions they have made to the Navy and Marine Corps or as leaders in industry or government. They are the living embodiment of the Academy’s mission to develop leaders to “assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.”

We honor these four individuals for the principles they stand for— today and always.

VICE ADMIRAL EDWARD M. STRAW ’61, SC, USN (RET.) COLONEL ROBERT D. CABANA ’71, USMC (RET.) ADMIRAL KIRKLAND H. DONALD ’75, USN (RET.) THE HONORABLE SEAN J. STACKLEY ’79

DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD SELECTION PANEL DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD SELECTION PANEL CHAIRMAN Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert ’75, USN (Ret.) U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION PRESIDENT AND CEO Mr. Byron F. Marchant ’78 PANEL MEMBERS Admiral Timothy J. Keating ’71, USN (Ret.); Admiral Samuel J. Locklear ’77, USN (Ret.); Lieutenant General John E. Wissler, ’78, USMC (Ret.); Vice Admiral Bruce E. Grooms ’80, USN (Ret.); Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck ’83, USN; Ms. Greer Lautrup ’85; Captain Karin A. Vernazza ’90, USN (Ret.); and Major Jeffrey V. “Murph” McCarthy ’00, USMC (Ret.) 1