ALUMNI HALL 26 AUGUST 20222022DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD MEDAL CEREMONY
J. MICHAEL YEAGER ’76 REAR MARGARETADMIRALD.“PEG” KLEIN ’81, USN (RET.) VICE WALTERADMIRALE.“TED” CARTER ’81, USN (RET.) 1
PETER F. DE VOS ’71 VICE WILLIAMADMIRALD.“DOUG”
’74, USN (RET.)
2022 AWARD RECIPIENTS
The 2022 Distinguished Graduate Award medal ceremony marks the 24th year of honoring and celebrating the lives of alumni through the U.S. 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 five individuals for the principles they stand for—today and always.
MR.
MR.
CROWDER
SELECTION PANEL CHAIRMAN
PANEL MEMBERS Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert ’75, USN (Ret.)
Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck ’83, USN
Mr. Byron F. Marchant ’78
Admiral Timothy J. Keating ’71, USN (Ret.)
Lieutenant General John E. Wissler ’78, USMC (Ret.)
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U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION FORMER PRESIDENT AND CEO
Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert ’75, USN (Ret.)
Mrs. Matice J. Wright-Springer ’88
SELECTION PANEL
Mr. Byron F. Marchant ’78
Vice Admiral Bruce E. Grooms ’80, USN (Ret.)
DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD
Vice Admiral Jan E. Tighe ’84, USN (Ret.)
Mr. George P. O’Garro ’05 Admiral Mark E. Ferguson III ’78, USN (Ret.)*
*Alumni Association Board of Trustees Chair, non-voting
Welcome to the 2022 United States Naval Academy Distinguished Graduate Award (DGA) ceremony. On behalf of the DGA Selection Panel, I would like to congratulate the awardees. Thank you for your service, both in and out of uniform. Your energy, passion and success in your respective vocations and your contribution to the Naval Academy, have made a tangible 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 challenging and humbling. There are many accomplished graduates who deserve recognition. While each journey was different, all of today’s honorees began their careers of service right here. This great institution continues to serve as a foundation of service, leadership and character that has propelled our honorees on their journey to success. Being here with these distinguished graduates, and with future distinguished graduates in the audience, is especially meaningful. My sincere thanks to the selection panel and to the USNA and Alumni Association and Foundation 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.
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
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Chairman, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award Selection Panel
Admiral Jonathan W. Greenert ’75, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Mark Ferguson III ‘78, USN (Ret.)
Chairman, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees
Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck ’83, USN Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy
Commander DistinguishedREMARKS Graduate Award Recipients “NAVY BLUE AND GOLD” DEPARTURE OF THE OFFICIAL PARTY PROGRAM
REMARKS
CaptainINVOCATIONRichard USN U.S. Naval Academy Command Chaplain WELCOME AND
4 INTRODUCTION OF THE 2022 DISTINGUISHED GRADUATES MidshipmanNARRATORGrant
DISTINGUISHEDOFGRADUATE AWARD MEDALS
Midshipman Morgan K. Prigmore ’23, USN Brigade
Bonnette,
Booker ’23, USN Class President
Vice Admiral Sean S. Buck ’83, USN Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy PRESENTATION
THE NATIONAL ANTHEM
DE VOS Peter de Vos ’71 is a lifetime supporter of the Naval Academy and the Alumni Association and Foundation. He was an exemplary midshipman at the Naval Academy, a successful submarine officer and a strong business leader. He graduated in the top 10 percent of his class and was one of 18 graduates from the Class of 1971 commended by the Superintendent for outstanding leadership. He was a regimental commander and baseball player, graduating with a degree in mechanical engineering. He then served as a submarine officer aboard SPADEFISH and MEMPHIS de Vos was the Nuclear Submarine Junior Officer detailer for all 1,300 nuclear qualified submarine junior officers. His efforts helped reverse a critical decline in retention and earned him a second Navy Commendation Medal. After leaving the Navy, he earned an MBA at Stanford and became an investment banker. He was head of U.S. Investment Banking for RBC Capital Markets from 2001-09, then became Chairman and CEO of Tennessee Valley Infrastructure Group (TVIG), a wind farm construction company, and American Helios, a solar farm construction firm. At the time of construction, TVIG built the largest wind and solar farm on a federal facility, and the solar farm in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. A member of the Naval Academy Foundation Board of Directors from 2007-16, de Vos was instrumental in the $541M Called to Serve, Daring to Lead campaign. He was a cornerstone donor to the Academy for 28 years, co-leading class fundraising efforts from the front that yielded more than $22 million in gifts. de Vos resides in Baltimore, MD. 5
CROWDER
After retirement, he served as the Chief Operating Officer for a $1B business unit for Boeing, then started a consultancy practice. Vice Admiral Crowder has served as a Director of the Admiral Nimitz Foundation. He also served as a Director and then-Chairman of the Olmsted Foundation (2009-19), which provides young military officers the opportunity to learn a foreign language and pursue graduate studies in that language at a foreign university. From 1980-82, then-Lieutenant Crowder was an Olmsted Scholar at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. More than $I million Foundation dollars were donated to the Alumni Association and Foundation to fund summer foreign travel for midshipmen during his tenure at the Olmsted Foundation.
Vice Admiral William “Doug” Crowder ’74, USN (Ret.), served 36 years as a Surface Warfare Officer. He commanded the carrier strike group that provided disaster relief in Indonesia following the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. He commanded the U.S. Seventh Fleet from 2006-08 and completed his career as Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans and Strategy. After the attack on the Pentagon’s Navy Command Center on 9/11, he spearheaded the establishment of a temporary site and then led the effort to build a new, permanent Command Center. As Navy’s Director of Operations and Plans, Admiral Crowder then led the planning for U.S. Navy participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom, readying eight carrier strike groups, amphibious forces, support ships and ammunition for the invasion of lraq in 2003.
Vice Admiral Crowder and wife Susan reside in Severna Park, MD.
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J. Michael Yeager ’76 was a three-year letterman on the Navy football team that beat Army and captured the Commander-In-Chief’s trophy three consecutive years. He served as a U.S. Marine artillery officer making numerous Western Pacific deployments before beginning a career in the energy industry. He spent 26 years with Exxon Mobil rising through the ranks and ultimately reaching Vice President of operations for more than 20 countries. He then served as the CEO of BHP Petroleum where profits doubled over his eight-year tenure. He has worked all over the world and lived in 18 locations in the United States and internationally. His personal philanthropy was instrumental in the renovations of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium and the building of the Terwilliger Center for Student Athletes.
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Yeager serves on the Naval Academy Foundation Board of Directors and is a longtime USNA Athletic and Scholarship Programs (A&SP) trustee where he serves as a committee chair. He was a leader in writing the new A&SP Strategic Plan and new Operating Policies and Procedures. Yeager is a Naval Academy Foundation President’s Circle donor and a member of the Robert Means Thompson Society. He serves as a mentor to Naval Academy candidates who are currently in USNA-sponsored prep schools.
YEAGER
He is an active member and officer of the Naval Academy Alumni Association Texas Gulf Coast Chapter and is an active member and officer of the Marine Corps League Houston detachment, the McLemore Marines. He is a supporter of the Greater Houston United Way and the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign.
Yeager and his wife Robin reside in Houston, TX, and Annapolis, MD.
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KLEIN Rear Admiral Margaret “Peg” Klein ’81, USN (Ret.)
Throughout her career, Rear Admiral Klein has lived the values instilled in her at the Naval Academy, in particular the “highest ideals of duty and honor.” In response to ethical lapses at several levels within the Department of Defense in 2014, she stepped forward and answered Secretary Hagel’s call to strengthen the department’s ethical foundation, serving as the Secretary’s Senior Advisor for Military Professionalism. Rear Admiral Klein worked directly with the Vice Chiefs and Service Under Secretaries to identify and share best practices in ethics, leadership development and values-based decision-making across all branches of service. After retirement from active duty, she transitioned to the Naval War College and established its College of Leadership and Ethics. As Dean of this college, she positively impacts the ethical leadership of senior and flag-level Naval officers and Rearcivilians.Admiral Klein continues to give back to the Naval Academy and the Alumni Association and Foundation. She served as an Athletic and Scholarship Programs trustee. In her current role at the Naval War College, she maintains close ties with the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership and works with Naval Academy staff to share leadership development programs. Rear Admiral Klein spends most weeks traveling between her home in Davidsonville, MD, and the Naval War College in Newport, RI.
A member of the second Naval Academy class with women, Rear Admiral Klein was a trailblazer for the entirety of her 36-year career on active duty. She excelled at every level, serving in the White House Military Office, as a legislative fellow for Senator Snowe, as a Squadron and Wing Commander and as an Expeditionary Strike Group and Task Force Commander. Notably, Rear Admiral Klein was selected as the 82nd Commandant of Midshipmen at USNA, the first woman to hold this position. In 2011, she became the Chief of Staff for U.S. Cyber Command, directly responsible for organizing requirements, resources, processes and budgets for this newly formed command. Her extraordinary leadership, analysis and persistence were pivotal in turning the concept of a cyber force into an operational reality.
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CARTER
Vice Admiral Carter played hockey all four years at the Academy and his call sign as an aviator was “Slapshot.” As Superintendent he was a key leader in the $541M Called to Serve, Daring to Lead campaign, is a President’s Circle donor and serves as a Naval Academy Athletic and Scholarship Programs trustee. Vice Admiral Carter and his wife Lynda reside in Lincoln, NE.
Vice Admiral Carter flew 125 combat missions in support of joint operations in Bosnia, Kuwait, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. He is the only officer awarded both the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership (1999) and the U.S. Navy League’s John Paul Jones Award for Inspirational Leadership (2009). He served as the 54th president of the Naval War College. He completed his Navy career as the 62nd Superintendent of the Naval Academy (2014-19) leading the Academy to multiple top national rankings and oversaw the implementation of new academic majors in Cyber Operations, Nuclear Engineering and Quantitative Economics. After retirement he became the eighth president of the University of Nebraska, leading four campuses, 52,000 students, 16,000 faculty and staff and a $3 billion budget.
Vice Admiral Walter “Ted” Carter ’81, USN (Ret.), served for five consecutive years as Superintendent of the Naval Academy. He served for 38 years as a Naval Flight Officer, amassing the most carrier arrested landings in U.S. history (2,016).
John W. Crawford Jr. ’42, USN (Ret.) (1919-2022)
Admiral James L. Holloway III ’43, USN (Ret.) (1922-2019)
Thomas H. Moorer ’33, USN (Ret.) (1912-2004) Dr.2000John J. McMullen ’40 (1918-2005)
Admiral1999
Mr. Roger T. Staubach ’65
Admiral William J. Crowe Jr. ’47, USN (Ret.) (1925-2007)
The Honorable James E. Carter Jr. ’47
Admiral Carlisle A.H. Trost ’53, USN (Ret.) (1930-2020)
Colonel John W. Ripley ’62, USMC (Ret.) (1939-2008)
PAST RECIPIENTS
Vice Admiral William P. Lawrence ’51, USN (Ret.) (1930-2005)
Major General William A. Anders ’55, USAFR (Ret.)
Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale ’47, USN (Ret.) (1923-2005)
Vice2002Admiral Charles S. Minter Jr. ’37, USN (Ret.) (1915-2008)
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Captain James A. Lovell ’52, USN (Ret.)
Admiral James D. Watkins ’49, USN (Ret.) (1927-2012)
Captain2001
Rear Admiral Ronald F. Marryott ’57, USN (Ret.) (1934-2005)
Vice Admiral Gerald E. Miller ’42, USN (Ret.) (1919-2014)
Captain2005 Slade D. Cutter ’35, USN (Ret.) (1911-2005)
Vice Admiral William D. Houser ’42, USN (Ret.) (1921-2012) Lieutenant2004 General Victor H. Krulak ’34, USMC (Ret.) (1913-2008)
Rear Admiral Robert H. Wertheim ’46, USN (Ret.) (1922-2020)
Admiral Ronald J. Hays ’50, USN (Ret.) (1928-2021) Mr. H. Ross Perot ’53 (1930-2019)
William H.G. FitzGerald ’31 (1909-2006)
Vice Admiral James F. Calvert ’43, USN (Ret.) (1920-2009)
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Ambassador2003
Lieutenant General Charles G. Cooper ’50, USMC (Ret.) (1927-2009)
PAST RECIPIENTS
Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey ’35, USN (Ret.) (1913-2007)
Rear Admiral Robert W. McNitt ’38, USN (Ret.) (1915-2012)
Mr.2009John E. Nolan ’50 (1927-2017)
Lieutenant General William M. Keys ’60, USMC (Ret.)
PAST RECIPIENTS
Admiral Joseph W. Prueher ’64, USN (Ret.)
Thomas J. Hudner ’47, USN (Ret.) (1924-2017)
Admiral Frank B. Kelso II ’56, USN (Ret.) (1933-2013) Rear Admiral Benjamin F. Montoya ’58, CEC, USN (Ret.) (1935-2015)
Mr.2008James W. Kinnear III ’50
Admiral Charles R. Larson ’58, USN (Ret.) (1936-2014) Rear2007Admiral Maurice H. Rindskopf ’38, USN (Ret.) (1917-2011)
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Admiral Bruce DeMars ’57, USN (Ret.)
Captain2006
Admiral Henry G. Chiles Jr. ’60, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Kinnaird R. McKee ’51, USN (Ret.) (1929-2013)
Admiral Leighton W. Smith Jr. ’62, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Thomas B. Hayward ’48, USN (Ret.) (1924-2022) Mr. Ralph W. Hooper ’51 (1928-2020)
General Robert T. Herres ’54, USAF (Ret.) (1932-2008)
Mr. J. Ronald Terwilliger ’63
General Peter Pace ’67, USMC (Ret.)
Ambassador Richard L. Armitage ’67
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Mr. Corbin A. McNeill Jr. ’62
The Honorable John Scott Redd ’66
Rear2011Admiral
Mr. Daniel F. Akerson ’70 Mr.2013Roger E. Tetrault ’63 (1941-2020)
Mr.2010David J. Dunn ’55 (1930-2021)
PAST RECIPIENTS
Lieutenant General Matthew T. Cooper ’58, USMC (Ret.)
Vice Admiral John R. Ryan ’67, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Leon A. Edney ’57, USN (Ret.)
Dr. Bradford N. Parkinson ’57
Captain Bruce McCandless II ’58, USN (Ret.) (1937-2017)
The Honorable Daniel L. Cooper ’57
Rear Admiral Thomas C. Lynch ’64, USN (Ret.)
Robert H. Shumaker ’56, USN (Ret.)
Admiral2012 Sylvester R. Foley Jr. ’50, USN (Ret.) (1928-2019)
Admiral Joseph Paul Reason ’65, USN (Ret.)
General Carlton W. Fulford Jr. ’66, USMC (Ret.)
Admiral Thomas B. Fargo ’70, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. ’70, USN (Ret.)
Vice2016Admiral Robert F. Dunn ’51, USN (Ret.)
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Admiral2017 Harry D. Train II ’49, USN (Ret.)
Lieutenant2014
Admiral James O. Ellis Jr. ’69, USN (Ret.)
The Honorable John H. Dalton ’64
Admiral Eric T. Olson ’73, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Richard W. Mies ’67, USN (Ret.)
Vice Admiral Cutler Dawson Jr. ’70, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Steve Abbot ’66, USN (Ret.)
PAST RECIPIENTS
Milledge A. “Mitch” Hart III ’56
General Thomas P. Stafford ’52, USAF (Ret.)
Mr. David M. Robinson ’87
Rear Admiral William C. Miller ’62, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Michael G. Mullen ’68, USN (Ret.)
Admiral2015 Henry H. Mauz Jr. ’59, USN (Ret.)
Captain Carl H. June ’75, MC, USN (Ret.)
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Edward M. Straw ’61, SC, USN (Ret.)
Major General Charles F. Bolden Jr. ’68, USMC (Ret.)
Rear2018Admiral
Colonel Walter P. Havenstein ’71, USMCR (Ret.)
Admiral Timothy J. Keating ’71, USN (Ret.)
Dr.2019J.Phillip London ’59 (1937-2021)
Vice Admiral Derwood “DC” Curtis ’76, USN (Ret.)
PAST RECIPIENTS
Lieutenant Bradley W. Snyder ’06, USN (Ret.)
Senator John S. McCain III ’58 (1936-2018)
Lawrence C. Chambers ’52, USN (Ret.)
Colonel Robert D. Cabana ’71, USMC (Ret.)
Janie L. Mines ’80
Admiral Kirkland H. Donald ’75, USN (Ret.)
The Honorable Sean J. Stackley ’79 Kevin2021W. Sharer ’70
General John R. Allen ’76, USMC (Ret.)
Admiral Robert F. Willard ’73, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Robert J. Natter ’67, USN (Ret.)
Mr. Steven S. Reinemund ’70
Admiral James R. Hogg ’56, USN (Ret.)
Captain Wendy B. Lawrence ’81, USN (Ret.)
Vice2020Admiral
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.
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Now colleges from sea to sea, may sing of colors true, But who has better right than we, to hoist a symbol hue?
MISSIONS
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
NAVY BLUE AND GOLD
For Sailors brave in battle fair, since fighting days of old
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.
Have proved the Sailor’s right to wear, the Navy Blue and Gold.
