Sing Second Alumni

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). A double interview episode this week. First, Kyle Butters. Kyle is hosting the HERO RUN & COMMUNITY FESTIVAL Saturday, June 7, 10:00am – 2:00pm with the “Hero Run” at 11:30am at Annapolis High School. The event honors soldiers who have lost their lives to suicide. Butters will run 22 miles each day of the weekend, totaling 66 miles, to raise awareness and support for mental health and suicide prevention programs for military personnel and veterans. And Craig Symonds. Symonds just released the non-fiction book Annapolis Goes To War. It is an amazing read that chronicles the paths of the Class of 1940 from USNA as they graduated and entered into World War II. Craig talks about the book and his many years on the faculty at USNA. Those great convos…plus Chirs and John talk about USS Harry S Truman’s return from deployment, another great flag officer promotion for a USNA alum and their thoughts on the football game time schedule. Thanks for listening. Beat Army...always.

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). A special pod this week as we sit down with Wendy Lawrence ‘81. Wendy walks us through her decision to attend the Naval Academy, the role her father played in that decision and her time as a female mid in the early days of integration on the yard. She also chats us up about being in space, the first mission after the Columbia disaster, being a USNA Distinguished Graduate and her take on the latest happening on the yard in Nimitz Library. A great conversation. Check it out. Chris and John also talk about the new usna.com, last week’s graduation and the awesome events on the horizon in June. Beat Army...always.

SSSPod_May28_mixdown.mp3 by Sing Second

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). A special pod this week as we sit down with Wendy Lawrence ‘81. Wendy walks us through her decision to attend the Naval Academy, the role her father played in that decision and her time as a female mid in the early days of integration on the yard. She also chats us up about being in space, the first mission after the Columbia disaster, being a USNA Distinguished Graduate and her take on the latest happening on the yard in Nimitz Library. A great conversation. Check it out. Chris and John also talk about the new usna.com, last week’s graduation and the awesome events on the horizon in June. Beat Army...always.

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). We can't be more excited about our Commissioning Week bonus pod. Chris and John break down the happenings of the week, discuss the graduating class stats and provide excerpts and quick round ups about the Blue Angels practice show, the Wednesday rain out and the rest of an amazing Commissioning Week. And our alumni interview this week is Brandon Doll '05. We chat "B-Doll" up about his time in the fleet, his time with the Las Vegas Raiders and his current role in the sports universe as the Founder and CEO of Sports and Entertainment Advisors (SEA). SEA helps major sports organizations that want to generate more revenue. B-Doll breaks down his passion in that industry and how the Naval Academy helped him realize, chase and achieve his dreams. Check it out. Beat Army...always.

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). We welcomed Chet and Kathy Gladchuk to the Fluegel Alumni Center May 16th to say farewell to a transformational leader and a great Naval Academy family. Bill Wagner of the Capital Gazette joins the team to interview Chet about his accomplishments. Jeff Webb ‘95 joins the interview to offer his perspective on Chet’s impact and friendship. Check it out. Beat Army...always.

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). The Pod returns this week with an awesome interview with Ray Spicer about USNI…the history of the organization, their role on the yard…and how USNI supports Mids and Alumni in their mission. Plus, Chris and John love talking to their old bosses! USNI is hosting a big Speaker Series event on Shipbuilding at the Jack Taylor Conference Center May 14th. Make sure you check it out if you’re in Annapolis. Free knowledge is the best knowledge. Chris and John also discuss the new DOD directive on libraries and books, the heartbreaking end of the season for Navy Baseball, a little Herndon trivia and we preview our live podcast with Chet Gladchuk Friday May 16th at 3:30pm at the Fluegel Alumni Center. Check it out. Beat Army...always.

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). We're back! We're not talking Orioles...because they're losing...but we're talking about amazing living and training experiences in Pensacola. We talk to Greg Sigler from Skywarrior and Carrier Landing Housing, the new title sponsor of the Pod. Greg talks about the Navy Introductory Flight Evaluation (NIFE) in Pensacola and the most unique of living experiences in Pensacola - Carrier Landing housing. For Ensigns and Second Lieutenants attending Primary Flight School, this experience is incredible. The Melrose Place for Flight School students. And, It’s the conversation many Naval Academy alumni have been waiting for—the future of the USNA columbarium. We sat down with our own Wes Huey ’87 and Mr. Jeffery Beard from the Class of 1972 to talk candidly about this pressing issue that’s top of mind for many Naval Academy graduates. With the current columbarium expected to reach capacity this summer, Huey and Beard walk through the urgency, challenges and plans for expansion. From its history to the shovel-ready design and the vital role of alumni philanthropy, they lay out the path forward with clarity—answering key questions alumni have been asking. This is more than a facilities update—it’s a call to action to preserve the dignity, honor and tradition of providing a final resting place for those who have served and given their all. That and we chat about the amazing upset pulled off by Navy Women's Lacrosse. Check it out. Beat Army...always.

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). A special visit to the Fluegel Alumni Center this week by Al Siegrist '99 and Mike Lisa '99. They were in Annapolis to speak with Midshipmen and staff at the Stockdale Center about their perspectives as recipients of the Navy's premiere recognition of senior leadership in uniform - THe James Bond Stockdale Award for Inspirational Leadership. Mike was an aviator and skipper of VAQ 135 at the time, and Al Siegrist was a SWO and the CO of USS James E Williams.The award was established in 1980 and first awarded in 1981, with only two recipients per year...one from LANTFLT and one from PACFLT. Of the 87 awardees of the Stockdale Award in the lifetime of its existence, 51 have been alumni of the United States Naval Academy. So it was great to get Mike and Al's perspectives. Chris and John also break down a great time at the Baseball park for the AA&F staff, the upcoming Council of Class Presidents meeting and the issues in the news for USNA.

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). We had a busy week last week and weekend. The A&SP Spring Meeting took place at Navy/Marine Corps Stadium. We also concluded the annual Army-Navy Star Series, hosted the alumni weekends for Soccer and Lacrosse and were on hand for a huge win for the Navy Letterwinner’s Association. And we remember the impact and life of Richard Armitage ‘67, who passed away April 13th. And our interview this week features Minter Dial II. Minter is a Liverpool fan, but that’s ok. He wrote an amazing book - among many books the accomplished author has penned - about his grandfather Minter Dial II ‘32 and the trip his Naval Academy class ring took home from World War II (where Minter perished as a POW) to his family back home. The book and our conversation are great reminders of the BONDS that exist at USNA…and between families and classmates…and how those bonds oft never break.That and more on the best Alumni Association and Foundation podcast there is. Give a listen. Beat Army...always.