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). This week we highlight the Alumni Mentoring Program (AMP). What’s that, you ask? AMP was formally established in 2012 as the 50th Legacy Gift of the Class of 1969. They promote the USNA culture of alumni helping alumni to achieve “the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship, and government.” Team 69 just held their annual AMP Enrollment Day for the class 2025 on March 26. We chat with the “Boys of AMP,” Stephen Leaman and Retired RDML Stan Bryant. Chris and John also talk about the announcement of a new COmmandant, a date for our DGA ceremony, winning the Annapolis Cup and the Army Navy Star Series coming down to the wire. THat and an on-the-ground report from Sea Air Space and the first public remarks by the new SECNAV. That and more on the best Alumni Association and Foundation podcast there is. Give a listen. 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 have another Podcast Collab this week as we take the pod to Dry 85 on Main Street with Josh. He and classmate Adam Hudson have started their own podcast appropriately called the 20:06 Podcast. They just interviewed their classmate, paralympian and distinguished graduate Brad Snyder. It’s great. More importantly, Josh and John talk about the 10 year anniversary of the death of his classmate Stanford “Ford” Shaw ‘06. Josh retires from the Navy this Friday, so we also talk a bit about the transition and the advice he has for alums in his position getting out of the service. Chris and John also talk about the retirement of Chet Gladchuk, a visit to the yard by SECDEF and SECNAV, and our recent Volunteer Leader Summit. That and more on the best Alumni Association and Foundation podcast there is. Give a listen. 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 celebrated the USNA Women Annual Gathering at the Fluegel Alumni Center this past Saturday. What a great day of togetherness and community. We do a little Pod Cooperative Crossover with the hosts of the Sisterhood of Mother B Podcast - Jeannette Gaudry Haynie ’98, Shannon Martin McClain ‘98 and Kate Glynn ‘98. We chat about how the Shared Interest Group continues to support alumnae and the Brigade…and we chat about what they are accomplishing with their amazing podcast. We also interview former Navy Lax Goalie - Nolan Hickey ‘13. Nolan talks about his life with Coach Richie Meade, his time in the Marine Corps and plugs the amazing Lacrosse Alumni Tailgate with the Letterwinner’s Association for the Army game April 12. That and more on the best Alumni Association and Foundation podcast there is. Give a listen. 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 great interview this week with Matt Willmann ‘10. Matt is the engine behind the USNA Entrepreneurs group. You can get more information on the group and its events at www.usnaentrepreneurs.com. Matt talks about the group’s mission to invest in the talents and ideas of fellow USNA alumni, ignite the potential of our Naval Academy peers, and glean insights and inspiration from those making a meaningful impact. Matt walks us through his journey as a Submariner and why he entered the civilian workforce when he did…and why he gives back to his Alma Mater now. Chris and John also chat about the recent PACNORWEST roadshow, the upcoming engagement events in New England, the retirement of Ed DeChellis and the return to earth for Sunita Williams!! That and more on the best Alumni Association and Foundation podcast there is. Give a listen. 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 Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation hosted SACC Atlanta March 12-13th at the Hyatt Regency. More than 340 candidates from all the service academies and approximately 60 companies were in attendance for this premier job fair event. President and CEO Jeff Webb '95 joined SACC Executive Director Mike Lowe '98 and AA&F SACC Director Tonya McGinnis in networking with USNA alums and hearing from companies and recruiters about the job market and the demand signal for Academy alums in the various industries represented. We interview a West Point alum who was attending his first SACC. We interview one of the company recruiters - also a West Point alum. Boo. And we chat with Reggie Baker ‘92 about his company and why SACC is the premiere job fair for Academy alums. And we finish off the pod by talking about the disappointing end of the Navy basketball season, legendary sports columnist John Feinstein and a big star win for Navy baseball!.That and more on the best Alumni Association and Foundation podcast there is. Give a listen. 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 emerge from the Hooley at the Fluegel Alumni Center ready to officially put the dark ages in our rearview. Chris and John chat about the St. Patricks Parade, the upcoming Pete Medhurst fundraiser, the Annapolis Cup and other opportunities we have to share the amazingness of the Fluegel Alumni Center with a larger audience. We also chat with Brandon Maas '17. Brandon didn't think being a submariner and then working for Johns Hopkins Applied Physics lab was a busy enough optempo. So he started a small business! Subnautical Maps. Check it out on Etsy here: SubNauticalMaps - Etsy And we finish off the pod by talking about the excitement around the Men's Basketball program. Is this the year we make it back to the NCAA Tournament since 1998? Chris and John discuss. That and more on the best Alumni Association and Foundation podcast there is. Give a listen. 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). Excited to deliver a bonus pod on the eve of the world famous Annapolis St. Patrick's Parade Hooly, which is being held at the Fluegel Alumni Center for the first time. We talk about the parade and the hooly with Parade Organizer and President of Naptown Events, John O'Leary '95. The prior-enlisted Marine gives us his perspective on USNA and what this parade means to Annapolis. Lastly, we talk about how this hooly helps to further establish the Fluegel Alumni Center as an events venue game-changer in Annapolis. Give a listen. 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). Chris and John bring the SPICE this week with F/A-18 guy, class of 11 alum, expert chef and owner/operator of the Hangar Bay Spice Company, Jim Perreira. Jim joins us fresh off his appearance on Gordon Ramsey’s Chef show on Fox. Did he win? What did he cook? What does he fix up for Mrs. Perreira when he’s in the dog house? You’ll have to listen to find out. Chris and John also discuss some big news coming with the Annapolis Cup - the annual Croquet Match between USNA and St. John’s happening in just a month…April 5th. Want to go? Want to enjoy the festivities with AA&F in a tent with food and drinks? Wll….AA&F is about to get a little more in the Croquet game. We tell you about it. bonus pod this week. We worked on a Saturday and made a podcast about it. That and more on the best podcast around. Give a listen. 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 wanted to feature exclusive interviews with all four of our Distinguished Graduate selectees for 2025. Getting an interview with Suni Williams proved difficult, but we made it happen. How many of you can say you interviewed someone in space? It was definitely a special moment for Chris and John to have a 20-minute live interview with Suni from the ISS. Suni talks about the honor of DGA, the great class of 1987 and lessons she's learned in leadership.

A special pod. And a special 20 minutes with one of our finest alumnae.

Give a listen. 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 bonus pod this week. We worked on a Saturday and made a podcast about it. Commissioning 101 was hosted at the Fluegel Alumni Center last Saturday. We briefed the class of 2025 parents on "What to expect when you're expecting a 2025 Graduate." We interview Lori Coogan about how Commissioning 101 helps parents navigate commissioning week better.

We also highlight two alumni-owned businesses. We talk to Sarah Martella '17 of Fair Winds Sporting Company and Ryan Curry '03 of The Cover Keeper. They both talk about their businesses and why they stay involved and give back to USNA and parents.

Chris and John also break down John's trip to San Diego to support a Foundation Board of Directors trip to visit our recent alums serving in the San Diego AOR.

Give a listen. Beat Army...always.