List of United States Naval Academy alumni

During the latter half of the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th, the United States Naval Academy was the primary source of U.S. Naval officers.

Over fifty U.S. astronauts have graduated from the Naval Academy, more than from any other undergraduate institution. As of January 2006, four graduates were honored as "Bioneer EarthSea-Keepers", a new UNEP designator for notable oceanographers.Fact|date=March 2007

Alumni

Pre-Civil War

* Rear Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan (1840-1914), Class of 1859 - theorist of naval warfare as "Sea Power"
* Rear Admiral Winfield Scott Schley (1839-1911), Class of 1860 - commander in Spanish-American War

Civil War to 1900

* Rear Admiral William T. Sampson (1840-1902), Class of 1861 - commander in Spanish-American War
* Rear Admiral Charles Dwight Sigsbee (1845-1923), Class of 1863 - Captain of USS Maine when it exploded in Havana harbor in 1898; commanded squadron which returned body of John Paul Jones from France to the Naval Academy in 1905.
* Albert Abraham Michelson (physicist) (1852-1931), Class of 1873 - First American to receive a Nobel Prize in Physics.
* Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher, Class of 1875, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Captain William R. Rush, Class of 1877, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Vice-Admiral Harry M. P. Huse, Class of 1878, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Admiral William Sowden Sims (1858-1936), Class of 1880 - World War I commander; President of the Naval War College
* Admiral Edwin Anderson, Jr., Class of 1882, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Colonel Harry L. Hawthorne, USA, Class of 1882, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Wounded Knee 1890
* Lieutenant General John A. Lejeune, Class of 1888, recipient of the Navy Distinguished Service Medal; Distinguished Service Medal (Army); the Croix de guerre and the Legion of Honor, and superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute from 1929-1937
* Admiral Herman O. Stickney, Class of 1888, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Commander William K. Harrison, Class of 1889, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Rear Admiral William A. Moffett (1869-1933), Class of 1890 - pioneer of Naval aviation; first Chief of the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics
* Brigadier General Albertus W. Catlin USMC, Class of 1890, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* LtCol Wendell C. Neville, USMC, Class of 1890, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* VADM Alfred Wilkinson Johnson (1876-1963), Class of 1895. As Commander, Atlantic Squadron, winter 1938-1939, collaborated with the Naval Research Laboratory in conducting the first comprehensive radar experiments at sea, resulting in development of radar for fire control.
* Admiral Harris Laning (1873-1941), Class of 1895, Captain US Rifle Team which won gold medal 1912 Olympics.
* LCDR Rufus Z. Johnston, Class of 1895, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy (1875-1959), Class of 1897 - (CNO: 1937-1939) became the first fleet admiral during World War II and crafted a "future thought leadership" role model for the first chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff.
* Admiral Richmond P. Hobson, Class of 1898, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Commander Allen Buchanan, Class of 1899, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914

1900 to World War II

* Lieutenant Guy W. S. Castle, Class of 1901, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Fleet Admiral Ernest J. King (1876-1956), Class of 1901 - Chief of Naval Operations in World War II.
* VADM Emory S. Land (1879-1971) Class of 1902 - Chairman of the U.S. Maritime Commission during World War II who oversaw establishment of the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
* Lieutenant James P. Lannon, Class of 1902, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Lieutenant Adolphus Staton, Class of 1902, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Lieutenant Julyius C. Townsend, Class of 1902, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Lieutenant Richard Wainwright, Class of 1902, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Admiral Harold Rainsford Stark (1880-1972) Class of 1903 - Chief of Naval Operations during outbreak of World War II.
* Captain Frederick V. McNair, Jr., Class of 1903, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Fleet Admiral William Halsey, Jr., (1882-1959), Class of 1904 - World War II commander
* Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz (1885-1966), Class of 1905 - World War II commander; post-war Chief of Naval Operations.
* VADM John S. McCain, Sr. (1884-1945), Class of 1906 - Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air) during 1943-1944.
* Admiral Frank J. Fletcher, Class of 1906, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Lieutenant Charles C. Hartigan, Class of 1906, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, Class of 1906, posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions on the bridge of the USS "Arizona" during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
* Carl T. Osburn, Class of 1907, winner of five Olympic gold medals, four silver, and three bronze for rifle, in 1912, 1920 and 1924.
* Commander Willis W. Bradley, Class of 1907, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions aboard the USS Pittsburg in extinguishing a dangerous fire after an explosion rendered him temporarily unconscious.
* Lieutenant junior grade George M. Courts, Class of 1907, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Admiral Jonas H. Ingram, Class of 1907, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Commander Claud A. Jones, Class of 1907, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism during the destruction of the USS Memphis during a 1916 hurricane.
* Admiral Thomas C. Kinkaid (1888-1972), Class of 1908 - Commander Eastern Sea Frontier and the Atlantic Reserve Fleet.
* Admiral Marc Mitscher (1887-1947), Class of 1910 - Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet
* Captain Franklin Van Valkenburgh, Class of 1909, recipient of the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor as the last captain of the USS Arizona.
* Vice-Admiral Theodore S. Wilkinson, Jr., Class of 1909, recipient of the Medal of Honor for his actions at Veracruz in 1914
* Captain Mervyn S. Bennion, Class of 1910, recipient of the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor while commanding, and saving from destruction, the USS West Virginia (BB-48).
* Lieutenant-Commander William M. Corry, Jr., Class of 1910, recipient of the Medal of Honor posthumously, for his attempts in 1920 to rescue the pilot of a burning plane in which he had been a passenger.
*RADM Frederick Lois Riefkohl (1889-1969), Class of 1911 - Navy Cross recipient. Captain of USS Vincennes
* RADM Richard E. Byrd (1888-1957), Class of 1912 - Arctic and Antarctic explorer. Assistant To Officer In Charge, Navy Recruiting Bureau
*Lt General Pedro Del Valle, USMC – USNA Class of 1915. Born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. (August 28, 1893 – April 28, 1978). Was a United States Marine Corps officer who became the first Hispanic to reach the rank of Lieutenant General.
*ADM Forrest Sherman (1896-1951), Class of 1917 - Chief of Naval Operations
* CAPT Charles B. McVay III (1898-1968), Class of 1920 - captain of the USS Indianapolis (CA-35)
* RADM Rodger W. Simpson (1898-1964), Class of 1921 - World War II destroyer commander
* RADM Thomas J. Ryan (1901-1970), Class of 1921 - Peacetime Medal of Honor recipient and World War II destroyer flotilla commander
* Virgil Jacomini, Class of 1921, Edwin Graves 1921, William Jordan 1922, Edward Moore 1921, Alden Sanborn 1922, Donald Johnston 1922, Vincent Gallagher 1922, Clyde King 1922, and Sherman Clark 1922, winners of the 1920 Olympics gold medal for crew (rowing)
* Admiral Hyman G. Rickover (1900-1986), Class of 1922 - Submariner and Engineering Duty Officer; "Father of the Nuclear Navy" as Director of the Naval Reactors Branch in the Bureau of Ships (1949-1982); served 64 years of active service
* Admiral Arleigh A. Burke (1901-1996), Class of 1923 - World War II carrier commander; Chief of Naval Operations (1955-1961)
*Rear Admiral Thomas J. Hamilton, class of 1927, 1976 recipient of the "Teddy" award, the highest the NCAA can bestow.
* Robert A. Heinlein (science fiction author) (1907-1988), Class of 1929. Winner of several Hugo and Nebula Award prizes for groundbreaking science fiction.
*Admiral Horacio Rivero, USN - USNA Class of 1931. Was the first four-star admiral from Puerto Rico (Admiral David Farragut is the first full Admiral so appointed in 1866, therefore equivalent to 4-stars). Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and graduated third in his USNA class. During WWII, he served aboard the USS San Juan (CL-54) and was involved in providing artillery cover for Marines landing on Guadalcanal, Marshall Islands, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa.
* Admiral John S. McCain, Jr. (1911-1981), Class of 1931 - Commander-in-Chief of the United States Pacific Command (1968-1972)
* Captain David McCampbell an American aviator, who became the US Navy’s all-time leading ace with 34 aerial victories during World War II.
* Vice Admiral Eli Thomas Reich (1913-1999), Class of 1935 - World War II submariner – whose crew sank a Japanese battleship.
* CDR William Lederer (1912-) Class of 1936 - science fiction writer and playwright who co-authored The Ugly American (1958).
* VADM [http://www.usni.org/oralhistory/r/richardson.htm David C. Richardson] (1914 - ) Class of 1936 - Championed pre-WWMCCS [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=%22Ocean+Surveillance%22 Ocean Surveillance] Information Systems.
* John McMullen, Class of 1940 - Established John J. McMullen and Associates. He is the former owner of the Houston Astros baseball team and the New Jersey Devils hockey team.
*Joseph Weber, Class of 1940 - physicist, a developer of the laser and a gravitational wave detector. The Joseph Weber Award for Astronomical Instrumentation was named in his honor.
* Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr. (1920-2000), Class of 1942 - Chief of Naval Operations during Vietnam War (1970-1974)
* CAPT Homer A. McCrerey (1919-1999), Class of 1942 - Fleet Meteorologist and oceanographer (FNMOC) (1967-1972)
* VADM W. W. Behrens, Jr. (1922-1986), Class of 1943/1944 - Oceanographer of the Navy who helped establish NOAA.
* RADM Alan Shepard (1923-1998), Class of 1944, World War II veteran, Naval aviator, Astronaut, the first U.S. Astronaut in space and only Mercury Seven astronaut to walk on the Moon.

1945 to present

*William Appleman Williams, (1921–1990), Class of 1945, influential and controversial historian of American foreign policy
*Captain Wally Schirra, (1923–2007), Class of 1945 the only Astronaut to fly in America's first three space programs: Project Mercury, Project Gemini and Project Apollo.
*Admiral William J. Crowe, (1925-2007), Class of 1947 - Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff 1985-1989, Ambassador to the United Kingdom 1994-1997.
*VADM James Stockdale, (1923- 2005), Class of 1947 - Vietnam-era Naval Aviator & POW; Medal of Honor recipient; Vice-presidential candidate (Reform Party, 1992)
*ADM Stansfield Turner, (1923- ), Class of 1947 - Rhodes Scholar, Director of Central Intelligence (DCI) from 1977 to 1981 (Jimmy Carter's administration).
*President James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr., (1924- ), Class of 1947 - Post-World War II submariner; Governor of Georgia; 39th President of the United States, 1977-1981
* Admiral James D. Watkins, (1927- ), Class of 1949 - Chief of Naval Operations 1982-1986; Chairman of United States Commission on Ocean Policy that crafted Oceans Act of 2000
*Colonel James Irwin (USAF), (1930-1991), Class of 1951 - Served as an SR-71 Blackbird pilot and became a NASA astronaut, serving as the lunar module pilot on the Apollo 15 mission in 1971, on which the first lunar rover was used.
*Captain James A. Lovell, Jr., (1928- ), Class of 1952 - Served in the Korean War, and became a NASA astronaut, participating in two Gemini missions, Apollo 8, and commanding the ill-fated Apollo 13, which he brought back safely.
*Frank Shakespeare '53, William Fields '54, James Dunbar '55, Richard Murphy '54, Robert Detweiler '53, Henry Procter '54, Wayne Frye '54, Edward Stevens '54, Charles Manring '52 - members of the crew team winning the gold medal in the Summer Olympics, Helsinki 1952.
*H. Ross Perot, (1930- ), Class of 1953 - President of his class, Battalion Commander. Commissioned as a surface warfare officer. After he left the Navy, he became a billionaire in the computer industry and made several presidential runs.
*Admiral Carlisle Trost‎, (1930- ), Class of 1953 - Twenty-Third Chief of Naval Operations
*Peter Blair, Class of 1955 - Bronze medal light heavyweight wrestling, 1956 Olympics. Elected to Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (EIWA) Hall of Fame.
*Congressman Charles Wilson, (1933- ), Class of 1956 - Democratic United States Congressman representing the 2nd congressional district in Texas from 1973 - 1996. Convinced Congress to support the largest ever CIA covert operation to supply the Afghan Mujahideen during the Soviet-Afghan War.
*Bob McElwee, (1935 - ), Class of 1957 - NFL referee for 27 years (1976-2003)
*Senator John S. McCain III (R-Ariz.), (1936- ), Class of 1958 - Vietnam-era Naval Aviator and POW; U.S. Senator; Republican Presidential Nominee 2008
*Robert "Bud" McFarlane, (1937- ), Class of 1958, National Security Advisor 1983-5, convicted, later pardoned for his role in the Iran-Contra affair
*RADM John Poindexter, (1936 -), Class of 1958, National Security Advisor 1985-6, convictions, later reversed, of involvement in the Iran-Contra affair
*Vice Admiral Peruvian Navy Guillermo Zariquiey, (1936-2005), Class of 1958 - Chief of Staff and Commander of Naval Operations Peruvian Navy, Ecuador - Peru war veteran
*Hank Egan, (1940- ), Class of 1960 - National Basketball Association Assistant Coach Cleveland Cavaliers (2006 - present), Assistant Coach Golden State Warriors (2002-2003), Assistant Coach San Antonio Spurs (1995-2002), 1999 NBA Champion with San Antonio Spurs
* Vice Admiral Joseph D. Stewart, (1942-), Class of 1964 - Superindentent of the US Merchant Marine Academy
*Roger Staubach, (1942- ), Class of 1965 - National Football League Hall of Fame quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys. Awarded both Heisman Trophy and the Maxwell Award in 1963, his junior year at the Naval Academy.
* General Peter Pace, (1945-), Class of 1967 - became first U.S. Marine appointed as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
*Captain Michael J. Smith, (1945-1986), Class of 1967 - American astronaut, pilot of the Space Shuttle Challenger when it was destroyed during STS-51-L
*Admiral Dennis C. Blair, (1946- ), Class of 1968 - Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Pacific Command (1999-2002) and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=%22Defense+Analyses%22+Institute Institute for Defense Analyses] president.
*Major General Charles F. Bolden, Jr., USMC, (1946- ) , Class of 1968 - Astronaut, Marine Corps aviator, Vietnam veteran
*LtCol Oliver North, USMC (1943- ), Class of 1968 - Vietnam veteran, White House aide, author, host of FOX News' "War Stories," and a radio host
*James H. Webb, Jr., (1946- ), Class of 1968 - U.S. Marine and Vietnam veteran; Assistant Secretary of Defense; Secretary of the Navy 1987-88; noted American novelist; US Senator from Virginia (2006-)
*Congressman Roilo Golez, Class of 1970, Congressman of the Philippines on his fifth term, former National Security Adviser (2001-2004), former Postmaster General (1981-1986).
*Tom O'Brien, (1948- ), Class of 1971 - Current Football Head Coach NC State (2007-); Former Football Head Coach with Boston College (1996-2006); Former Football Assistant Coach at the University of Virginia (1982-1995); Former Football Assistant Coach at the United States Naval Academy (1975-1981)
*Commander Stephen G. Foti, (1949- ) Class of 1972 - saved the lives of 17 U.S. Marines off the coast of Beirut, Lebanon
*Phil McConkey, (1957- ), Class of 1979 - NFL Wide Receiver who won Super Bowl XXI with the New York Giants
*Commander Joe F. Edwards, Jr., (1958- ) Class of 1980 - Naval aviator and astronaut.
*Alan Hale (astronomer), (1958- ), Class of 1980 - Astronomer and discoverer in 1995 of Comet Hale-Bopp.
*Captain Miguel Michael Lopez-Alegria, (1958- ) Class of 1980 - Naval aviator and astronaut.
*Montel Williams, (1956- ), Class of 1980 - Actor and talk show host.
*Captain Wendy B. Lawrence, (1959 - ), Class of 1981 - Naval aviator and astronaut.
*Charles Swift, Class of 1984 - Navy attorney, Primary counsel in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld.
*William McCool, (1961-2003), Class of 1983 - pilot of space shuttle Columbia, killed when the craft disintegrated during re-entry
*Napoleon McCallum, (1963- ), Class of 1985 - Former National Football League running back for the Los Angeles Raiders, 1986-94. Fulfilled his Navy commitment while playing for the Raiders. Inducted to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2003.
*Captain Lisa Nowak, (1963- ), Class of 1985 - Astronaut, charged with 1st degree attempted murder.
*David Robinson, (1965- ), Class of 1987 - Former NBA great with San Antonio Spurs; Rookie of the Year in 1990, NBA Most Valuable Player Award in 1995, played on NBA championship teams in 1999 and 2003
*Matt Blunt, (1970- ), Class of 1993 - Governor of Missouri (2004-)
*Douglas A. Zembiec, (1973-2007), Class of 1995 - U.S. Marine and veteran of Operation Iraqi/Enduring Freedom. Also Known as the "Lion of Fallujah"
*Michael Moran, (1962- ), Class of 1984 - Current Program Manager PMA-290. Stationed in NAS Patuxent River

Notable graduates currently in the news

In October 2006, six graduates were nominated as "Bioneer EarthSea-Keepers," a new United Nations Environment Programme designator for notable oceanographers.Fact|date=March 2007

Faculty

The Civil War years

Matthew Fontaine Maury (1806-1873) "Pathfinder of the Seas" joined the United States Navy as a midshipman aboard the frigate "Brandywine" in 1825. He became the US Naval Observatory's first superintendent in 1844. Three ships named USS Maury have been named for him.

James H. Ward (1806-1861) - When the new Naval School opened at Annapolis, Maryland on 10 October 1845, Lt. Ward was a member of the faculty—one of the first line officers to pass along the benefits of his own experience to young midshipmen. USS Ward (DD-139) was named for him.

References

* [http://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Notables/] Notable Graduates
* [http://www.usna.edu/NotableGraduates/Astronauts/] Notable Astronaut Graduates
* [http://www.usna.edu/Crew/olympians.htm Crew Champions]