NStar Articles

The Yard is a place of immense history. In its 179 years as the U.S. Naval Academy, (USNA), this spot in the heart of Annapolis has prepared thousands of men and women to lead our U.S. Naval and Marine Corps forces. Astronauts, Nobel Prize winners, Rhodes Scholars, admirals, public servants, leaders of enterprise, and even one president have spent their time as a midshipman walking the very walkways we traverse today.

Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III, USN (Ret.), a member of the United States Naval Academy’s Class of 1977, well personifies the qualities of leadership, dedication, and service that define a USNA Distinguished Graduate.

The U.S. Naval Academy is a special place - and a bit of a hybrid. It’s certainly not your typical college, though it has a vibrant academic curriculum, bustling dining hall, busy quadrangle, and cadre of devoted faculty and students. It’s also not quite the U.S Naval Fleet or the U.S. Marine Corps, but it does require rigorous military training and exercises, uniforms, and an oath of office. So it’s an amalgamation of both, with a unique and proud culture and a passionate group of people who make it both demanding and welcoming at the same time.