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Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler speaks to the Midshipmen at a welcome back dinner prior to addressing the Brigade at Alumni Hall Aug. 19. USNA photo by Jessica Clark.
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Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler spoke to the Brigade of Midshipmen Aug. 19 to welcome them back for the start of the academic year and to reiterate his priorities for the Academy’s overall training program – instilling in Midshipmen the understanding that the U.S. is a nation at war and that, as future leaders, they are the face of the Navy, and the Academy’s mission to develop them to a high standard of leadership to be able to serve in wartime.
Fowler gave real-world examples of Academy graduates doing ‘‘serious work” in the Fleet, including the commanding officer of USS Bainbridge, Cmdr. Frank X. Castellano (USNA 1990), whose crew was instrumental in the rescue in April of Richard Phillips, the Maersk Alabama captain held captive by Somali pirates.
He also mentioned Marine Capt. Matthew C. Freeman (USNA 2002) who died Aug. 7 while supporting combat operations in Afghanistan.
‘‘This is serious business,” Fowler said to the Brigade. ‘‘You don’t know when you’re going to be called upon, but you will be called upon.”
Fowler went on to discuss the development of Midshipmen here at the Academy, designed to prepare them for the demanding roles they will undertake when they graduate. He stressed to the Midshipmen that the Academy staff and faculty will provide the tools necessary for them to excel, as long as they’re willing to step up and accept the responsibility of working hard.
‘‘As far as I’m concerned,” Fowler said, ‘‘there’s no bottom of the class for any of you. That cut’s already been made.”
Fowler urged the Midshipmen to build their character and integrity so that their subordinates in the Fleet can trust them with their lives if necessary.
He encouraged the upperclass Midshipmen who have returned from summer training, to take what they learned in the Fleet and apply those lessons to their squads at the Academy in an effort to further align the training they receive as students to the real roles they will face as officers in the Fleet.
Fowler concluded with a special message for the new first class Midship-men who are now in leadership positions with-in the Brigade.
‘‘I’m really proud of the Class of 2010 for the job they did this summer. More than half the class was involved with Plebe Summer as detailers,” said Fowler. ‘‘The Class of 2013 is going to look up to you and expect a lot from you, but your measure of success it to maintain a high standard and get those Midshipmen to that standard.”
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