Naval Academies

Iiams Receives Elmer A. Sperry Award

Northrop Grumman Corporation presented the second annual Elmer A. Sperry Junior Navigator of the Year Award to Ensign Jeffrey Iiams, USNA Class of 2010, in honor of the midshipman who demonstrated outstanding navigation skills and knowledge during the four years of professional development at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. The Elmer A. Sperry Junior Navigator of the Year Award was established by the company to honor Elmer A. Sperry, founder of Sperry Marine (now part of Northrop Grumman) in 1910. Sperry invented the first marine gyrocompass in 1908 and earned over 350 patents during his career in the maritime industry. In ceremonies at the Robert Crown Sailing Center at the Naval Academy on May 21, Jeff Holloway, director of International & U.S. defense business development, marketing and sales for Northrop Grumman's Maritime Systems business unit, presented Ensign Iiams a Weems and Plath brass gimbal clock in a wooden case with his name inscribed as well as a congratulatory letter signed by Northrop Grumman Maritime Systems vice president, William B. Hannon. A number of midshipmen were also recognized for professional achievements during the ceremony which included various veterans, alumni, and the Naval Institute organizations. "Midshipman Iiams was chosen for this prestigious recognition among his very highly competitive classmates after being recommended by the Naval Academy professional development staff and faculty," said Capt

C&G Boat Works Awarded $8.3m Contract Modification

C&G Boat Works, Inc., Mobile, Ala., is being awarded an $8,370,633 firm-fixed price (FFP) modification to exercise an option under previously awarded contract N00024-07-C-2236, to construct one YP Training Craft for the U.S. Naval Academy. Work will be performed in Mobile, Ala., and is expected to be completed by Aug 2010. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, D.C. is the contracting activity.

Vice Admiral Ryan Assumes Presidency of SUNY Maritime College

Vice Admiral John R. Ryan assumed the presidency of the State University of New York Maritime College during a ceremony held aboard Empire State VI while it was docked in Dublin, Ireland. Formerly the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, Vice Admiral Ryan is the College's 32nd president since its founding in 1874. The ceremony was attended by 600 Maritime Cadets aboard the ship as well as business and government leaders from Ireland

This Day in Naval History – May 28

1813 - Frigate Essex and prize capture five British whalers 1917 - First underway fueling in U.S. Navy, USS Maumee fuels 6 destroyers in North Atlantic. LCDR Chester W. Nimitz served as Maumee's executive officer and chief engineer. 1957 - 1st of 24 detonations, Operation Plumbbob nuclear test 1980 - 55 women become first women graduates from the U.S. Naval Academy. (Source: Navy News Service)

This Day in Naval History – June 26

1884 - Congress authorizes commissioning of Naval Academy graduates as ensigns 1918 - Marine brigade captures Belleau Wood 1959 - Twenty-eight Naval vessels sail from Atlantic to Great Lakes, marking the formal opening of Saint Lawrence Seaway to seagoing ships. 1962 - NAVFAC Cape Hatteras makes first Sound Surveillance System (SOSUS) detection of a Soviet diesel submarine. 1973 - Navy Task Force 78 completes minesweeping of North Vietnamese ports.

This Day in Naval History – Jan. 26

1911 - 1st hydroaeroplane flight is witnessed by naval aviator 1913 - The body of John Paul Jones is laid in its final resting place in the Chapel of Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD 1949 - USS Norton Sound, first guided-missile ship, launches first guided missile, Loon. 1960 - USS John S. McCain rescues the entire 41-man crew of the sinking Japanese freighter, Shinwa Maru, in the East China Sea. (Source: Navy News Service)

Peters Named New President of ASA

The American Shipbuilding Association (ASA) announces that Mr. Mike Petters, President of Northrop Grumman Newport News, Newport News, VA, has been elected Chairman of the Board of ASA for calendar years 2007 and 2008. Mr. John F. “Dugan” Shipway, President of General Dynamics Bath Iron Works, Bath, ME, has been elected as the Association’s Vice Chairman. Mike Petters graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1982 with a bachelor's degree in physics

Fabrication Begins on Final Gulf

Fabrication of the 28th and last Arleigh Burke Class Aegis Destroyer contracted for Gulf Coast construction began on Oct. 18 at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems - Ingalls Operations shipyard, Pascagoula, Miss. Named for the late Vice Adm. William P. Lawrence, DDG 110 is scheduled for delivery in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2010. Lawrence's widow, Diane Wilcox Lawrence, is the ship's sponsor. DDG 110 will be assigned to the Pacific Fleet.

TPI Tapped to Build Sail Training Craft

TPI Composites, Inc., Warren R.I., is being awarded a $6,783,216 firm-fixed-price contract, for construction of 16 United States Naval Academy 44 foot sail training craft (STC) used for professional development and training for midshipmen. The STCs will be constructed of fiberglass reinforced plastic. Work will be performed in Warren, R.I., and is expected to be completed by April 2008. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year

This Day in Naval History – June 3

1785 - Order to sell last ship remaining in Continental Navy, frigate Alliance . No other Navy were ships authorized until 1794. 1898 - Collier Merrimac sunk in channel leading to Santiago, Cuba in unsuccessful attempt to trap Spanish fleet. The crew was captured and later received the Medal of Honor. 1949 - Wesley A. Brown becomes the first African-American to graduate from the U.S. Naval Academy. 1966 - Launch of Gemini 9, piloted by LCDR Eugene A. Cernan, USN