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The U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation honored five extraordinary alumni at the 25th Annual Distinguished Graduate Award ceremony in Alumni Hall at the U.S. Naval Academy on March 24.
Each recipient has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to service, exemplary personal character and distinguished contributions to the nation and to their fields of endeavor. Each has also dedicated themselves to the support of the Naval Academy and alumni community.
Past awardees include the late Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale, USN (Ret.), the late Sen. John S. McCain III, the late Col. John W. Ripley, USMC (Ret.), Roger T. Staubach, Janie L. Mines and David M. Robinson.
Among those honored were Admiral James G. Stavridis ’76, USN (Ret.), who currently resides in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Stavridis was a surface warrior for his 37-year Navy career and is the only Naval officer to serve as Supreme Allied commander NATO, commander U.S. European Command and commander U.S. Southern Command. He was promoted directly from 1-star to 3-star vice admiral as the Senior Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense.
Stavridis began his Navy career as an anti-submarine warfare officer and served as executive officer of cruiser Antietam, which was deployed for Desert Shield/Desert Storm. While commanding destroyer Barry, Stavridis became one of the first destroyer commanding officers to add women as crew members.
He also commanded Destroyer Squadron 21 and Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, both in combat. Stavridis has published 12 books — including six national bestsellers — and produced fundamental textbooks for the surface Navy including Division Officer’s Guide, Watch Officer’s Guide and Command at Sea.
Stavridis served five years as dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where he earned a Ph.D. in 1984. He is currently vice chairman of the international private equity firm, The Carlyle Group, chairman of the board for the Rockefeller Foundation and chief international analyst for NBC News.
