2025 AWARD2025RECIPIENTS DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD MEDAL CEREMONY
The 2025 Distinguished Graduate Award medal ceremony marks the 27th year of honoring and celebrating the lives of alumni through the U.S. Naval
2025 AWARD RECIPIENTS
The 2025 Distinguished Graduate Award medal ceremony marks the 27th year of honoring and celebrating the lives of alumni through the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award program.
Each year, distinguished graduates are honored for their demonstrated and unselfish commitment to a lifetime of service, their personal character, the significant contributions they have made to the Navy and Marine Corps, and as leaders in industry and government. They are the embodiment of fulfilling the Academy’s mission to develop leaders to “assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.”
We honor these four individuals for the principles they stand for—today and always.
ADMIRAL JONATHAN W. GREENERT ’75, USN (RET.)
VICE ADMIRAL ANTHONY L. WINNS ’78, USN (RET.)
CAPTAIN SUNITA L. WILLIAMS ’87, USN (RET.)
L. SOHOVICH ’93
JOANNA
SELECTION PANEL
DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD
SELECTION PANEL CHAIRMAN
Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr. ’78, USN (Ret.)
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY
ALUMNI ASSOCIATION AND FOUNDATION
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Jeff R. Webb ’95
PANEL MEMBERS
Steven S. Reinemund ’70
Captain Kevin F. Stone ’76, USNR (Ret.)
Rear Admiral A.B. Cruz III ’80, USN (Ret.)
C. Michael Petters ’82
Lieutenant General Lori E. Reynolds ’86, USMC (Ret.)
Darryl L. Smith ’88
Vice Admiral Yvette M. Davids ‘89, USN 65th Superintendent
Admiral Mark E. Ferguson III ’78, USN (Ret.)*
*Alumni Association Board of Trustees Chair, non-voting member
CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE
On behalf of the DGA Selection Panel, heartiest congratulations to the awardees. Thank you for your service. Thank you for your energy, passion and success in your respective vocations. And thank you for your contributions to the Naval Academy and its mission. You have made a tangible difference. Your families deserve a special shout-out—we are, indeed, grateful to them for supporting each of you.
Selecting today’s honorees from a field of accomplished alumni was challenging and humbling. The Naval Academy is richly blessed to have so many accomplished graduates. While each journey was different, all of today’s honorees began their careers here at this great institution, which continues to serve as a foundation of service, leadership and character for our Nation.
My thanks to the selection panel and to the Naval Academy and Alumni Association and Foundation staff for planning and executing today’s ceremony. I especially want to thank Vice Admiral Yvette Davids ’89, USN, who served on the panel as Superintendent; and Rear Admiral A.B. Cruz III ’80, USN (Ret.), Mr. Mike Petters ’82, and Lieutenant General Lori Reynolds ’86, USMC (Ret.), who completed three DGA award cycles as panelists.
Finally, to the Brigade, our alumni, and guests: Thank you for joining us for this special event as we celebrate the extraordinary lives of our fellow graduates.
Admiral Harry B. Harris Jr. ’78, USN (Ret.) Chair, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association
Distinguished Graduate Award Selection Panel
PROGRAM
ARRIVAL OF THE OFFICIAL PARTY
PRESENTATION OF COLORS AND NATIONAL ANTHEM
INTRODUCTION OF THE 2025 DISTINGUISHED GRADUATES
NARRATOR
Midshipman Bryan Cevallos ’26, USN Class President
IN MEMORIAM AND INVOCATION
Commander Robert Johnson, CHC, USN
U.S. Naval Academy Command Chaplain
WELCOME AND REMARKS
Lieutenant General Michael J. Borgschulte ’91, USMC Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy
PRESENTATION OF DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE AWARD MEDALS
Lieutenant General Michael J. Borgschulte ’91, USMC Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy
Admiral Mark E. Ferguson III ’78, USN (Ret.) Chair, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees
Midshipman Kellen Bynes ’26, USN Brigade Commander
REMARKS
Distinguished Graduate Award Recipients
GREENERT
ADMIRAL
JONATHAN W. GREENERT ’75, USN (RET.) , was born and raised in Butler, PA. His service in submarines ( F lying F ish , T au Tog , NR-1, M ichigan (Gold)) culminated in command of h onolulu SSN-718 in Pearl Harbor, HI. His flag assignments were commander, U.S. Forces Micronesia; deputy comptroller, Department of the Navy; deputy commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet; commander, U.S. Seventh Fleet (Asia); deputy chief of Naval Operations, requirements and resources (N8); commander, U.S. Fleet Forces (Atlantic); and vice chief of Naval Operations. Greenert served as the 30th chief of Naval Operations from 2011 to 2015. He retired from military service in October 2015. He now serves as a director on corporate boards, as a consultant and advisor and as a volunteer for non-profit and philanthropic organizations. He served as chair of the USNA Distinguished Graduate Award selection panel for the 2020 through 2022 selection cycles.
WINNS
VICE ADMIRAL ANTHONY
L. WINNS ’78, USN (RET.) , is a native of Jacksonville, FL. He was the first in his U.S. Naval Academy class to achieve flag rank. He commanded Patrol Squadron Eleven, E ss E x LHD-2, Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Pacific and Task Force 32, and served as vice director and acting director for Operations (J-3), Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Naval Inspector General. He retired from military service in 2011 and joined Lockheed Martin, serving as president of the Middle East-Africa region and later as deputy, Lockheed Martin International and regional executive, Africa-Latin America, overseeing global partnerships, business development and corporate strategy. Winns currently serves as national chairman of the BEYA Stars and Stripes Military Alumni Association. He founded the BEYA National Scholarship Foundation and co-founded the BEYA National STEM Student Mentoring Program. Winns serves on corporate boards and is a trustee of the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation Athletic and Scholarship Programs. He and his family reside in Orlando, FL.
WILLIAMS
CAPTAIN SUNITA
“SUNI” L. WILLIAMS ’87, USN (RET.), was born and raised in Needham, MA. She began her naval career as a helicopter pilot, logging more than 3,000 hours in 30+ aircraft as a test pilot. Williams became an astronaut in 1998 and has made three trips to the International Space Station (ISS). She is one of two women to command the ISS twice, and one of five U.S. astronauts with more than 500 days in space. Williams is a perennial fixture at the Naval Academy Space Convocation, relaying her Navy and NASA experiences to the next generation of leaders and explorers. As a former captain of the USNA women’s swim team, she stays engaged with the team and offers her guidance and support. Her many contributions to the space program include helping build the ISS; designing systems, products and processes for future space travel; recruiting and training scores of astronauts from multiple countries; and creating strong and trusted partnerships in both the U.S. and international space communities. She and her husband, classmate Michael Williams ’87, live in Houston, TX.
SOHOVICH
JOANNA L. SOHOVICH ’93 , began her career as a Navy Supply Corps officer, serving at the supply depot, U.S. Naval Submarine base in Point Loma, CA. She later deployed to the Persian Gulf aboard E ss E x , an amphibious assault ship, as one of the first women following the repeal of the combat exclusion policy. In the private sector, she has held leadership positions at Chamberlain Group, Stanley Black & Decker and Honeywell. Sohovich is an independent board director for Barnes Group, Inc., and Ingersoll Rand. She chairs a private equity board under Blackstone for the Chamberlain Group. She is a member of The Committee of 200, an invitation-only membership organization of the world’s most successful women business leaders, and a member of YPO, the world’s largest leadership community of chief executives. Sohovich serves on the U.S. Naval Academy Foundation Board of Directors and as a member of the Women For Navy Athletics. Her philanthropic projects include the Sohovich Refueling Station in Lejeune Hall that provides nutritional resources and custom tools needed for athletic programs based on training and competition schedules.
PAST RECIPIENTS
1999
Admiral Thomas H. Moorer ’33, USN (Ret.) (1912-2004)
2000
Dr. John J. McMullen ’40 (1918-2005)
Admiral James L. Holloway III ’43, USN (Ret.) (1922-2019)
Vice Admiral William P. Lawrence ’51, USN (Ret.) (1930-2005)
Major General William A. Anders ’55, USAFR (Ret.) (1933-2024)
Roger T. Staubach ’65
2001
Captain John W. Crawford Jr. ’42, USN (Ret.) (1919-2022)
Admiral William J. Crowe Jr. ’47, USN (Ret.) (1925-2007)
Vice Admiral James B. Stockdale ’47, USN (Ret.) (1923-2005)
Admiral James D. Watkins ’49, USN (Ret.) (1927-2012)
Captain James A. Lovell ’52, USN (Ret.) (1928-2025)
PAST RECIPIENTS
2002
Vice Admiral Charles S. Minter Jr. ’37, USN (Ret.) (1915-2008)
President James E. Carter Jr. ’47 (1924-2024)
Admiral Carlisle A.H. Trost ’53, USN (Ret.) (1930-2020)
Colonel John W. Ripley ’62, USMC (Ret.) (1939-2008)
2003
Ambassador William H.G. FitzGerald ’31 (1909-2006)
Rear Admiral Eugene B. Fluckey ’35, USN (Ret.) (1913-2007)
Rear Admiral Robert W. McNitt ’38, USN (Ret.) (1915-2012)
Vice Admiral William D. Houser ’42, USN (Ret.) (1921-2012)
PAST RECIPIENTS
2004
Lieutenant General Victor H. Krulak ’34, USMC (Ret.) (1913-2008)
Vice Admiral Gerald E. Miller ’42, USN (Ret.) (1919-2014)
Vice Admiral James F. Calvert ’43, USN (Ret.) (1920-2009)
Lieutenant General Charles G. Cooper ’50, USMC (Ret.) (1927-2009)
Rear Admiral Ronald F. Marryott ’57, USN (Ret.) (1934-2005)
2005
Captain Slade D. Cutter ’35, USN (Ret.) (1911-2005)
Rear Admiral Robert H. Wertheim ’46, USN (Ret.) (1922-2020)
Admiral Ronald J. Hays ’50, USN (Ret.) (1928-2021)
H. Ross Perot ’53 (1930-2019)
PAST RECIPIENTS
2006
Captain Thomas J. Hudner ’47, USN (Ret.) (1924-2017)
Admiral Kinnaird R. McKee ’51, USN (Ret.) (1929-2013)
General Robert T. Herres ’54, USAF (Ret.) (1932-2008)
Admiral Charles R. Larson ’58, USN (Ret.) (1936-2014)
2007
Rear Admiral Maurice H. Rindskopf ’38, USN (Ret.) (1917-2011)
Admiral Thomas B. Hayward ’48, USN (Ret.) (1924-2022)
Ralph W. Hooper ’51 (1928-2020)
Admiral Leighton W. Smith Jr. ’62, USN (Ret.) (1939-2023)
2008
James W. Kinnear III ’50
Admiral Frank B. Kelso II ’56, USN (Ret.) (1933-2013)
Rear Admiral Benjamin F. Montoya ’58, CEC, USN (Ret.) (1935-2015)
Lieutenant General William M. Keys ’60, USMC (Ret.)
Admiral Henry G. Chiles Jr. ’60, USN (Ret.)
PAST RECIPIENTS
2009
John E. Nolan ’50 (1927-2017)
Admiral Bruce DeMars ’57, USN (Ret.) (1935-2024)
J. Ronald Terwilliger ’63
Admiral Joseph W. Prueher ’64, USN (Ret.)
General Peter Pace ’67, USMC (Ret.)
2010
David J. Dunn ’55 (1930-2021)
Admiral Leon A. Edney ’57, USN (Ret.)
Rear Admiral Thomas C. Lynch ’64, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Joseph Paul Reason ’65, USN (Ret.)
General Carlton W. Fulford Jr. ’66, USMC (Ret.)
2011
Rear Admiral Robert H. Shumaker ’56, USN (Ret.)
Dr. Bradford W. Parkinson ’57
Lieutenant General Matthew T. Cooper ’58, USMC (Ret.)
Corbin A. McNeill Jr. ’62
PAST RECIPIENTS
2012
Admiral Sylvester R. Foley Jr. ’50, USN (Ret.) (1928-2019)
The Honorable Daniel L. Cooper ’57
Captain Bruce McCandless II ’58, USN (Ret.) (1937-2017)
Vice Admiral John R. Ryan ’67, USN (Ret.)
Daniel F. Akerson ’70
2013
Roger E. Tetrault ’63 (1941-2020)
The Honorable John Scott Redd ’66
Ambassador Richard L. Armitage ’67 (1945-2025)
Admiral Thomas B. Fargo ’70, USN (Ret.)
2014
Lieutenant General Thomas P. Stafford ’52, USAF (Ret.) (1930-2024)
Rear Admiral William C. Miller ’62, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Steve Abbot ’66, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Michael G. Mullen ’68, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani Jr. ’70, USN (Ret.)
PAST RECIPIENTS
2015
Admiral Henry H. Mauz Jr. ’59, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Richard W. Mies ’67, USN (Ret.)
Admiral James O. Ellis Jr. ’69, USN (Ret.)
David M. Robinson ’87
2016
Vice Admiral Robert F. Dunn ’51, USN (Ret.)
The Honorable John H. Dalton ’64
Captain Carl H. June ’75, MC, USN (Ret.)
2017
Admiral Harry D. Train II ’49, USN (Ret.)
Milledge A. Hart III ’56
Vice Admiral Cutler Dawson Jr. ’70, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Eric T. Olson ’73, USN (Ret.)
2018
Rear Admiral Lawrence C. Chambers ’52, USN (Ret.)
Admiral James R. Hogg ’56, USN (Ret.) (1934-2025)
Senator John S. McCain III ’58 (1936-2018)
Major General Charles F. Bolden Jr. ’68, USMC (Ret.)
Steven S. Reinemund ’70
Admiral Timothy J. Keating ’71, USN (Ret.)
PAST RECIPIENTS
2019
Dr. J. Phillip London ’59 (1937-2021)
Admiral Robert J. Natter ’67, USN (Ret.)
Colonel Walter P. Havenstein ’71, USMCR (Ret.)
Admiral Robert F. Willard ’73, USN (Ret.)
Captain Wendy B. Lawrence ’81, USN (Ret.)
2020
Vice Admiral Edward M. Straw ’61, SC, USN (Ret.)
Colonel Robert D. Cabana ’71, USMC (Ret.)
Admiral Kirkland H. Donald ’75, USN (Ret.)
The Honorable Sean J. Stackley ’79
2021
Kevin W. Sharer ’70
General John R. Allen ’76, USMC (Ret.)
Vice Admiral Derwood Curtis ’76, USN (Ret.)
Janie L. Mines ’80
Lieutenant Bradley W. Snyder ’06, USN (Ret.)
PAST RECIPIENTS
2022
Peter F. de Vos ’71
Vice Admiral William D. Crowder ’74, USN (Ret.)
J. Michael Yeager ’76
Vice Admiral Walter E. Carter ’81, USN (Ret.)
Rear Admiral Margaret D. Klein ’81, USN (Ret.)
2023
Major General Leo V. Williams III ’70, USMCR (Ret.)
Ronald L. Nicol ’75
Admiral James G. Stavridis ’76, USN (Ret.)
Rear Admiral Julius S. Caesar ’77, USNR (Ret.)
Admiral Cecil D. Haney ’78, USN (Ret.)
2024
Admiral Dennis C. Blair ’68, USN (Ret.)
Admiral Samuel J. Locklear III ’77, USN (Ret.)
Jerrold L. Miller ’77
John F. Young ’78
NAVY BLUE AND GOLD
NAVY BLUE AND GOLD
Now colleges from sea to sea
May sing of colors true, But who has better right than we To hoist a symbol hue: For sailors brave in battle fair Since fighting days of old, Have proved the sailor’s right to wear The Navy Blue and Gold.
So hoist our colors, hoist them high, And vow allegiance true, So long as sunset gilds the sky
Above the ocean blue, Unlowered shall those colors be Whatever fate they meet, So glorious in victory, Triumphant in defeat.
Four years together by the Bay, Where Severn joins the tide, Then by the service called away, We’re scattered far and wide; But still when two or three shall meet, And old tales be retold, From low to highest in the fleet, We’ll pledge the Blue and Gold.
MISSIONS
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY MISSION
To develop midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.
UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY ALUMNI ASSOCIATION MISSION
We strengthen our MEMBERS’ BONDS to the Academy and to each other, to help them THRIVE AS LEADERS in and out of uniform, and reach their FULL POTENTIAL.
2025 AWARD RECIPIENTS
The 2025 Distinguished Graduate Award medal ceremony marks the 27th year of honoring and celebrating the lives of alumni through the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award program.
Each year, distinguished graduates are honored for their demonstrated and unselfish commitment to a lifetime of service, their personal character, the significant contributions they have made to the Navy and Marine Corps, and as leaders in industry and government. They are the embodiment of fulfilling the Academy’s mission to develop leaders to “assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.”
We honor these four individuals for the principles they stand for—today and always.
ADMIRAL JONATHAN W. GREENERT ’75, USN (RET.)
VICE ADMIRAL ANTHONY L. WINNS ’78, USN (RET.)
CAPTAIN SUNITA L. WILLIAMS ’87, USN (RET.)
JOANNA L. SOHOVICH ’93