Bravo Zulu

1970s

’71: CAPT David C. Leestma, USN

(Ret.), was named as one of this year’s U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame inductees to be formally inducted in June 2022.

’72: Nelson M. Jones III, has been appointed to the board of visitors of Georgetown University Law Center.

’77: ADM Patrick M. Walsh, USN

(Ret.), has been appointed by the Cristo Rey Dallas board of directors as president of Cristo Rey Dallas, a leading Catholic college prep high school in Dallas, TX.

’78: Bruce B. Crair, is retiring as senior vice president and general manager of military for BOINGO Wireless, a leading provider of wireless solutions for the U.S. military and neutral host of public and private networks at major venues around the world.

1980s

’81: CAPT Stephen E. Plaisance,

USN (Ret.), is celebrating 30 years in engineering services, rotating and reciprocating equipment. He started with Bently Nevada in 1992, then GE Energy, GE Oil & Gas and currently Baker Hughes. Plaisance completed 30 years of commissioned service in the Navy, 11 years active and 19 years in the Navy Reserves, retiring in June 2011 and has been volunteering as a USNA Blue and Gold Officer since 1996.

’83: Keith C. Phillips, has been named as general counsel of EMCOR Construction Services, a nationwide group of electrical and mechanical contractors.

’85: Philip S. Albert, has been selected by Dorchester County

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NAVY BLUE ANGELS

CDR Alex P. Armatas ’02, USN, addresses the crowd at the Navy Blue Angels change of command ceremony.

Commander Alex P. Armatas ’02, USN

Commander Alex P. Armatas ’02, USN, has been selected as the new commanding officer of the Navy Blue Angels for the next two seasons as announced by Admiral Robert Westendorff, USN, during a ceremony inside the National Naval Aviation Museum on 5 April. Armatas was selected as the team’s flight leader based not only on his flying abilities, but also due to his high-level leadership skills.

“It is an absolute honor to be here. It is very humbling. It’s a big flood of emotions, just all different sorts. This is extremely exciting for me,” said Aramatas during the ceremony.

To be eligible to apply to become the Blue Angels commanding officers, naval aviators are required to have completed a minimum of 3,000 flight hours and either be a current or past commander of a tactical jet squadron. ®

Public Schools in Maryland as Teacher of the Year, First Class Teacher of the Year.

’88: David J. Albritton, was elected to serve on the board of directors of Embecta Corp., a $1.2 billion diabetes care business that recently spun off from Becton, Dickinson & Company. Additionally, as a former career public relations executive turned executive coach, he was recognized by the 2021 Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations as the Jack Koten Corporate Mentor of the Year.

’88: VADM Mary M. Jackson, USN

(Ret.), has been selected for the board of directors for Custom Truck One Source.

1990s

’90: RADM Christopher M.

Engdahl, USN, has been selected for promotion to rear admiral and will be assigned as commander, Naval Safety Command, Norfolk, VA. RADM Curt A. Renshaw, USN, has been selected for promotion to rear admiral and will be assigned as director of operations, U.S. Central Command, MacDill Air Force Base, FL. RADM Michael J. Vernazza, USN, has been selected for promotion to rear admiral and will be assigned as commander, Fleet Information Warfare Command Pacific/ Information Warfare Task Force, Pacific, Pearl Harbor, HI.

’91: Anthony B. Spinler, has joined the Norwegian company Enhanced Drilling as VP Americas responsible for their growing operations in the Gulf of Mexico, Brazil and Canada.

’92: RADM Dennis Velez, USN

(Ret.), was relieved of duty as commander, Navy Recruiting Command, this March and has been selected to serve next as commander, GEORGE H.W. BUSH Strike Group.

’95: CAPT Mike L. Baker, USN (Ret.), has been selected as the senior defense officer and defense attaché to India. CAPT Jason E. Rimmer, USN, has been selected as the director of LEAD Division in Luce Hall at the Naval Academy. ’98: Stacey R. Moy, has been selected as FBI Special Agent in Charge of the San Diego, CA, local field office.

2000s

’06: Ivor J. Kristiansen, was promoted to director at Barclays Corporate & Investment Bank.

’07: Chris Black, was promoted to vice president, unit manager–risk control consulting at Lockton Companies, the world’s largest independent insurance brokerage firm after eight years with the company.

’09: Bill J. Prom, took a new position as the development director for NextOp, a nonprofit veteran service organization that supports mid-career enlisted with finding successful civilian careers.

2010s

’13: Allen Goins, took a new position as an account manager at PADT, the Southwest’s leading provider of engineering services and products for simulation, product development and 3D printing.

’16: Austin J. Whitehead, took a new position as an assistant project manager with Trident Construction Group in Atlanta, GA. .

ALUMNI MENTORING PROGRAM (AMP)

Open to all Naval Academy alumni, AMP is about alumni helping alumni achieve more in their careers and lives. Register with AMP today to be a mentor, protégé or both. Visit www.usna.com/amp Do you know someone who deserves a Bravo Zulu? Send to comms@usna.com.