Superintendent's Luncheon

Superintendent United States Naval Academy VADM John J. Ryan USN
Speaks at October '99 Luncheon

VADM John J. Ryan, Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy, addressed over 90 alumni and guests plus Parent’s Club members and guests at the Atlanta Chapter’s monthly luncheon on Wednesday October 13^th.

The luncheon was held at the beautiful Cherokee Country Club and was arranged for us by our own Jim Ravenel ’45.

VADM Ryan began his presentation with some observations of the current state of the Navy in general, stating that the Navy is now about 30% smaller than when most of those in attendance were serving.  This he said is putting a strain on both officers and enlisted personnel alike.  Recent efforts to offset these changes have included significant pay raises for both junior officers and junior enlisted personnel, since those are the people who are feeling the greatest effects of the downsized Navy.

Moving on to the United States Naval Academy in particular, he reminded us that the Academy has progressed from a 10-acre site with 50 Midshipmen and seven professors in 1845 to an over 300-acre site with 4,000 Midshipmen and 600 faculty and staff members today!   He also reminded us that then Secretary of the Navy George Bancroft "stole" the 10-acre site (the Fort Severn Army post) from the Army in 1845 in order to establish the Naval Academy.  Go Navy!  Beat Army!

The Academy has since produced over 64,000 graduates, many who have gone on after their military service to distinguish themselves as presidents, senators, congressmen, and astronauts.

The Academy’s curriculum has progressed from a fixed curriculum taken by all Midshipmen to the present core curriculum plus 18 major fields of study, a wide variety of elective courses, plus advanced study and research opportunities.

VADM Ryan reported that the Naval Academy is better than ever, for the following reasons:

1. The Academy has a diverse faculty, with a good mix of age, race, and gender, that is now as good as any undergraduate faculty in the country.
2. The Academy has a student body that is better than ever, with the highest SAT scores ever.  Also, for example, 90% of the class of 2003 lettered in high school sports.
3. The Academy’s honor concept is now owned by the Midshipmen.
4. The Academy’s character and ethics program in now better than ever.

VADM Ryan next went on to discuss the Academy’s ten-year strategic plan and its recruiting efforts.  Twenty-eight individual initiatives resulted from the strategic plan, one-third of which are funded by private monies and two-thirds of which are funded by public monies.  Included is the renovation of Bancroft Hall, which is already underway.

Recruiting efforts are even more important now than in the years that most of us attended.  Why?  Of the 1976 graduating high school classes nationwide only 54% said that they had no interest in military service.  However, of the 1998 graduating high school classes, a whopping 76% said that they have no interest in military service of any kind!  That leaves a miserly 24% from which to recruit, AND of that 24% many have offers from civilian colleges!  So, recruiting is tougher now than ever before.

VADM Ryan fielded many questions from the attendees including one regarding retention rates, promotion rates, and women graduates.  The Brigade of Midshipmen is now comprised of 15% women.  The promotion rate for men and women is virtually the same, while the retention rate for women is actually 1% higher than that for men.

It was also noted that both West Point and the Air Force Academy have lower retention rates by far than does the Naval Academy!  Also that Naval Academy grads stay in longer than both NROTC or OCS officers.  In addition, at ranks of O-4 and above, USNA grads are promoted at a much higher rate than officers from other sources.

After the luncheon, VADM Ryan, his aide LT Mike Cooper, plus our Jim Ravenel and Paul Hurst played 18 holes at the Cherokee Country Club.  The results: VADM Ryan 76, LT Cooper 81.  Scores for Jim and Paul have yet to be reported!?!  What's up with that?!?

Many thanks to VADM Ryan for making time in his schedule to visit the Atlanta Chapter of the Alumni Association and bring us up to date on happenings in and around the yard.

Chapter President Mike Donohoo '65 presented VADM Ryan with his personalized USNA Alumni Association Atlanta apron.

For more information on the Admiral himself, click on VADM Ryan Biography.

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