News, Events & More
40th Reunion – Update #2
Posted: 3/30/2022
40th Reunion – Update #2
We are inside of seven months before our 40th Reunion on October 27-30, 2022. Here is the latest information:
1) Lodging – All of the ’82 hotel room blocks have been expanded and then sold out. You will need to make your own accommodation arrangements. Our reunion is on Homecoming weekend. Annapolis will be busy, so please make your arrangements soon.
2) Registration – Stay tuned for Registration Details. We are finishing up the preps for the Registration and Gedunk websites. Updates will first be posted to the class website at www.1982.usnaclasses.net and our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/usna82
3) Old Goat Run – Jeremiah McEnerney is coordinating the perimeter run for Saturday morning at 0800. Start dropping those pounds and limbering up so you can “follow the man in the red Corvette!”
4) Tailgater – We will be having the Tailgater inside the Navy-Marine Corps Stadium in the Class of ’53 Pavilion, just as we did for our 35th Reunion. Having the tailgater inside the stadium will require everyone attending to buy a football game ticket; no exceptions. Details on purchasing tickets will be forthcoming.
5) Bike Ride – Mark “Stick” Converse is coordinating a ride on Sunday morning, open to all riders, kinds of bikes, and abilities. 0730 departure from the Route 2 Trailhead on the Annapolis-BWI Trail. For those coming from out of town, Big Wheel Bikes has multiple locations in the DC area with multiple bike types available to reserve for rental. Contact Stick for more info: converse@cypressintl.com
6) Tentative Schedule of Events
NOTE: ALL TIMES SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Thursday October 27
0730-1600: Midstore Hours
0900-1700: Museum Hours
0900-1700: VisitorCenterHours
0900-1600: Registration/Check-in – Site TBD
0900-1200: USNA Walking Tours & Coffee Reception (Site TBD)
1200-1700: Golf – USNA Golf Course – Time: TBD
1800-2030: Crab Feast – Mike’s South River
Friday October 28
0730-1600: Midstore Hours
0900-1700: Visitors Center Hours
0900-1600: Registration/Check-in – Site TBD
1000-1100: Memorial Service – Memorial Hall
1200-1300: Class Meeting
1350-1500 Superintendent’s Briefing and Alumni Association
Welcome
1600-1700: Formal Dress Parade on Worden Field
1700-1930: Post P-Rade Reception – Jack C. Taylor Conference
Center (Beach Hall)
1900-2300: Company/Team/Club Gatherings
Saturday October 29
0830-1330: Midstore Hours
0900-1500: Visitors Center Hours
0900-1700: Museum Hours
AM Community Service Project (Site TBD – with MAG)
0800 Old Goat Run (On the Yard)
(TBD) Tailgate Party at Navy-Marine Corps Stadium
(TBD) Navy Football!
PM Company/Team/Club Gatherings
Sunday October 30
0730 Bike Ride. Meet at the Route 2 Trailhead –
Annapolis-BWI Trail
0830-1030: Sunday Brunch
0900-1700: Visitors Center Hours
0900-1500: Museum Hours
0900-1000: Catholic Service in Main Chapel
1100-1215: Protestant Service in Main Chapel
AM/PM Company/Team/Club Gatherings
40th Reunion – Update #1
Posted: 1/1/2022
40th Reunion – Save the Date
Posted: 10/19/2021
40th Reunion – Save the Date:
Thursday, October 27 through Sunday, October 30, 2022
Please direct any questions to Rett Rasmussen, Communications Director, at Rett@Rasmussen.biz or 562-822-0755 (text or call)
John Vena (30) Reports from 2020 Commissioning Week
Posted: 8/7/2020
John Vena (30) was in Annapolis for the graduation and commissioning of his son Val ’20, and provided this first-hand report:
Commissioning Week 2020 is in the books, and as they say, “We plan, God laughs!” My son Valentine graduated from the 23rd Company and commissioned USN with Nuclear Power School (subs) looming in his future.
His USNA journey began in 2003 at the Notre Dame football game. Sitting amongst the Irish faithful, my 6-year-old cheered for Navy right up to the closing seconds when ND kicked a winning field goal. While Navy might have lost that day, my son Val was so emotionally invested that he began a journey, that never faltered, and that finished this past May.
As a family so much of what we planned fell by the wayside: The big house for family and friends, catering, parties, portraits, dances, classmates, Herndon, Commissioning…the list goes on. What we experienced instead was not insignificant, though much of it fell under the “Better to ask forgiveness” column. While my son rightly feels loss, I have a slightly different take on it.
First and foremost, he graduated. He stood in T-Court and threw his hat up in the air with 200 of his classmates, and we were there. Sort of.

While the Yard was closed, we were allowed to drive on with him. With officers ringing the perimeter from Bancroft – Chauvenet – Michelson – Mahan – Preble – to the Chapel we were as close as possible sitting in our car in the Mahan parking lot. That’s when fate took a hand. Our son’s classmate was cross commissioning into the Air Force and his father was in our car. After the ceremony they came to get him for a private ceremony in Memorial Hall. We took all our camera gear (My wife and I owned a photography studio) and just followed him inside like we belonged. Once there we were able to take photos of our son and 15 of his closest friends.
By then T-Court had cleared out and we went outside and took more pictures. I was finally “Jimmy Legged” by an active duty commander who flashed his ID, but by then we were sated and pleased to be on our way. Unlike the big party we had planned, that night was Chipotle, beer and Whiteclaws. It was a blast. With his classmates dropping in and out all night – and multiple booze runs – it was a lot of fun.

Two days later he was commissioned. There was no stadium. No VIP speakers. No mass gathering of the class… There was also no traffic. No crowds. No heat. No hassle. Instead we gathered with 9 other Midshipmen outside Gate 3 as BGen Stephen Liszewski – former Commandant – spoke from his heart and then Commissioned them. Only speaking for myself, it was more personal and powerful than my experience in Navy Marine Corps Stadium.
It was a week of casual dinners, Mids in and out, and ice-cream in Naptown with no lines anywhere. I know it wasn’t what my son and 1000 other Mids were looking for, but as a parent and grad, it had its moments. Not the least of which was the time spent with so many of his classmates. The future of our Navy is in good hands.

Dant’s Briefing on USNA 4/24/2020
Posted: 4/24/2020
From Goat One Jane Conley:
Hey ’82
I will send out a few emails over the coming weeks but wanted to get this to you promptly as I know USNA has been in your thoughts.
Dant’s Briefing;
Upon notification of COVID 19, USNA went into planning for return of all mids from study abroad programs.
Currently only single digits number of mids have COVID 19. Several Alumni are in front line positions against COVID 19.
A few of the older alumni have died from COVID 19.
At this time there are about 45 mids living in Bancroft Hall
- Restrictees that elected to return to serve out their demerits
- A few firsties returned to complete conduct adjudications
- International exchange students who cannot return to their home countries due to travel restrictions.
- A few who need morale from USNA. Jane’s notes – Dant did not go into specifics on this one but did mention that health and welfare checks are completed continually given the recent deaths at USAFA.
Mids still have their liberties given their rank but must follow Maryland rules as far as retrieving necessities beyond the gate. King Hall is still open. Rest of the mids are at home and the squad leaders are a key factor in the communications with every mid. Top desire of the mids is to get back to Bancraft away from their parents!!
Class of 2020 is resilient as they are involved in virtual dining outs, virtual marathons, virtual chaplain’s morale minutes, and “Dant’s Dailies” (think this is on instagram??). They are sad that they may not have a graduation like expected, but also know that in the future they will also miss many important family events while in service for their country. Dant said that Supe is preparing the battlefield for virtual graduation/commission on 22 May. Currently, it is unknown if the class of 2020 will be geographically near Annapolis or at home. Orders from BUPERS will start transmitting next week to those attending flight school class beginning end May and Basic in early June.
Supe and Dant are continually asked why USNA graduation is not being done like USAFA and West Point. They respond that each service has its own policies and the robustness of communities outside the gates are not equal.
Planning for events after graduation:
- Resetting Rooms for camps (NAFS, STEM, etc) and plebe summer, Class of ‘24
- Clearing items out of rooms
- Sanitizing (COVID, rats, cockroaches)
- Admissions Boards for Class of ’25. ACT/SAT testing not occurring at prescribed times?
SUPE and Chett Gladchuk are still working on decision for Ireland and rest of football season.
Jane’s shopping recommendations:
If you want a piece of the chapel dome copper. Order from Herff Jones at https://usnachapeldome.com/
Crazy times, Set up zooms with your best USNA friends and if you have ideas on how to welcome the class of 2020 from the class of 1982, I can set up a zoom.
As always, We all want to know what you and your families are doing with COVID and against COVID and Rett is standing by to take them rett@rasmussen.biz
You can email me at jtcnaples@yahoo.com
Keep those questions coming. Jane
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