If you're connected with the United States Naval Academy in any way, you are excited right now. It's Commissioning Week and things don't get much better. For the Firsties and families, this is like Super Bowl Week. Ball gowns, receptions, party favors, graduation announcements, brunches, pictures, parties, and everything leading up to the Big Moment … Continue reading USNA’s Christmas in May: Commissioning Week

As I've written before, I love May. I mean, who doesn't love a good celebration and May is full of them. I'm writing this the day before Mother's Day and what better reason is there to celebrate? The fact that Mother's Day comes about right as classes are wrapping up is synchronicity, I think, mixed … Continue reading The celebrations of May

You learn a lot as a Naval Academy parent and sometimes it's like drinking from a firehose. But when you have a moment to reflect, your reactions can range, in order of likelihood, from perplexed to surprised to "of course, that makes sense." One of the things from Plebe Year that at first caused me … Continue reading It’s always very public

There's a scene in the movie Parenthood where the older father (Jason Robards) is asking his son (Steve Martin) for parenting advice. The scene was interesting when it came out and I was in my early twenties, but now that I'm the father of two twentysomethings, I realize Robards was dropping a real truth bomb. … Continue reading Remembering Dad and never doing a touchdown dance

Once you're on the inside of military academy life, your perspective changes forever. You've seen behind the curtain. It's not as disappointing as Toto revealing The (not-so) Great And Powerful Oz, but your understanding broadens. When people learn of my kids attending USNA and USAFA, they immediately believe that they have had their Golden Ticket … Continue reading The ongoing imperfection of our military academies