U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award Recipients Honored

ANNAPOLIS, Md., March 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a special ceremony before the Brigade of Midshipmen, the Superintendent, Vice Admiral Michael Miller '74, USN; and Admiral Robert J. Natter '67, USN, (Ret.), chairman of the Board of Trustees of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association; will recognize and honor four Naval Academy graduates for lifelong achievement with the United States Naval Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award on March 22 at 4:30 p.m. in Alumni Hall at the Naval Academy. Each recipient of the 2013 Distinguished Graduate Award has demonstrated commitment to a lifetime of service and has made significant contributions to the U.S. Naval Academy, the Navy, the Marine Corps, and the nation.

The 2013 recipients are: Mr. Roger E. Tetrault '63; The Honorable John S. Redd '66, USN (Ret.); Ambassador Richard L. Armitage '67 and Admiral Thomas B. Fargo '70, USN (Ret.).

"Our 2013 Distinguished Graduates join an elite group of leaders who serve as a true example to today's Brigade of Midshipmen," said Byron Marchant '78, president and CEO, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. "They are the embodiment of the Naval Academy mission and represent a range of achievement and service to the Naval Academy community and the country."

• Roger E. Tetrault, Class of 1963, served primarily as a surface warfare officer after graduation. He established the Naval Academy Ethics Leadership Chair.  While at the Naval Nuclear Fuel Division of Babcock and Wilcox, he led the program to develop a new generation of naval nuclear reactors that would last the life of a ship, thereby saving the Navy billions of dollars in future costs. He is the former president of the Electric Boat Shipyard.  He served with NASA on the Advisory Council, International Space Station Task Force, Columbia Accident Investigation Board and National Research Council Committee for the Hubble Telescope and was awarded their Distinguished Public Service Medal.  Prior to retirement, he served as chairman and CEO of McDermott International and is currently serving on the Naval Academy Foundation Board of Directors.
• The Honorable John S. Redd, Class of 1966, served in the surface warfare community following graduation from the Academy.  He retired as a vice admiral, having commanded eight organizations at sea, including founding the first new fleet in half a century, U.S. Fifth Fleet in the Middle East.  He served as Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer of the Coalition Provisional Authority in Iraq and was selected by President George W. Bush to serve as the first Senate-confirmed director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).  He has served as president of his Naval Academy class, as well as on the Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees.
• Ambassador Richard L. Armitage, Class of 1967, selected service as a surface warfare officer when he graduated from the Academy.  He organized and led the evacuation of 30,000 South Vietnamese personnel and assets at the close of the Vietnam War; served as ambassador to the newly independent states following the dissolution of the Soviet Union; and was the 13th Deputy Secretary of State.  He is a frequent lecturer at the Naval Academy, is a Naval Academy Athletic and Scholarship Foundation trustee and is currently chairman and CEO of his own company, Armitage International, L.C.
• Admiral Thomas B. Fargo, USN (Ret.), Class of 1970, selected service in the nuclear power submarine community upon graduating from the Naval Academy.  He served as Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet; served as Commander, U.S. Pacific Command; and was awarded the Vice Admiral James Bond Stockdale award for Inspirational Leadership.  He is currently serving on the Naval Academy Foundation Board of Directors, and is also the chairman of Huntington Ingalls Industries, which build ships and submarines for the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard.

For more information, please visit www.usna.com/dga.

MEDIA ALERT: If you would like to attend the ceremony, please contact Samantha Richer (contact details below). The 2013 Distinguished Graduate Award recipients will be available for interviews prior to the ceremony from 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. by appointment.

Contact: Samantha Richer
Communications Specialist
U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association
[email protected]
410.295.4027

SOURCE U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association