Our Core Values: Special Committee
Updated 30 June 2020

On 10 June 2020,  the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association took the actions encompassed in our statement on “Our Core Values." We reaffirmed our values and commitment to steer away from racism, bigotry and sexism in our Alumni Association. We established and announced on 19 June 2020 a Special Committee to review our Alumni Association programs and policies in this regard.  The committee has listened to extensive feedback since the announcement and made adjustments to the committee for better representation and to be more inclusive in our commitment to this effort. To that end, we are pleased to note the updated list of volunteer members of our Alumni to that Special Committee are:

•Lieutenant General David Beydler ’81, USMC (Ret.), co-chair
•Captain Karin Vernazza ’90, USN (Ret.), co-chair
•Matice Wright-Springer ’88, co-chair
•Alonzo Barber ’97
•Lieutenant Donald Bowers ’12, USN **
•Rear Admiral Julius Caesar ’77, USN (Ret.)
•Rear Admiral A.B. Cruz ’80, USN (Ret.)
•Carlos Del Toro ’83
•Captain Barbette Lowndes ’80, USN (Ret.)
•Janie Mines ’80
•George O’Garro ’05
• Lieutenant John-Rex Spivey ’13, USN **  

The Special Committee will review our Alumni Association mission and vision, and our volunteer leader processes, and report its initial findings at a meeting of the Board of Trustees in September. The Special Committee will collaborate with the Executive Committee of the Board in this effort. The members of the Executive Committee include:

•Admiral Sam Locklear ’77, USN (Ret.), chair
•Lieutenant General David Beydler '81, USMC (Ret.), vice chair*
•Byron F. Marchant ’78
•Commander William Squires ’75, USNR (Ret.)
•Commander Steve Hall ’75, USN (Ret.)
•George O’Garro ’05*
•Steve Comiskey ’69
•Tim Wolf ’87
•Captain Karin Vernazza ’90, USN (Ret.)*
•Commander Richard Cataldi ’69, USN (Ret.)

The Special Committee continues to request your input and comments as they explore better ways to bring the alumni together toward improving our culture of inclusion and eliminating all prejudice in our Alumni Association. This maybe through focus groups, town halls and other information sharing forums in the near future so please provide your input, expertise and recommendations as they diligently to chart this course for future success at: alumnifeedback@usna.com. 

* Denotes members of both the executive committee and the special committee.
** Added to the committee since the original announcement on 19 June 2020