In a ceremony equal parts pomp, history, and gridiron grit, the US Naval Academy broke with 180 years of tradition last week and handed its helm to a Marine. Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte , a former linebacker in Navy blue and gold and a decorated combat aviator, is now the Academy’s 66th superintendent—the first Marine to ever hold the post.

For Annapolis, this is no routine change of command. It’s a shift that fuses tradition with transformation, and the midshipmen better get ready to buckle their chin straps.

Breaking the Mold

The Naval Academy has long been the Navy’s crucible, the place where generations of future admirals cut their teeth. Marines have always been part of the fabric, but never the leadership. That changed on Friday, August 15, 2025, inside Dahlgren Hall on the A

See Full Page