Intelligence Flags Gather to Welcome New USNA Intel Accessions

The Naval Intelligence Flag wardroom gathered in force at the U.S. Naval Academy on Wednesday, 22 January to welcome the seven USNA midshipmen who were selected for intelligence (1830): Midshipmen 1/C Sierra Paoli, Emma Kirby, Andreas Huscher, Cooper Walshe, Jaimeson Meyer, Julia Davidson, and Nathan Li. Each year, the Academy holds a dinner for the new Information Warfare (IW) accessions, typically in January at the historic Dahlgren Hall. Vice Admiral Yvette Davis, Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, and Vice Admiral Mike Vernazza, Commander, NAVIFOR, both provided inspiring remarks at the dinner to generate excitement among the midshipmen for their future careers. Following the dinner, the senior officers had the opportunity to mix and mingle with the future officers and personally welcome them into the community.  

In addition to VADM Vernazza, other Naval Intelligence flag officers who attended were: Vice Admiral Trey Whitworth, Commander, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Rear Admiral Mike Brookes, Commander, Office of Naval Intelligence, Rear Admiral (Ret) Paul Becker, Rear Admiral Josh Himes, Rear Admiral Tom Henderschedt, Rear Admiral Mike Brown, Rear Admiral John Byington, Rear Admiral Mike Friedburg and RDML (Sel) Ben Snell. The midshipmen certainly had plenty of senior mentorship to tap into that night!

Captain Dee Dee Smith did a fantastic job organizing this event to welcome not just the future intelligence officers but all the USNA IW accessions. As Rear Admiral Becker aptly said, “Understanding our enemies and finding out what they don't want us to know is the focus of Naval Intelligence. With these future officers, our future is bright!”  

USNA Superintendent VADM Yvette Davis (second from right) joined the “Naval Intelligence” group photo at the IW Accession Dinner, 22 January 2025.