Rear Admiral Sumner Shapiro Scholarship Program

Sofia Verich is a junior at Yale University on a Naval ROTC scholarship studying molecular biology. She plans to follow in her grandfather's footsteps and pursue a career in naval aviation. 

Sponsor: Captain Matthew Verich, USN (Retired)  

Grace Damato is a sophomore at Florida State University on a Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship. She is studying biochemistry and interested in pursuing a career in naval aviation.  

*Grace was the 2022 winner of the CDR Dan Shanower Scholarship.

Sponsor: Captain Dave Damato, USN, COMSUBFOR Director of Intelligence

Caleb Sharman graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary School in Burke, Virginia, where he excelled in debate and varsity athletics. He is a freshman at the University of California at Los Angeles, majoring in both public affairs (public policy) and international development. He plans to continue his Chinese studies as well. The years he spent in Beijing and Hanoi with his parents have inspired him to pursue a career in intelligence. 

Sponsor: Captain Chris Sharman, USN (Retired)

Iain Fergusson graduated from Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. He is a freshman at Virginia Tech, in the Corps of Cadets, and plans to study biochemistry. He is an Eagle Scout who intends to serve in the U.S. Army after college, and then apply the GI Bill to pursue a career as a psychiatrist.

Sponsor: Captain Donald Fergusson, COMNAVAIRLANT

Kevin Kappes is a junior at the University of Denver, majoring in international studies and economics in the university's honors program. Kevin also was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society last year.

Sponsor: Captain Steve Kappes, USN (Retired)

Petty Officer Natasha Mohr currently serves aboard USS Bataan (LHD-5) as one of three first class intelligence specialists who qualified as a fleet intelligence watch analyst. She also qualified as a member of the ship's combat systems training team and damage control training team. She was previously assigned to USS Nimitz (CVN-68), where she served as a red database manager and SNOOPIE Team photographer. She is completing a Bachelor of Arts degree in intelligence studies through American Military University.

Petty Officer Cobalt Henson is currently assigned to Cyber Strike Activity Sixty-three (CSA-63) and pursuing a degree in cybersecurity information technology at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Longer term, he plans to seek a reserve commission as an 1835 and continue serving as a senior cyber security analyst.