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Shipmate Magazine
The Naval Academy Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Award medal

From Shipmate, November–December 2026

2026 Distinguished Graduate Award

Four graduates whose service carried them from Annapolis to the cockpit, the fleet, the Pentagon and orbit, and who kept serving long after they took off the uniform.

Scroll to read their stories
Midshipman Patrick Walsh in his Naval Academy portrait
’77ADM Patrick M. WalshMidshipman Walsh’s portrait for the 1977 Lucky Bag.

Admiral Patrick M.Walsh

U.S. Navy, retired

  1. 1977

    Naval Academy graduate

    Walsh graduated from the Naval Academy in 1977.

  2. Blue Angels A-4F Skyhawks in echelon formation

    Blue Angels pilot

    As a Blue Angels slot pilot, he led the team’s transition from the A-4 Skyhawk to the F/A-18 Hornet and wrote standard operating procedures still in use today.

    Four U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets of the Blue Angels fly feet apart in diamond formation
  3. 1988

    White House Fellow

    Selected as a White House Fellow, he served as a special assistant to the director of the Office of Management and Budget.

    Walsh receives his White House Fellow certificate from President Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office
  4. 1991

    Combat aviator

    He also flew a combined 77 combat/combat support missions, which included operations Desert Storm, Provide Comfort, Operation Southern Watch and operations over Bosnia.

  5. 1996–1998

    Ethics curriculum architect

    As chair of the Naval Academy’s Leadership, Ethics and Law Department, he rewrote the curriculum and created the flagship ethics and moral reasoning course still taught today.

    Title page of Walsh’s 1999 doctoral thesis, “Military Coalition Building,” Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University
  6. 2006

    Lebanon evacuation

    As commander of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command and U.S. Fifth Fleet, he led the evacuation of 15,000 U.S. citizens from Lebanon.

  7. Vice Chief of Naval Operations

    As the Navy’s second-highest-ranking officer, he was tasked by the White House to evaluate the conditions of detention at Guantanamo Bay.

  8. 2011

    Japan disaster response

    As commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, he led the U.S. military response to the earthquake, tsunami and radiation disaster in Japan.

    Walsh shakes hands with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto on 11 April 2011
  9. 2012

    Retired from service

    Walsh retired from the Navy in 2012.

  10. Today

    Cristo Rey president

    Walsh now leads Cristo Rey Dallas College Prep, which offers students from limited economic means a college preparatory education.

  11. “You’re on the 50-yard line, and during your time in uniform, we don’t go sit in the stands. We’re in the game.”

    Walsh’s advice to future midshipmen on embracing the call to serve.
Midshipman Mark Fox in his Naval Academy portrait
’78VADM Mark I. FoxMidshipman Fox’s portrait for the 1978 Lucky Bag.

Vice Admiral Mark I.Fox

U.S. Navy, retired

  1. 1978

    Naval Academy graduate

    Fox graduated from the Naval Academy in 1978.

  2. 17 January 1991

    Desert Storm MiG kill

    He scored the Navy’s first MiG kill of Operation Desert Storm, earning the Silver Star.

    LCDR Fox of Strike Fighter Squadron 81 in the cockpit of the F/A-18C Hornet he flew for his Operation Desert Storm MiG kill
  3. 21 March 2003

    Iraqi Freedom opening strike

    He served as mission commander for the opening strike of Operation Iraqi Freedom, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross with Combat “V.”

  4. “I don’t want someone’s house to burn, but if it burns, I want to be the one to put it out.”

    Fox, who flew in the opening strikes of two wars, compared his view of combat to a firefighter’s view of his job.

  5. 5,000 flight hours

    He logged more than 5,000 flight hours in 21 aircraft and flew more than 100 combat and contingency missions.

  6. Senior command

    His commands included U.S. Fifth Fleet and the first F/A-18 Super Hornet squadron, and he served as Deputy Commander of U.S. Central Command and Director of the White House Military Office.

    Official portrait of Fox as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command
    Fox with Gen Mark Milley at ISAF Joint Command in Afghanistan
  7. 2016

    Retired from service

    Fox retired from the Navy in 2016.

  8. Since retiring

    Shipbuilding leader

    As a corporate vice president at Huntington Ingalls Industries, Fox helped secure the first two-carrier procurement since the Reagan administration.

Midshipman William Beydler in his Naval Academy portrait
’81LtGen William D. BeydlerMidshipman Beydler’s portrait for the 1981 Lucky Bag.

Lieutenant General William D.Beydler

U.S. Marine Corps, retired

  1. 1981

    Naval Academy graduate

    Beydler graduated from the Naval Academy in 1981.

  2. Tactical jet aviator

    He logged about 4,000 flight hours in tactical jets, flying the F-4 Phantom and F/A-18.

    McDonnell Douglas Phantom II patchMarine Corps Aviation Association patch

  3. Seven commands

    He held seven commands, culminating in U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command.

    Beydler speaks to Marines in a field classroom

  4. “If you lead and create fond memories in those you lead, memories that last for years after you’ve served together, that’s as good as it gets as a naval leader.”

    Beydler reflecting on what he valued most across his seven commands.
  5. 2018

    Retired from service

    Beydler retired from the Marine Corps in 2018.

  6. 2020–2026

    Giving back

    He served as vice chair of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees and as chair of the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.

    Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation sticker
Midshipman Chris Cassidy in his Naval Academy portrait
’93CAPT Chris CassidyMidshipman Cassidy’s portrait for the 1993 Lucky Bag.

Captain ChrisCassidy

U.S. Navy and NASA, retired

  1. 1993

    Naval Academy graduate

    Cassidy graduated from the Naval Academy in 1993.

    Midshipman Cassidy in service dress blues on the Annapolis waterfront

  2. BUD/S Honor Man

    He was named Honor Man of BUD/S Class 192 after taking over as class leader during Hell Week.

  3. 2001

    SEAL Team 3 leader

    As a SEAL Team 3 platoon commander, he deployed to Afghanistan weeks after 9/11 and brought every member of his team home.

  4. Three spaceflights

    He completed three spaceflights and 10 spacewalks totaling 54 hours and 51 minutes.

  5. 2013

    Spacewalk rescue

    During a spacewalk, he guided crewmate Luca Parmitano safely back to the airlock after water flooded Parmitano’s helmet.

    Cassidy and Luca Parmitano inside the International Space Station

  6. “If your gut is telling you that something isn’t quite right, then you’re probably right.”

    Cassidy on the lesson he took from the 2013 spacewalk, when warning signs of a spacesuit leak went unaddressed before water flooded his crewmate’s helmet.
  7. 2015–2017

    Chief Astronaut

    He served as NASA’s 15th Chief Astronaut.

  8. 2021

    Retired from service

    Cassidy retired from the Navy and NASA in 2021.

  9. March 2025

    Medal of Honor Museum

    As CEO of the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation, he completed fundraising for the $300 million museum, which opened in March 2025.

    Cassidy greets President George W. Bush at the National Medal of Honor Museum grand opening
The 2026 Distinguished Graduates, from left: Walsh, Beydler, Fox and Cassidy
The 2026 Distinguished GraduatesFrom left: ADM Patrick M. Walsh ’77, USN (Ret.), LtGen William D. Beydler ’81, USMC (Ret.), VADM Mark I. Fox ’78, USN (Ret.), and CAPT Christopher J. Cassidy ’93, USN (Ret.).