USNA Class of 1970 Distinguished Graduates:
The United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation honored five extraordinary Naval Academy alumni at the 25th Annual Distinguished Graduate Award ceremony in Alumni Hall at the United States Naval Academy on 24 March 2023. Each recipient has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to service, exemplary personal character, and distinguished contributions to the nation and to their fields of endeavor. Each has also dedicated themselves to the support of the Naval Academy and alumni community. The 2023 DGA recipients are MajGen Leo V. Williams III ’70, USMCR (Ret.),, Ronald L. Nicol ’75, Admiral James G. Stavridis ’76, USN (Ret.), Rear Admiral Julius S. Caesar ’77, USNR (Ret.) and Admiral Cecil D. Haney ’78, USN (Ret.)
| Biography (Click for PDF File) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Daniel F. Akerson (2012) | Biographical Video | |
| Admiral Thomas B. Fargo USN (Ret.) (2013) | Biographical Video | |
| Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani USN (Ret.) (2014) | Biographical Video | |
| Vice Admiral J. Cutler Dawson USN (Ret.) (2017) | Biographical Video | Acceptance Remarks |
| Mr. Steven S. Reinemund (2018) | Biographical Video | |
| Mr. Kevin W. Sharer (2021) | Biographical Video | Acceptance Remarks |
| MajGen. Leo V. Williams III USMCR (Ret.) (2023) | Biographical Video | Acceptance Remarks |
USNA Class of 1970 Active Duty Losses Honored in Memorial Hall: (Click Name for Details)
- 1st LT Claude W. Conner, USMC
- 2nd LT Richard L. Thomas, USAFR
- 1st LT Henry N. Pilger, USMC
- LTJG Gabriel Hernandez, USNR
- 1st LT Lowell F. VanWagenen, USMC
- Capt David L. King, USMC
- Capt Paul V. Duncan, USMC
- LT Jeffrey D. Stanley, USN
- LT Leo S. Rolek, Jr., USN
- LT Charles P. Jackson, USN
- LT Timothy R. Cocozza, USN
- LT Charles D. Potter, USN
- LT Richard A. Creighton, USN
- LT Patrick W. O'Neil, USN
- LT Paul L. Mellott, Jr., USN
- LT Melvin H. Brown, USN
- LCDR Jack A. Fisher, USN
- LCDR Stuart R. Powrie, USN
- Maj James L. Smee, USMC
- CAPT Steven A. Hazelrigg, USN
USNA Class of 1970 Class Officers:
- Class President: Ed Moore
- Class Vice President: Barry Steelman
- Treasurer: Lou Buck
- Membership Secretary: Gino Marchetti
- Corresponding Secretary: Gary Knight
USNA Class of 1970 Board of Trustees:
- Terry Dailey, 33rd Company
- Cutler Dawson, 2nd Company
- Howard "Pat" Dawson, 27th Company
- Terry Huff, 7th Company
- Guy Knieriem, 9th Company
- Dave Martin, 13th Company
- Bob Sonnenberg, 11th Company
- Barry Steelman, 32nd Company
- Grant Thorpe, 5th Company
- Carl Wick, 13th Company
USNA Class of 1970 Statistics: (From Class History and USNAAA Database)
- Started with USNA '70: 1339
- NAPS Graduates assigned to USNA '70: 94
- NAPS Members that Graduated with USNA '70: 39 (59% attrition)
- Rollbacks from USNA '69: 8
- Yotal USNA '70 Graduates: 838
- Attrition Rate: 37%
- First in Class: Steve Wayne Zavadil (16th Company)
- Anchorman: Preston Godfred Rusch (24th Company)
- Oldest to Graduate: Timothy Martel (25 years, 8 months)
- Youngest to Graduate: Raymond DiGiacomo (20 years, 11.7 months)
- Average age at Graduation: 22 years, 4 months
- Commissioned Navy Line: 711
- Commissioned USMC: 103
- Commissioned Supply Corps: 12
- Commissioned CEC: 5
- Commissioned USAF: 3
- Foreign Nationals: 4
- USNA '70 Admirals: 22
- USNA '70 Captains: 145
- USNA '70 Commanders: 148
- USNA '70 Generals: 3
- USNA '70 Colonels: 18
- USNA '70 Lt. Colonels: 15
Updated: December 30, 2023
Curator: Ed Moore