Classmates,
I have been asked to forward the message below from Admiral Locklear, Chairman of our Alumni Association’s Board of Trustees. He recently asked one of our Trustees to resign from the board for inappropriate statements he made over social media making racist comments and disparaging the academy’s admission of African Americans, Asian Americans and women. As a former two-term member of the Association’s Board and currently a non-voting member of the Membership and Alumni Services Committee I applaud Admiral Locklear for his quick action. Our Board works hard to ensure representation of all our alumni including women and minorities. Each alumnus is a valued member of our community.
As a class we have minority classmates that have risen to the highest levels of leadership in our Navy and Marine Corps. I am proud to say they are my classmates. I know you are, too. We must not standby and accept such racist comments.
Fair winds,
Glen
Glen Woods
President, USNA Class of 1978
The message below is being sent to Class, Chapter and Shared Interest Group leaders:
Class, Chapter and Shared Interest Group Leaders,
Today I was made aware of statements posted to a public forum attributed to an alumni volunteer of the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees representing the Jacksonville, FL, chapter. These attributed statements do not represent the mission and values of the Alumni Association, the Naval Academy or the U.S. Navy.
As volunteer leaders in our communities, we must be inspirations and examples for all citizens. As Chairman of our Alumni Association, I have accepted the resignation of this alumnus effective today, and asked the Jacksonville, FL, chapter to take appropriate action to appoint a new Chapter Trustee.
The Naval Academy Alumni Association represents more than 65,000 individuals from diverse backgrounds and perspectives. We support the Naval Academy mission. As alumni, we seek to uphold the Naval Academy core leadership values of honor, courage and commitment. As an alumni organization, we seek to be an inspiration for all young people who want to become future Navy and Marine Corps officers. We will continue to honor that inspirational role. We are all in this together. We must face the challenges of today and all future challenges of tomorrow…together.
ADM Samuel J. Locklear ’77 III, USN (Ret.)
Chairman, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association Board of Trustees