Alan Hammond was considered an outstanding student, Regents Scholarship recipient, and athlete at East High School in Rochester, New York. He participated and lettered on the men’s swimming team and served as a women’s swim team coach. He accepted an appointment to the Naval Academy and joined the Class of 1978 in July of 1974.
Alan Hammond arrived at the Naval Academy and during Plebe Summer shot a noteworthy score in the Plebe pistol qualification course. Based on his score and encouraged by the Pistol Coach and fellow team member Lanny King, he joined the Plebe Pistol Team.
Alan Hammond made the Naval Academy Varsity Pistol Team the remaining three years at the Naval Academy. Alan Hammond was one of four regular shooters whose scores counted for record purposes. The Naval Academy Pistol Team dominated for the three seasons he made varsity. The team was 11-1, 12-0, and 9-1 for the 1976, 1977, and 1978 seasons respectively, beating Army in 1977. In both his Junior and Senior years at the Naval Academy, Alan was selected to the First-Team Intercollegiate All-American Pistol Team. Alan Hammond was the national collegiate air pistol champion in 1978.
Alan was selected as the Pistol Team Captain his senior year. He was the top shooter in the Class of 1978 Naval Academy Excellence in Small Arms Rifle Match and was presented a Secretary of the Navy Award rifle for his performance. This award is presented to that midshipman of the graduating class who makes the highest score in this special rifle match. Alan Hammond was selected as one of twelve Class of 1978 inductees into the US Naval Academy Sports Hall of Fame.
Alan earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Engineering from the Naval Academy. Upon graduation, Alan was qualified as a Naval Aviator and flew helicopters. Alan completed the US Navy Test Pilot school in June of 1984. Lieutenant Alan Hammond was tragically killed while flying in a Naval operation on June 9th, 1986 off the coast of Mayport, Florida.