For the first time, a Navy SEAL will lead the U.S. Naval Academy as its commandant of midshipmen.
Capt. Walter H. Allman III, a career naval special warfare officer, took the reins as second-in-command at the military institution Wednesday. He returns to Annapolis from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, where he served as director of Targeting and the Fires and Effects Center for the U.S. Pacific Fleet.
Allman assumes the role from Col. James “J.P.” McDonough III, who held the position for the last three years. The outgoing commandant will retire after 30 years in the Marine Corps.
Though he graduated from the academy in 1997, Allman, a father of four, has kept a close eye on Annapolis. His son Stanton is entering his second year at the academy. Seeing McDonough’s care for the future officers was inspirational, Allman said.
“Just from watching you from the outside as a father, I knew the academy was in good shape,” he said to McDonough during a change of leadership ceremony held at the T-Court outside Bancroft Hall. “It was obvious watching Stan go through this and watching him grow this year, long before the idea of us coming here was an option, so a really neat testament to what you guys are doing.”
The commandant of midshipmen is responsible for day-to-day conduct, military training and professional development of more than 4,400 midshipmen at the academy. The role is similar to a dean of students at…
