Newsletter

Change of Command   The Midshipmen of the Tulane Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps held their Spring Awards Ceremony and Change of Command on Wednesday, April 20, 2022 in the Navy Building on the campus of Tulane University.    The Change of Command saw MIDN CO MIDN 1/C Lauren Kerr, MIDN XO MIDN 1/C Mark Shreve, and MIDN SgtMaj MIDN 2/C Jackson Swinklerelieved of command by MIDN CO MIDN 1/C Guillermo Salazar, MIDN XO SSgt Lance Comer (MECEP), and MIDN SgtMaj MIDN 2/C Dominic LaPata.  Congratulations to the new Midshipmen Battalion Staff!   [...]

CDR Jacobson Commander Katie (Hagen) Jacobson is a sixteen-year veteran of the United States Navy and is the Executive Officer of USS NITZE (DDG 94) in Norfolk, VA. On March 3, 2021 she participated as a featured speaker in Tulane's Alumni Association Women Making Waves 2021. Each year the Office of Alumni Relations celebrates the career successes of our alumnae in order to further inspire and motivate Tulane women to seek leadership positions in the workplace and in their communities. This year’s panel discussions will include Herstories, where alumnae share their personal journeys to professional success, and Pathways to [...]

The Tulane Naval ROTC Mardi Gras Drill Meet was held on Friday, February 21, 2020 on the Tulane University campus.  The University Center Quad, Newcomb Quad, and Brown Quad were utilized for the contest.  Students from around the country came together for the competitions of Color Guard, Individual Exhibition, Platoon Inspection, Platoon Armed Basic Drill, Squad Basic Drill, and Platoon Exhibition.  The University Center Ballroom was used for team meeting and set-up.  Norwich University had a great group of supporters in the form of University President Richard Schneider and numerous alumni from around the country.  The group was not disappointed as Norwich [...]

Congratulations to the Class of 2019!!! The Navy Building on the campus of Tulane University was the site of the 2019 commissioning.  Six men and women received their commissions in the Navy and Marine Corps.  The ceremony began at 9:30 AM with the Marching On and the National Anthem.  Captain Fred Holcombe, Chaplain for Marine Forces Reserve, gave the Invocation.  The Professor of Naval Science, Captain D. Senesky, welcomed all guest and honorees.  He said this occasion marked an impressive celebration of accomplishment for the students and the staff.  He recognized special attendees including Captain Patrick Huete, USN Ret, former [...]

Farewell and Following Seas The Unit Staff said Farewell to four members, as they depart for new adventures:.     MSgt Bryan Smith, Asst Marine Officer Instructor     LT Nicholas Munns:, Freshman and Submarine Advisor     Capt. Donald Meyer, Marine Officer Instructor     LT Crystal Gonzales, Sophomore & Surface Warfare Advisor Hail and Welcome Aboard                        The Unit Staff has Hailed new staff members as they begin their latest assignments: LT Carlos Thillet  - Junior and Surface Warfare Advisor LT Jeremy Jorge – Freshman & Submarine Warfare Advisor Capt. Dorinda Pintos – Marine Officer Instructor [...]

Early morning on 9 April, 2019, the Tulane NROTC Battalion formed up on the Tulane University Center Quad for the annual Change of Command and Awards Ceremony. The Change of Command was the first order of business with Midn 1/C William Pankey being relieved of command and Midn 2/C Samuel Beal taking the helm as the new Battalion Commander.  A Pass in Review impressed the crowd gathered for the event. The midshipmen then fell into a close formation for the Awards Ceremony.  The Alumni Association presented our two awards, the LCDR Jack Wintle and the General Robert H. Barrow Awards, [...]

Support for the Midshipmen Battalion is a key function on our Alumni Association.  Members continue to provide financial support. To date in 2019 the association and individual members have anted up to fund: Extensive renovation of the Wardroom. Air travel, admission fees and lodging for two Midshipman to attend the annual Notre Dame Naval Leadership Weekend. Tulane Naval ROTC workout gear in USMC and USN versions. In addition, the Archive Committee is always interested in yearbooks, newsletters, (Logs and Helms), photographs, biographies, and oral histories.  Please consider all the ways to give back to your Tulane Naval ROTC Alumni Association. [...]

Thanks to the family of Louis Watson (1960) the Wardroom in the Navy ROTC Building received a magnificent facelift.  The Unveiling and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony was held on the evening of March 29, 2019 and all lauded the outcome.  Larry Tortorich, class of 1978, and father of alumni John (2018) and Michael (2017) attended and expressed his pleasure as “Wow!  What an incredible and beautiful Wardroom!”  He could not wait to share photos with his sons. The update was made possible due to the generosity of Louis Hanner Watson (deceased), class of 1960, and his family.  During his time at [...]

General Berger is currently serving as the 38th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps. General Berger was commissioned as an infantry officer in 1981 following graduation from Tulane University, Naval ROTC. As a Lieutenant and Captain, he served as platoon commander in 1st Marine Division, and later as company commander and Battalion Operations Officer in 2d Reconnaissance Battalion during Operation DESERT STORM. He also served as Officer Selection Officer in Roanoke, Virginia. As a field grade officer, Lieutenant General Berger was an instructor at Marine Aviation Weapons and Tactics Squadron One (MAWTS-1) in Yuma, Arizona; instructor at III [...]

Welcome to Captain Daniel J. Senesky as the new Commanding Officer of the Tulane NROTC Unit. He arrived at the beginning of the school year and has had a chance to enjoy the university and the city. Captain Senesky is a Surface Warfare Officer who hails from New Jersey. He graduated with a BA in Broadcasting from Pennsylvania State University and a MA in International Relations from Salve Regina University. During his career, he has spent time aboard the USS Pyro, USS Carl Vinson, USS Fitzgerald, USS Higgins, and USS Gary running the gamut from Division Officer to CO. [...]

Kimberly Foster arrived at Tulane in August 2018 to assume responsibilities as Dean, School of Science and Engineering (SS&E). Association members Brian Bourgeois (82) and Tom Dolan (75) met with Dean Foster  to discuss the role of SS&E in attracting Midshipman candidates to Tulane Naval ROTC. NROTC scholarships are allocated across three tiers of degree. Additional SS&E  tier 1  degree programs would provide more opportunities for NROTC scholarships. Engineering degree programs are tier 1. Dean Foster was pleased to discuss her plans and issues related to increasing the number of Engineering programs in the context of Tulane's focus on interdisciplinary studies and the [...]

Doug Hurley, class of 1988, was pictured in the Wall Street Journal  (right side) discussing manned space exploration on the day Elon Musk's rocket launch. Hurley has been chosen to be part of the SpaceX Commercial Crew.  He will be on the test flight of the Dragon in April.   https://www.nasa.gov/exploration/commercial/crew/index.html

Our Battalion conducted another successful Mardi Gras drill meet March 1,2019. Twenty six teams competed with Texas A&M coming in first, Norwich University second and USMA West Point at third. “I hope that each competing unit walks away with the realization that practice and commitment do, in fact, pay off in very rewarding ways,” said Tulane NROTC unit Commanding Officer, Capt. Daniel Senesky. “For the Tulane Midshipman Battalion, I hope that they, too, recognize that the long hours spent planning and coordinating the many facets of this event were well worth it.” “The number one focus of the Mardi Gras [...]

At Homecoming, The Honorary Lifetime Membership Award was presented to Captain Patrick Huete for his constant and unfailing support of the Alumni Association during his tenure as the Professor of Naval Science. Humbled and honored described Captain Huete as he was awarded the plaque. He felt it was a privilege to be able to be at Tulane University and was thrilled to have an opportunity to spend a part of his Naval career in his hometown.

As I reflect on the four years I spent as PNS I am very grateful for the opportunity to have led such a talented group of midshipmen and staff, both uniform and civilian. There was no better way to wind up my career, working a great job in the city I love. Tulane NROTC is truly unique, and my interactions with other units throughout my tour only reinforced my belief in this fact. Shrimp and crawfish boils, Carnival parades, the Mardi Gras Drill Meet, and the Run for the Fallen are just some of the events that separate the [...]

Our association hosted a Homecoming Party at the Navy Building on Friday afternoon, November 9, 2018. The event was a catered affair that had alumni sharing stories and enjoying camaraderie. The Class of 1993 had a great turnout of alumni and was thrilled to be with one another again. Several attendees decided to become lifetime members. The business portion of the meeting saw the approval of the slate of board members and an address by the association president. The new alumni website was unveiled with many thanks to Tom Dolan for his hard work. Next, the new Commanding Officer, [...]