Commissioning Week At Naval Academy Canceled Due To Coronavirus

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The U.S. Naval Academy has canceled all Commissioning Week 2020 public events due to the new coronavirus pandemic. In the Naval Academy’s 175-year history, there have been 26 early graduation and commissioning ceremonies during the Civil War, Spanish-American War and World Wars I and II.

“This was a very difficult decision to come to,” said 63rd Superintendent Vice Adm. Sean Buck in a news release, “but due to the national impact of the coronavirus, I have canceled our traditional Commissioning Week public events in order to safeguard the health and welfare of the entire Naval Academy family and local community, which has been my number one strategic priority since the onset of this pandemic.”

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Buck stated that he will still hold Commissioning Week, but it will be virtual instead.

“The Class of 2020 has worked tirelessly for nearly four years for this milestone — I believe we owe it to them to exhaust all efforts in our decision-making and planning process to make this special for them, within the guidelines we’re operating under," said Buck.

Other traditional class milestone events, such as the Herndon Climb and Ring Dance, are postponed until social distancing protocols permit large-scale events.

“There are certain rites of passage unique to the Naval Academy that every graduate reflects positively upon and thus helps to define and strengthen the Naval Academy experience,” said Commandant of Midshipmen Capt. T.R. Buchanan. “Even if not held this May, our midshipmen still deserve the opportunity to enjoy those milestone events.”

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