Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte is set to become the first Marine to head the U.S. Naval Academy, marking a historic leadership change.

Marine Corps Officer to Break 180-Year Tradition

In a groundbreaking shift for the U.S. Naval Academy, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Michael J. Borgschulte has been nominated to serve as the next superintendent of the storied institution in Annapolis, Maryland. The announcement, made Friday by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, positions Borgschulte to become the first Marine in the Academy’s 180-year history to assume the top post—pending Senate confirmation.

Borgschulte, a 1991 graduate of the Naval Academy, currently serves as the deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs at Marine Corps Headquarters in Quantico, Virginia. Over the course of his career, he has held multiple command and combat leadership roles, overseeing personnel policies and force structure for the Marine Corps. His nomination comes amid a significant leadership transition for the Academy and across the Department of Defense.

Leadership Transition at Annapolis

If confirmed, Borgschulte will succeed Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, who made history herself as the first woman and the first Hispanic to lead the Naval Academy. Davids, a 1989 graduate, assumed command just last year and is now nominated for a key Pentagon post as deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans, strategy, and warfighting development. Her reassignment, which requires a congressional waiver, marks an unexpected early end to her tenure.

“I’m honored to be nominated,” Davids stated, adding that she looks forward to continued service alongside America’s armed forces. Secretary of the Navy John C. Phelan praised both leaders for their vision and depth of experience, highlighting Borgschulte’s “decorated combat leadership” and Davids’ “strategic insight.”

Phelan emphasized the significance of appointing a Marine to lead the Naval Academy, calling it a “powerful signal of naval integration” and a reflection of evolving joint leadership priorities. Founded in 1845, the Academy has long been led exclusively by Navy officers, making this nomination a watershed moment in its tradition.

The Academy is regarded as one of the most consequential institutions in American public life, responsible for preparing the next generation of Navy and Marine Corps officers. Borgschulte’s leadership is expected to shape future officers for what officials describe as “an increasingly contested world.”

As part of a broader shake-up in military leadership, the Department of Defense also announced nominations for new vice chiefs and combatant command leaders across all services. The timeline for Senate confirmation and change of command at the Naval Academy has not yet been determined.

The Navy referred inquiries about the transition to the official Department of Defense release. As the process moves forward, the appointment of a Marine as superintendent is seen as a pivotal development, ushering in a new era of cooperation and strategic vision for the Naval Academy and the nation’s sea services.