Enshrined in Memorial Hall

As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of women entering the U.S. Naval Academy, much of the conversation rightly focuses on barriers broken and opportunities earned. But true integration is revealed not only in achievement, it is found in shared responsibility, shared hardship and shared sacrifice. Military service carries risks that do not distinguish between men and women, and the seven alumnae remembered in Memorial Hall are enduring reminders that the ultimate cost of service has been borne by both genders.

The names of those seven women are with those of their classmates in Memorial Hall. To truly honor them, though, we must look beyond the cold text etched into granite. The Virtual Memorial Hall project (usnamemorialhall.org), curated by the nonprofit Run to Honor (runtohonor.com), works to ensure these graduates are never reduced to just names on a wall.

By actively finding photos, personal letters and memories from classmates, shipmates and Gold Star families, the project transforms static records into living history. In the spirit of that mission, we offer brief windows into the vibrant lives, distinct personalities and profound sacrifices of the women of the Naval Academy who gave the last full measure of devotion to their country.

Lieutenant Junior Grade Cynthia S. Grubbs ’80, USN

(https://v2.usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/ltjg-cynthia-s-grubbs-usn/)

Long before she ever stepped on the Yard, Cynthia “Suzanne” Grubbs lived life in the fast lane. Growing up in Austin, TX, her childhood bedroom was lined with model rockets, and her personal hero was Chuck Yeager. By the time she entered the Naval Academy as a member of the trailblazing Class of 1980, she had already logged two years of aerospace engineering and mathematics at the University of Texas, earned her private pilot’s license, completed 26 parachute jumps and scuba-dived for treasure off the coast of Mexico. Dynamic, boundary-pushing and intensely focused, her ultimate dream was to fly for the Blue Angels.

At Annapolis, her creative spark matched her tactical drive; she was an accomplished artist as well as an ardent competitor. Following graduation, she earned her wings and reported to Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VR-24), flying the C-1A Trader.

On 26 November 1983, Grubbs was piloting her C-1A from Palma, Spain, back to Naval Air Station Sigonella. In a tragic turn, her aircraft and a second squadron C-1A are believed to have collided, crashing into the Mediterranean Sea near Sardinia, Italy. The loss was a staggering blow to VR-24 and the Class of 1980. Among the six others lost that day was her fellow squadron pilot and fiancé, Lieutenant Michael G. Veringa.

Grubbs did not get to fulfill her dream of painting the sky blue and gold with the Angels, but she lived with a velocity and purpose that defined the very vanguard of women in naval aviation. She is remembered not just for the uniform she wore, but for the fierce, independent spirit she brought to it.

Ensign Cary P. Jones ’81, USN

(https://v2.usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/ens-cary-p-jones-usn/)

Ensign Cary P. Jones came from a lineage deeply woven into the fabric of the Naval Academy. Her maternal grandfather was Class of 1921, her paternal grandfather was Class of 1927 and her father was Class of 1953. Yet when Jones arrived at the Yard with a presidential appointment, she didn’t just inherit a legacy—she electrified it. Known across Bancroft Hall as exceptionally vibrant and energetic, she spent three years as a Navy cheerleader, took a grueling overload of mathematics courses to position herself for a future master’s degree and served as a battalion subcommander during her firstie year. She even brought her infectious charisma to the stage, landing leading roles in the Masqueraders’ musical productions of Damn Yankees and Fiddler on the Roof.

Upon graduation with the Class of 1981, Jones chose naval aviation, successfully completing primary flight training at Pensacola, FL. Driven by the same ambition that fueled her midshipman days, she harbored dreams of attending the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School and eventually becoming an astronaut.

On 8 July 1982, Jones was executing advanced multi-engine training near Corpus Christi, TX, when her T-44 aircraft collided with another training plane. Jones and five fellow officers across both aircraft were killed. Two days later, she was posthumously designated a naval aviator.

Jones was both the first female Naval Academy graduate and the first female naval aviator killed in an aircraft crash. She never made it to space, but her legacy as a brilliant trailblazer, performer, leader and third-generation legacy remains permanently etched into the story of the Class of 1981.

Major Megan M. McClung ’95, USMCR

(https://v2.usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/maj-megan-m-mcclung-usmcr/)

Major Megan Malia Leilani McClung was a force of nature. Long before she earned her commission, the Mission Viejo, CA, native proved she wouldn’t take “no” for an answer; when her high school rejected her from the boys’ weightlifting program, she took her case to the school board and won. For McClung, doing anything less than her best was a waste of the gift. She was a fierce competitor who finished seven Ironman triathlons, and even while deployed to Iraq, she served as the race director for the first Marine Corps Marathon (Forward) in October 2006, placing second among female runners despite running with an injury.

An unforgettable personality with bright red hair and a relentless work ethic, McClung served as a Marine Corps public affairs officer. She believed in running toward the sound of battle, often escorting journalists “outside the wire.” To train Marines and officials for press interviews, she coined a sharp, practical mantra that defined her style: “Be Bold. Be Brief. Be Gone.”

On 6 December 2006, McClung was escorting a Newsweek editorial crew through downtown Ramadi in Al Anbar Province when a massive improvised explosive device destroyed her Humvee. She was killed instantly alongside two Army soldiers.

McClung was the first female Marine Corps officer killed in combat during the Iraq War, and she holds the solemn distinction of being the first female graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy to be killed in action. She is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, where her famous mantra is permanently carved onto her headstone.

Lieutenant Terri S. Fussner ’96, USN

(https://v2.usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/lt-terri-s-fussner-usn/)

Lieutenant Terri S. Fussner was an unyielding competitor whose natural environment was the water. Raised in Manchester, MO, she grew up challenging herself in the pool, ultimately starring on the swim team and leading cheers at Parkway South High School. When she arrived at the Naval Academy, she brought that exact same relentless energy to the Yard. As a midshipman, she swam for Navy, led cheers for the Brigade and earned the deep respect of her classmates for her infectious, positive leadership style. It was also during her time at Annapolis that she met her classmate and fellow midshipman, Garrett Luebker, whom she would later marry.

Following graduation and commissioning, Fussner set her sights on the demanding world of rotary-wing aviation. She earned her wings as a naval aviator and reported to Helicopter Squadron Light (HSL) 46, known as the “Grandmasters,” based out of Naval Station Mayport, FL. Operating the SH-60B Seahawk, she excelled as a pilot, executing complex maritime missions off the decks of surface combatants.

On 12 March 2002, Fussner was deployed aboard the destroyer Hayler in the Mediterranean Sea. While conducting a night training mission off the coast of Greece, her Seahawk crashed into the sea. Fussner, her fellow pilot and the helicopter’s enlisted crewman were all lost in the accident. She was just 27 years old; her 28th birthday was the next day.

Captain Jennifer J. Harris ’00, USMC

(https://v2.usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/capt-jennifer-j-harris-usmc/)

Known affectionately as “Dove” by her Naval Academy roommates for her unshakeable calm in the face of adversity, Captain Jennifer J. Harris was the epitome of a servant leader. After graduating with the Class of 2000, she chose the rigorous path of a Marine Corps officer, earned her Wings of Gold in 2002 and shattered a historic glass ceiling by becoming the first female pilot in the legendary Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 364—the “Purple Foxes.” To sharpen her edge, she graduated from the elite Weapons and Tactics Instructor course.

As a CH-46 Sea Knight pilot, Harris flew grueling casualty evacuation (CASEVAC) missions in Iraq. While others rested, she volunteered for the night shifts, flying directly into firefights to extract wounded service members and Iraqi civilians. By her third combat deployment, she had saved countless lives.

In February 2007, Harris was just days away from wrapping up her tour and returning to the United States. She wasn’t originally slated to fly on 7 February, but true to her character, she volunteered for the cargo and passenger movement mission anyway. Northwest of Baghdad in Al Anbar Province, her helicopter was shot down by hostile fire. Harris and all six crew members and passengers aboard were killed. She was 28 years old.

Harris is one of only two female Naval Academy graduates to be killed in action. She gave her life so that others might live, leaving behind an enduring legacy of profound courage, compassion and ultimate devotion to her fellow Marines.

Major Elizabeth R. Kealey ’05, USMC

(https://v2.usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/maj-elizabeth-r-kealey-usmc/)

Major Elizabeth “Betsy” Kealey was a rare blend of brilliant intellect and absolute kinetic energy. A native of Indiana, PA, she arrived at the Naval Academy and immediately threw herself into every facet of life on the Yard. As a member of the 30th Company, she rowed for the crew team, ran with the marathon team, scaled peaks with the mountaineering club and found deep purpose leading the Midshipman Action Group and Officers’ Christian Fellowship

Academically gifted, the mechanical engineering major even published independent research on advanced thermodynamic models. Her unshakeable commitment to others was so defining that the Academy later established an award in her honor, given to the midshipman who most embodies her selfless spirit and fighting character.

Upon graduation, Kealey commissioned into the Marine Corps and earned her wings as a UH-1Y Huey pilot. She deployed twice with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit and flew combat missions over Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, earning the Air Medal with three Strike/Flight awards. Highly respected for her tactical acumen, she was selected to become a Weapons and Tactics Instructor (WTI), serving with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron (HMLA) 169—the “Vipers.”

On 23 January 2015, Kealey was piloting a Huey during a routine training exercise at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, CA. Due to a sudden mechanical failure in flight, the aircraft crashed and Kealey succumbed to her injuries later that day during surgery. She was 32 years old.

Kealey had been planning to eventually resign her commission to pursue graduate school and achieve her next dream: becoming a high school physics teacher. Though she never made it to that civilian classroom, her legacy as a mentor, a fierce competitor and an elite Marine aviator remains an enduring masterclass for the Brigade.

Lieutenant Valerie C. Delaney ’09, USN

(https://v2.usnamemorialhall.org/honorees/lt-valerie-c-delaney-usn/)

Lieutenant Valerie Cappelaere Delaney approached every challenge in her life with a guiding personal motto: “Adapt and Overcome.” Arriving at the Naval Academy, she proved her mettle by tackling a rigorous aerospace engineering major while simultaneously carving out a piece of Navy sports history.

Delaney was an indispensable force on the field, proudly wearing the number 6 jersey and helping anchor the Navy women’s lacrosse team as it transitioned from a club sport into a competitive NCAA Division I program. Beyond the athletic fields, she brought her musical talents to the Yard as a dedicated member of the USNA Women’s Glee Club and the Stowaways, an all-female a cappella group.

Her academic grit also took her to Europe; Delaney broke barriers as the first woman USNA midshipman to spend an exchange semester at France’s prestigious military academy, Saint-Cyr. Following graduation in 2009, Delaney chased her lifelong dream into the sky, earning her Wings of Gold in February 2012. She reported to Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, WA, to fly the EA-6B Prowler.

On 11 March 2013, Delaney was piloting her Prowler on a routine low-level training mission when the aircraft crashed in a field in eastern Washington State. Delaney and her two fellow crew members were killed. At her burial in Arlington National Cemetery, more than 200 female military aviators from across the country who could not attend sent their own pilot wings to be placed at her service—a powerful testament to her leadership and her lasting impact on a generation of women in the air.