Notre Dame Naval ROTC

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Notre Dame Naval ROTC

Official page for Notre Dame Naval ROTC. Mary's College train and prepare for future careers as Navy and Marine Corps officers.

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Over 100 students, called "midshipmen," at the University of Notre Dame and St. Our midshipmen have additional required commitments but are able to strike a balance between military discipline and life as a no

rmal college student. To prepare our midshipmen, we focus on academics, leadership, physical fitness, and community involvement. Academic excellence is paramount to the success of each midshipmen and our students are held to a higher standard. Additionally, midshipmen are taught key leadership traits and are given the opportunity to lead their peers. Each year, NROTC Notre Dame hosts a weekend conference in the spring called Naval Leadership Weekend where NROTC units from across the country join us to participate. Our midshipmen also participate regularly in physical fitness to maintain healthy lifestyles and lead more effectively. Lastly, we encourage community involvement through Trident Naval Society, our battalion led community service organization.

05/20/2026

On 16 May, 2026, 23 Ensigns and Second Lieutenants commissioned into the United States Navy and Marine Corps from the University of Notre Dame.

They will report to the Basic Division Officer Course, The Basic School, Naval Aviation Schools Command, Information Warfare Basic, and Nuclear Power School. Congratulations to our newest Ensigns and Second Lieutenants! Fair winds and following seas!

05/01/2026

From Charlottesville, VA, this week’s First Class Friday Features MIDN 1/C Elizabeth “Ellie” Keppel from Pasquerilla West Hall. Ellie chose Notre Dame because the university’s culture and values resonated with her. Her aspiration to attend Notre Dame led her to complete a program in which she attended Holy Cross College for a year with a guaranteed transfer to Notre Dame. Ellie, inspired by her Grandpa, initially held a Navy Option scholarship and intended to become a Naval Aviator. However, through the inspiration and mentorship of fellow Marine Options and active duty staff, she made the switch to the Marine Corps Scholarship.

Within the unit, Ellie has served as the Trident Naval Society Squad Leader, C-1 Platoon Commander, and Battalion Operations Officer. Outside of the unit, Ellie is an active member of multiple campus communities. She sings in the Magnificat Choir, is a member of Run Club, plays dorm flag football, serves as a lifeguard at Rolfs Aquatic Center, and is a Resident Assistant in her dorm.

Ellie’s favorite memories from NROTC are those she has made with the Marine Options. From Marine PT to the annual Field Exercise at Parris Island and South Carolina, the Marine Options have inspired and motivated her to grow in leadership, discipline, and character every day.

Ellie will graduate this Spring with a degree in English prior to attending TBS and being commissioned as an officer in the Marine Corps.

Ellie would like to thank her parents, siblings, and family for their love and support, as well as Capt Hunold, GySgt Holkey, and 1stSgt Triebell for their mentorship and support during her time in Notre Dame NROTC.

04/24/2026

From River Forest, IL, this week’s First Class Friday features MIDN 1/C Thomas Rotatori from Alumni Hall. Thomas chose to pursue Notre Dame as he grew up visiting often and always thought it was a special place. Being a student at Notre Dame only confirmed his first thoughts. He states that the people and support at Notre Dame make this university so special - no matter what path you choose, Notre Dame helps get you there. Thomas chose to Pursue Notre Dame NROTC and specifically became a Marine Option to challenge himself to the highest standard mentally, physically, and morally. This challenge shaped who he has become and Thomas feels honored to have the opportunity to one day lead Marines.

Within the unit Thomas has served as B2-1 Squad Leader and BSM. Outside of the unit Thomas worked as a math tutor and started his own virtual tutoring business his junior year of college. Senior year he competed on the men’s boxing team and won the 188 pound weight division of Bengal Bouts.

Thomas’s favorite memory from NROTC was Marine Option PT. It was a consistent opportunity to build camaraderie and become more physically fit. No matter how the rest of the day went, he could always look back on PT and feel a sense of accomplishment.

Thomas will graduate this Spring with a degree in Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics prior to attending TBS and being commissioned as an officer in the Marine Corps.

Thomas would like to give thanks to his parents for all of their support throughout the last four years as well as Gysgt Holkey, 1stSgt Triebell, and Captain Hunold for their mentorship.

04/17/2026

From Springfield, Missouri, this week’s 1/C Friday features MIDN 1/C Ian Woods from Sorin Hall. Ian chose to pursue Notre Dame NROTC because of his family’s history of service, the incredible opportunities the program offers, and the university’s strong academic and athletic culture. Driven by a desire to give back to the country that has given him so much, Ian set his sights on serving at the “tip of the spear” and becoming part of something greater than himself.

Within the unit, Ian has held a variety of leadership roles including Color Guard Leader, Squad Leader and Platoon Leader for Naval Leadership Weekend, Bravo Company Commander, and ABCFL. Outside of NROTC, Ian stays highly active across campus. He competes in intramural soccer and basketball, participates in Flying Irish and Commander’s Cup football and soccer, and is involved with the Ski Team and Golf Club.

Ian’s favorite memory from NROTC was his 1/C cruise to Hawaii, where he spent time exploring Waikiki Beach, hiking Koko Crater, and surfing the smooth blue waves.

Ian will graduate this Spring with a degree in Mechanical Engineering before commissioning and beginning his training as a Student Naval Aviator.

Ian would like to give a shoutout to his family, friends, and the active duty staff who have supported and guided him throughout his journey.

04/10/2026

From Honolulu, HI, this week’s 1/C Friday features MIDN 1/C Evan Tionquiao from Stanford Hall. Evan chose Notre Dame as it felt the most complete college that he visited. Outside of the strong academics, he felt that Notre Dame offered a strong community that brought a sense of belonging. He was also interested in Notre Dame athletics and the culture that surrounded it. Evan chose NROTC after seeing both of his parents serve in the Navy as he grew up. He wanted to be a part of something bigger than himself while also giving back to the community.

His favorite memory from NROTC was his 1/C aviation cruise out of San Diego, where he was also able to spend time with his family. He enjoyed the opportunity to experience flights around the area and also log some time on the simulation.

Within the unit Evan has successfully served as C1-2 Squad Leader and C1 Platoon CDR. Outside of the unit he has participated in a lot of the cultural clubs and held board positions on the Asian American Association, Hawai’i Club, and was Co-President of the Filipino American Student Organization. Evan also participated in intramural coed flag football.

Evan will graduate this spring with a degree in Aerospace Engineering before beginning flight training and earning his wings as a Student Naval Aviator.

Evan would like to give a big thanks to his parents for introducing him to the Navy lifestyle and setting him up with the tools that he needed to succeed. They are his biggest inspiration and have helped guide him in everything he has done.

04/03/2026

Hailing from Niantic, Connecticut, this week’s 1/C Friday features MIDN 1/C Riley Walsh of Dillon Hall. Riley chose Notre Dame for a variety of reasons: foremost among them was a desire to follow in the footsteps of his dad, the tradition and mystique of the institution, and the opportunity to study and live among well rounded, impressive, peers. MIDN Walsh pursued NROTC because he wanted to put service over self and protect our nation, while also getting to explore the world.

His favorite NROTC memories include playing in the Flying Irish basketball tournament with the boys, especially with MIDN Koehr and MIDN O’Toole and his summer transatlantic cruise to Normandy for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day with MIDN Scott and MIDN McClanahan.

Throughout his time at Notre Dame, Riley enjoyed living in Dillon with his buddies, playing intramural hoops, soccer, broomball, sand volleyball, and ultimate frisbee, refereeing basketball, and serving as battalion SUPPO.

Riley will graduate this spring with a degree in Science-Business before beginning flight training and earning his wings as a Student Naval Aviator.

He would like to give a special shoutout to his Mom and Dad for their endless support and love. With 17 different football games attended, they won every Pole 3 tailgate.

03/27/2026

All the way from Anchorage, Alaska, this week’s 1/C Friday features MIDN 1/C Patrick Marshall. Living in Knott Hall throughout his time at Notre Dame, Patrick chose Notre Dame and Navy ROTC because he wanted to challenge himself at a prestigious university and one where he could spend his Saturdays with the boys, his Sundays growing in his faith, and be part of a community that is as timeless as it is special.

Within the unit, Patrick has served as an NLW Squad Member for two years, BCFL, and most recently as Bravo Company Commander, earning the respect of his peers through steady leadership and has built a strong reputation within the unit. He has also been a dedicated member of the Drill Team.

Outside of NROTC, Patrick has served as a Knott Hall RA, competed in Club Hockey, and officiated ice hockey.

His favorite ROTC memory took place aboard the USS Tripoli (LHA-7) during Summer Cruise, standing on the flight deck as F-35Bs thundered off the ship and returned to land vertically which is a moment he will never forget.

Patrick will graduate this spring with a major in Global Affairs and a Supplemental Major in German, commissioning as a Surface Warfare Officer aboard the USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) out of San Diego, with a billet at Unmanned Surface Vessel Squadron 3.

Patrick would like to thank his parents for helping him find his calling, his brothers for keeping him grounded, his girlfriend Julia for making him a better man, his fellow Knott Hall Juggernauts for showing him what true brotherhood means, his ROTC peers for shaping the leader he wants to be, and God for making all of it possible.

03/20/2026

This week’s 1/C Friday features MIDN 1/C Sean Uhran from Cleveland, Ohio. Sean has lived in Keough Hall section 2A and chose to attend Notre Dame for the academics, faith, and community that is built here. He shared that the student life is unlike anything he has seen and that the way Notre Dame builds community in every group is amazing. He was inspired to join the Navy by a high school teammate and decided to pursue NROTC because he did not want a normal job after graduation, but wanted to challenge and change himself, and wanted to do the highest civic duty he could think of by joining the Navy.

Within the battalion, Sean has been a constant leader serving as B1-1 SL - NLW Coordinator, B1 PC, Ship Store SM, Battalion Spaces SM and is currently serving as the Battalion Commanding Officer. His leadership will leave a strong and lasting impression on the battalion.

Outside of the unit, Sean is involved with the ND Rocketry Team, the ND Running Club, and works in EIH.

Sean’s favorite ROTC memory was during summer cruise when he was dangled out of a moving MH-60S by the hoist with MIDN 1/C Matthew Patrick.

Sean will graduate this Spring with a degree in Aerospace Engineering before beginning flight training and earning his wings as a Student Naval Aviator.

Sean would like to thank his family, mentors, and friends for supporting everything he has wanted to do and for helping him find the people he needed to guide him. He would also like to shout out his fellow Aeros, who he has spent many late nights with in the library, as well as the people who worked on NLW, which he called the best labor of love in the battalion.

03/13/2026

From Anderson, SC, this week’s 1/C Friday features MIDN 1/C Jabier Rodriguez from Basil Hall at Holy Cross College. Jabier chose to attend Holy Cross College because it offered him the NPP scholarship that paid for his room and board. He chose to pursue ROTC because of the direction that it gave him after high school and elected to join the Navy as he saw it as the best fit for himself.

Within the unit Jabier has been an active leader and example for younger midshipmen. His leadership and resilience will be remembered within the battalion as he leaves for the fleet.

Outside of the unit Jabier is active in the community, especially enjoying participating in the hacking competitions for the past two years.

Jabier’s favorite memory from NROTC occurred during an upperclassmen cruise while attending a pool party at another midshipman’s house. He felt the camaraderie of the Navy and knew that he wanted to be involved.

Jabier will graduate this Spring with a degree in Computer Science prior to being commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer.

Jabier thanks his friends and family for believing in him and supporting him as he soon joins the fleet.

03/06/2026

From Salinas, CA, this week’s 1/C Friday features MIDN 1/C Jaxon Rhodus from St. Ed’s. Jaxon chose to pursue Notre Dame because of the Naval Prep Program that allowed him to stay at Holy Cross for one year and spend 4 years at Notre Dame. He chose NROTC because he grew up at a Naval Base, and has been around service members for his whole life. Many of these people had positive impacts on him, and it was clear that serving in the military could give him a purpose bigger than himself.

Within the unit Jaxon has been an active leader, having served as BCFL and the C1-1 and B1-2 squad leader.

Outside of the unit he is a dedicated member of the community, participating in boardgame club, officiating basketball, building and painting models, and spending time playing table top games.

Jaxon’s favorite memory from NROTC is the Infantry Trainer during CORTRAMID West Marine week at Camp Pendleton. During a squad exercise, a Sergeant gifted Jaxon his Lance Corporal rank tab in recognition of his aggressive mindset when protecting his squad.

Jaxon will graduate this Spring with a degree in Computer Science prior to being commissioned as a Submarine Officer.

Jaxon thanks his friends and family for pushing him to strive for every opportunity and supporting him throughout his journey.

Address

Notre Dame, IN

Website

http://nrotc.nd.edu/

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