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Naval Academy superintendent previews Strategic Plan 2035, orders OPTs on admissions, AI and autonomous systems
Summary
Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte told the Board of Visitors the Academy will pursue a warfighting-centered Strategic Plan 2035 and has stood up Operational Planning Teams to recommend changes in admissions, AI integration, branding and robotic/autonomous systems training.
Lieutenant General Michael Borgschulte, U.S. Marine Corps and Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy, told the Board of Visitors on April 13 that he has launched a Strategic Plan 2035 focused on strengthening the Academy's warfighting mission and training.
Borgschulte opened his briefing with a video for midshipmen emphasizing the seriousness of the mission and urging them to "double down on their preparation as warfighters and leaders," according to his presentation. He said he has tasked senior O-6 officers on the Yard to lead Operational Planning Teams (OPTs) that will investigate discrete topics and return recommended courses of action within set timelines.
The Superintendent identified four high-priority OPTs. The Admissions OPT will increase manpower in the admissions office, make the Whole Person Multiple (WPM) calculation available online, and explore new selection tools — including a proposed "grit scale" modeled on the Marine Corps' TAPAS and expanded use of data analytics to identify attributes correlated with graduate success in military, business and government careers. Borgschulte said the Academy is recruiting for a new Deputy Director of Admissions to pair a civilian deputy for institutional continuity with a military director.
An Artificial Intelligence OPT will examine how to integrate AI into training and curriculum while preserving individual development. Borgschulte said he wants "every midshipman to leave the Naval Academy having a baseline knowledge of using different AI tools," with a subset of students gaining advanced AI capabilities.
A Branding OPT will evaluate the Academy's public-facing materials and web presence to improve national recognition and strengthen recruitment, the Superintendent said, noting other service academies currently have higher name recognition.
A Robotic Autonomous Systems (RAS) OPT will study integrating drones and unmanned systems across surface, subsurface and air domains. Borgschulte described plans to use Yard Patrol Craft (YPs) as platforms for autonomous systems training and said select midshipmen will visit Unmanned Surface Squadrons in San Diego for specialized instruction, though brigade-wide UAV training is not yet implemented.
Board members, including Chairman Senator Dan Sullivan, encouraged exploring an AI major and pledged support. Senator Tim Sheehy urged attention to the quality of data that feeds AI systems; Representative Sarah Elfreth asked whether training covers offensive as well as defensive UAV capabilities and was told both are included.
The Superintendent framed the initiative in the context of current global conflict and recent congressional support: he praised the most recent National Defense Appropriations Act as a historic commitment to the Academy's infrastructure. He also asked Board members to route issues first to the Chair before taking them directly to the Academy.
The Board took the presentation as guidance for near-term institutional priorities; Borgschulte directed the OPTs to return specific recommendations for possible Board review and action.
