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Lieutenant Chris Houben is a native of Geneva, Illinois and graduated from Geneva High School in 2013. Following high school, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and graduated in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in English. Houben was commissioned as an Ensign through the Naval Reserve Officer's Training Corps.

Chris joined the Blue Angels in September 2025. He has accumulated over 1,400 flight hours and more than 240 carrier-arrested landings. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various unit and service awards.

Congratulations Chris! We look forward to seeing you next year at the Milwaukee Air Show on July 19-20, 2026

Eighty-one years after Allied soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy, France, 20 Naval ROTC (NROTC) midshipmen recently trod the same ground to soak up the lessons from history’s largest seaborne invasion. The USC students were there not just to visit some of the world’s most famous battle sites, but to conduct research about the invasion as well as specific fallen soldiers.

“It was not just studying amphibious operations or joint warfare. I wanted them to deepen their understanding of our legacy and what that legacy means for all of our sailors and Marines who came before them,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Mallory Vanderschans, who planned and co-led the experiential learning trip.

erving in Naval ROTC enriched my Cornell experience and helped me throughout life in learning to work with, and listen to, people from different perspectives. I am thankful for the opportunities during my years in NROTC, which took me out of my comfort zone and challenged me academically.

The Navy required classes I would never have taken, ranging from naval architecture and engineering, celestial navigation, calculus, and business management to something brand-new called “computer science.”

In September 1968, I signed up for NROTC in Barton Hall in a new class of 77 midshipmen out of about 300 total in the unit.

The USS Cobia returned to its homeport in Manitowoc after some maintenance in Sturgeon Bay. Click on Read more and Take a video tour of the Cobia

ByAP
Updated: Oct 4, 2025, 06:03 pm




ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- — Blake Horvath threw three touchdown passes to Eli Heidenreich, who set a pair of Navy records, and the Midshipmen outlasted Air Force 34-31 on Saturday.

The victory gives Navy (5-0) a leg up on holding on to the Commander-in-Chief's trophy, awarded to the winner of the round-robin between the Navy, Air Force and Army service academies.

Horvath was 20-of-26 passing for a career-high 339 yards and added another 130 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Heidenreich, who came in with five catches this season, set a Navy record with 243 receiving yards on eight receptions including 19-, 80- and 60-yard touchdowns, giving him a program record 14 in his career.

On a day filled with big-play offense, it was Nathan Kirkwood's field goal with 6:47 remaining that gave Navy the lead. That was followed by a deflected pitch recovered by the Midshipmen at midfield, allowing them to run out the clock.

Liam Szarka was 11-of-19 passing for 2