A proud naval tradition at URochester turns 80

The University’s Naval ROTC unit has trained generations of student-leaders and military officers, shaping academic excellence and national service.

For eight decades, the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) at the University of Rochester has prepared college students to become officers in the US Navy or Marines through academics, physical training, and leadership development.

At the end of World War II in 1945, URochester was one of 25 colleges chosen by the US government to host a permanent NROTC unit. About 380 Midshipmen came to the University that fall. Harkness Hall on the River Campus opened the following year, joining the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, to become the only buildings in the United States built solely to naval science and tactics.

URochester NROTC then …

A selection of archival photos courtesy of University of Rochester’s Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation.

Black and white archival photo of a University of Rochester NROTC flag in the foreground, NROTC cadets and families in the background, with Rush Rhees Library.

Black and white archival photo of NROTC students examining nautical equipment.

Close up of a black and white archival photo of NROTC cadets in uniform and saluting.

Black and white archival photo of URochester NROTC students sitting in class.

Black and white archival photo of an NROTC bus on the URochester campus with a pair of cadets walking nearby.

Black and white archival photo of University of Rochester NROTC cadets in uniform and standing at attention outdoors on campus.

Three URochester students walking on campus by a concrete post painted blue with the word

University of Rochester NROTC students lay on the ground outside by the Genesee River in a circle and pass a heavy container to each other as part of a training exercise.

NROTC students stretch in the Goergen Athletic Center during physical training.

Thousands of military officers have enrolled at URochester and gone on to pursue careers serving the country. Their ranks include Andrea Benvenuto ’07, who took command of the USS Hopper in June, and Jonathan Hopkins ’01, who in September assumed command of America’s largest overseas naval base—Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan—as reported by Stars and Stripes.

“This is a tight-knit unit that has shaped leaders for 80 years.”

“The NROTC has been the embodiment of Meliora for 80 years,” says Nick Valentino, senior academic administrator at the University’s Hajim School of Engineering & Applied Sciences and advisor to the NROTC program. “By the time the Midshipmen leave our campus, they’ve established themselves as student leaders, in addition to being very successful academically. The NROTC staff and students have honored Rochester with their service, and we’re grateful that they are being celebrated for their excellence and longevity.”

Caelan Clayton ’26, a data science major from Huntington, New York, and a member of the University’s varsity swim team, plans to pursue a career as a naval officer in the submarine community. She says it’s “an incredible honor” to be part of the longstanding Rochester NROTC program.

… and now.

Photos by senior University photographer J. Adam Fenster unless otherwise specified.

URochester NROTC midshipmen in uniform seated in a classroom. — NROTC students pursue a variety of majors, with those planning on entering the Navy focusing on engineering, math, and the sciences.

An NROTC cadet climbs a rope while fellow midshipmen look on. — RIT MIDN 1/C Leia Peffer '20 climbs a rope as USMC captain Brian Moriarty and fellow cadets watch.

URochester NROTC students running sprints at dawn on campus. — NROTC students during morning battalion physical training in Fauver Stadium. Physical training takes place twice a week for Navy midshipmen.

Three NROTC midshipmen in uniform and holding a flag during a 9/11 vigil on campus. — (l to r): MIDN 3/C Vanessa Carollo (URochester), MIDN 4/C Julie Nguyen (RIT), and MIDN 4/C Daniel Sause (RIT) hold the first shift of the annual 9/11 vigil in 2018.

URochester NROTC midshipmen stretching in a circle in Fauver Stadium.

Aerial view of NROTC midshipmen at the University of Rochester. — NROTC midshipmen at the University of Rochester.

NROTC midshipmen run laps at Fauver Stadium.

Veterans carrying flags for the US, Marines, and Navy lead a group of runners in the early morning hours. — Veterans Day Run 2023. (University of Rochester photo / Adrian Kraus)

Group shot in an event space of URochester NROTC alumni. — NROTC alumni in Washington, DC, in July 2025.

George Ward ’65 and his wife, Peggy, smile at the camera while posed in front of an archival picture from 1965 on the screen behind them. — George Ward ’65 and his wife, Peggy, posed in front of a picture of them from 1965. They were married six days later, and recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. (Provided photo)

Four people (three in Navy whites) at a naval base pose together for a photo. — In June 2025, Commander Andrea Benvenuto ’07 took command of USS Hopper (DDG 70). Navy Commander Sarah Lynch ’07 attended the ceremony, along with Commander David ’08 and Moriah Heller Nissan ’08. (Provided photo)

Jonathan Hopkins in his Navy uniform looks off camera for a portrait. — Capt. Jonathan Hopkins, taken by Stars and Stripes photographer Alex Wilson and published Sept. 19, 2025. (Stars and Stripes photograph by Alex Wilson)

“This is a tight-knit unit that has shaped leaders for 80 years,” Clayton says. “Having met some of the thousands of alumni who stood where we stand today, I’m so proud to continue their legacy of excellence and service.”

Valentino says the NROTC students’ presence on campus—in uniform or not—enriches the URochester community. “It’s an important reminder that our very own students have already answered the call to serve our country,” he says, “and that the University has the privilege to provide education and training for the next generation of successful officers in the Navy and Marines.”

URochester NROTC then …

… and now.

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