About the Class of 2002

Americans from all over the nation applied to be members of the Naval Academy Class of 2002. 9,827 of them applied; 1,231 of them were accepted. Twenty-three percent were from college and post-high school preparatory programs. Seventy-five midshipmen previously served as enlisted members of the Navy and Marine Corps. The others were admitted from high schools in every state in the union and many overseas territories. The class also included four international students from Bahrain, Cameroon, Croatia, and Turkey.

Upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2002, each midshipman was given a 1008-page, two-volume yearbook named the "Lucky Bag." This tradition dates back to 1894 when it replaced the class photo album. The Class of 2002 dedicated their annual to the memory of those that were lost in the attacks on September 11^th, especially the 14 Naval Academy graduates who were killed at the Pentagon. John Anthony Augusto '02, the Lucky Bag's lead editor that year, remembered President Kennedy’s words: "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, and support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival and success of liberty." USNA '02 was ready to serve and fight to preserve American ideals throughout the world.

Of the 1,231 that entered, 965 graduated – 134 women and 831 men. The Department of Defense received 797 Navy Ensigns, 162 Marine Corps 2^nd Lieutenants, and two Air Force 2^nd Lieutenants. This book is a tribute to their service and that of the Americans they led from 2002-2012.

Class of 2002 commissioning by community

The Class Today

Following the lead of several other USNA classes, 2002 has incorporated as a not-for-profit. Learn more about our organization, US Naval Academy Class of 2002, Inc., at usna2002.org.