Come June, Clinton Cornell will take the reins as the 92nd U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) commandant and is ready to “forge warriors” in current and future midshipmen.
The USNA announced April 28 that the Dickson City, Penn., native and 2001 USNA graduate will officially step into the role during a graduation ceremony this June. He earned his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at the USNA prior to graduating from the National War College, where he earned a master’s degree in national security studies.
Cornell will oversee roughly 4,400 midshipmen, being compared to a dean of students at a civilian university who is responsible for day-to-day conduct, military training and professional development.
“I am honored to serve as commandant of Midshipmen,” Cornell said in a statement. “It is a privilege to lead the brigade of midshipmen as we forge warriors—leaders of character grounded in accountability, discipline, and a relentless commitment to war fighting excellence.
“I am excited to return to the Naval Academy, and my family looks forward to joining a team dedicated to strengthening a culture of readiness and resilience as we prepare the next generation of Navy and Marine Corps leaders to deter conflict and, when called, fight and win.”
He will step into the role amid some recent turmoil. In November 2025, then-Commandant Gilbert Clark, Jr., also a USNA graduate (1998), was relieved about six months into his own tenure.
USNA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Michael Borgschulte cited “a loss of confidence in his ability to effectively lead the Brigade of Midshipmen” as reasoning for his ousting. Austin Jackson, a Navy SEAL and former troop commander at the secretive SEAL Team 6, has been interim commandant since Clark’s departure.
From San Diego to Annapolis
The new role involves Cornell and his family moving across the country, from San Diego, Calif., to Annapolis, Md.
He is currently serving as commander of the San Diego-based Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group ONE (EODGRU-1), which according to Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) clears explosive hazards to provide access to denied areas, and employs advanced tactics and technologies to exploit and secure the undersea domain for freedom of maneuver.
Cornell, according to the USNA, is designated as an EOD Warfare officer with qualifications as a special operations officer, surface warfare officer, deep sea diving officer, combat craft patrol officer and naval parachutist.
His sea duty and operational tours have included deployment to Bahrain as a damage control assistant on the USS Dextrous; officer in charge of EOD Mobile Unit TWO Detachment 12; officer in charge of Riverine Squadron THREE Detachment Three; operations officer of EOD Mobile Unit FIVE; executive officer of EOD Mobile Unit TWO; and commanding officer of EOD Mobile Unit TWO.
On shore and aside from NECC experience, Cornell’s served at the Bureau of Naval Personnel as the EOD officer community manager in Millington, Tenn.; EOD officer assignment and placement officer stationed at Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tenn.; executive officer of the Navy Expeditionary Warfighting Development Center in Virginia Beach, Va.; and as the J10 (Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction) operations division chief and deputy director at U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa, Fla.
Cornell has a decorated career, being awarded the following: the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with the Combat Distinguishing Device, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (five awards), Combat Action Ribbon (two awards), Battle “E” (three awards) and various other personal and campaign awards.
