The Shockwave: 4 Key Reasons Why The Naval Academy History Chair Resigned In Protest

The United States Naval Academy (USNA), a cornerstone of American military education, was recently rattled by a high-profile resignation that brought the national debate over academic freedom and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies straight to Annapolis. As of the most current reports in late 2024 and early 2025, Dr. Tom McCarthy, the long-time and highly respected Chair of the USNA History Department, stepped down from his leadership role in a dramatic act of protest.

This was not a quiet retirement; it was a direct stand against a controversial institutional order to remove a scholarly paper from an academic symposium. The incident is part of a much larger, ongoing controversy at the Academy, where a federal executive order targeting DEI has led to a sweeping review of curriculum, events, and even the removal of hundreds of books from the Nimitz Library, raising serious concerns about intellectual freedom for midshipmen and faculty alike.

Dr. Thomas M. McCarthy: A Profile in Academic Dissent

Dr. Thomas M. McCarthy, known as Tom McCarthy, is a distinguished academic whose career has been dedicated to history and education at the highest level. His sudden resignation as Department Chair—while retaining his position as a Professor—underscored the gravity of the policy he refused to implement.

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• Full Name: Dr. Thomas M. McCarthy (Tom McCarthy)
• Primary Role: Professor, History Department, U.S. Naval Academy (USNA)
• Former Role: Chair, History Department, U.S. Naval Academy
• Education:
  • Ph.D., History, Yale University
  • M.A., New York University
  • M.B.A., Columbia University
  • B.A., Dickinson College
• Areas of Expertise: World History, 20th-Century U.S. History
• Affiliations: Member at Large, Alden Kindred Historian
• Notable Publications: Author of multiple books and articles (specific book titles not detailed in search, but noted as a published author)

McCarthy's decision to resign his chair position, a significant administrative role, highlights the intense pressure and ideological conflicts currently facing military academic institutions that historically prize both honor and intellectual rigor.

1. The Refusal to Implement a 'Distasteful' Order

The immediate catalyst for Dr. McCarthy's resignation was a directive he received to implement an order he found morally and academically unacceptable. This order required the removal of a specific paper from a planned academic symposium, which was to be hosted by the History Department.

The paper in question, authored by Hunter College history professor Seth Stein LeJacq, focused on "gay themes in naval literature." Dr. McCarthy's refusal was a principled stand against what he viewed as censorship and an infringement on the department's scholarly autonomy. He reportedly resigned so he would not have to send the communication under his signature, choosing to relinquish his administrative authority rather than compromise his academic integrity.

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This move signaled a clear message to the administration and the wider academic community: that the History Department Chair would not be complicit in the suppression of scholarly research, regardless of the topic's political sensitivity.

2. The Broad Sweep of the Anti-DEI Executive Order

Dr. McCarthy's protest was not an isolated incident; it was a response to a broader, sweeping policy change at the Naval Academy. This change stemmed from a federal executive order, often linked to the Trump administration, aimed at abolishing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) bureaucracies across federal agencies.

While military service academies were initially thought to be exempt from some aspects of the order, the USNA administration began a comprehensive review of all scheduled events and academic materials to ensure alignment with the new directives. This action has been widely interpreted as a move to curtail discussions on topics related to racism, sexism, and diversity, which critics argue seeks to "erase history" and diminish diversity initiatives.

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The controversy escalated with several key entities and events being targeted:

• The Nimitz Library Purge: In a shocking development in April 2025, the Naval Academy removed nearly 400 books from its Nimitz Library. These books were specifically targeted for being related to DEI, anti-racism, and inclusion, effectively purging a significant portion of the library's collection.
• Rescinded Invitations: In October 2024, the Academy rescinded an invitation to Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a prominent scholar of authoritarianism and fascist movements, to deliver a major annual lecture.
• Other Protests: The wave of policy changes also led to the resignation of another distinguished figure, a professor identified as Pauline, who held the Stockdale Chair in Military Ethics.

3. The Battle for Intellectual and Academic Freedom at USNA

The core issue behind Dr. McCarthy's resignation is the fundamental principle of academic freedom. The US Naval Academy has historically prided itself on upholding "Intellectual and academic freedom" as a cornerstone of its educational mission.

However, the recent administrative actions have been criticized by faculty, alumni, and external organizations as a form of "viewpoint discrimination." The removal of books and the censorship of symposium papers suggest a shift toward ideological conformity that many fear will undermine the quality of education for future naval officers.

The goal of a liberal education, as embodied by the Academy's founder John Paul Jones, is to produce officers of "liberal education and personal honor." Critics argue that shielding midshipmen from challenging, diverse, or controversial historical and social topics—whether on race, gender, or sexuality—ultimately fails to prepare them for the complex, global realities of military leadership.

4. Broader Implications for Military Education and Faculty Morale

The controversy has had a palpable effect on faculty and students at the Naval Academy. The resignation of the History Chair and the Stockdale Chair, along with reports of other faculty opting for early retirement, points to a crisis in morale and institutional trust.

The entities involved in this controversy extend beyond the History Department, touching the highest levels of the USNA administration and the Department of the Navy:

• USNA Provost: Issued the guidance following the executive order.
• Capt. Gilbert E. Clark, Jr.: The Commandant of Midshipmen, who was also relieved of his duties in a related "Trump-era shake-up."
• Seth Stein LeJacq: The professor whose paper on "gay themes in naval literature" was ordered to be removed.
• Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat: The scholar of authoritarianism whose invitation was rescinded.
• Pauline: The Military Ethics professor who resigned the Stockdale Chair.

For the History Department, the loss of its long-serving chair creates a leadership vacuum at a time when the department is under intense scrutiny. Dr. McCarthy's choice to remain a professor suggests a continued commitment to teaching the midshipmen, but his public dissent ensures the debate over academic freedom at the US Naval Academy remains a central, unresolved issue.