Sullivan Honored to Announce 2026 Military Service Academy Nominations

02.02.26

Sullivan Honored to Announce 2026 Military Service Academy Nominations

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) today announced the names of 33 young Alaskans he nominated to the U.S. Military Service Academies. Senator Sullivan made his selections with the help of an Academy Review Board, comprised of eleven members from across Alaska, many of whom are service academy graduates. The board reviewed applications, interviewed each of the applicants, and made recommendations to the Senator.

"It is a highlight of my job to nominate young Alaskans to our nation's prestigious military service academies," said Sen. Sullivan. "These students, from across Alaska and with diverse backgrounds, show the incredible ways our young people are involved in our communities, schools, churches, and homes. They are not only hard workers, but well-rounded, caring individuals who have a desire to serve their country as leaders in the military. My board and I are so pleased to get to know them better and provide them this opportunity to compete to attend an academy."

"I also want to thank the dedicated members of the review board for volunteering countless hours of their own time to strengthen this process. We hope to see more applications next year and encourage young Alaskans to research the academies and the programs they offer."

Members of the Alaska congressional delegation work closely with one another to maximize the opportunities for Alaska men and women to receive nominations to the academies. The nominations allow the applicants to compete for appointments to the academies. Appointments are offered individually by the academies.

Senator Sullivan's Class of 2030 U.S. Military Service Academy nominees are as follows:

U.S. Air Force Academy:

Austin Johnson, Ketchikan

Keena Bennett, Anchorage

Abigail Sullivan, Military Dependent

John McGaughan, Military Dependent

Kelsey Barrett, Anchorage

Macey Harper, Anchorage

Lane Hillyer, Soldotna

Michael Porter, Eagle River

Luke Hillyer, Soldotna

Nalani Mendez, Military Dependent

Morgan Ainsworth, Palmer

Rick Benedict, Wasilla

Aiden Smith, North Pole

Cavan Dick, Anchorage

Garin Ludwig, Anchorage

U.S. Merchant Marine Academy:

Donovan Mahoney, Eagle River

Evan Dash, Ketchikan

Benjamin Houser, Wrangell

Scott Johnson, Fairbanks

Keena Bennett, Anchorage

Isabelle Limauro, Anchorage

Michael Porter, Eagle River

Rick Benedict, Wasilla

Aodhan Nakada, Anchorage

U.S. Military Academy:

Alyssa Hansen, Fairbanks

Nina Carstens, Anchorage

Aidan Koontz, Eagle River

Elodie Bennett, Anchorage

Ansley Smith, Military Dependent

Mary Burke, Fairbanks

Maximilian Andrysiak, Military Dependent

Elayna Tunney, Anchorage

Michael Porter, Eagle River

Rick Benedict, Wasilla

Aodhan Nakada, Anchorage

Gabriel Austin, Anchorage

Keena Bennett, Anchorage

U.S. Naval Academy:

Mary Burke, Fairbanks

Maximilian Andrysiak, Military Dependent

Reese Woodward, Eagle River

Elayna Tunney, Anchorage

Isabelle Limauro, Anchorage

Sarah Baisden, Anchorage

Aodhan Nakada, Anchorage

Nicholas Boring, Anchorage

Gabriel Austin, Anchorage

Keena Bennett, Anchorage

Nina Carstens, Anchorage

Macey Harper, Anchorage

Rick Benedict, Wasilla

Michael Porter, Eagle River

NOTE: The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination for their application.

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