Man with local ties graduates from U.S. Naval Academy

Nate Bramwell, of West Plains, successfully completed four years of challenging academic, physical and professional military training, graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Research and a commission as a U.S. Marine Corps 2nd Lt. 

He is a graduate of West Plains High School (Class of 2020). 

At the academy, Bramwell was a member of the Varsity Offshore Sailing Team. 

Bramwell was originally appointed to the Naval Academy by U.S. Rep. Jason Smith. 

He is also the son of Eric and Bethany Bramwell, formerly of Pomona, and the grandson of Irene Bramwell, of Mountain Grove.

Founded in 1845, the U.S. Naval Academy today is a prestigious four-year service academy that prepares midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically to be professional officers in the naval service. 

More than 4,400 men and women representing every state in the U.S. and several foreign countries make up the student body, known as the Brigade of Midshipmen. 

Each year, approximately 1,200 students are admitted to the Naval Academy’s incoming class. U.S. News and World Reports has recognized the Naval Academy as the No. 1 public school, No. 4 engineering program and No. 6 liberal arts college. 

Midshipmen learn from military and civilian instructors and participate in intercollegiate varsity sports and extracurricular activities. 

They also study subjects such as leadership, ethics, small arms, drill, seamanship and navigation, tactics, naval engineering and weapons, and military law. 

Upon graduation, midshipmen earn a Bachelor of Science degree in a choice of 26 different subject majors and go on to serve at least five years of exciting and rewarding service as commissioned officers in the U.S. Navy or U.S. Marine Corps. 

The academy’s alumni include, one president, 29 members of Congress, five governors, 73 Medal of Honor recipients, two Nobel Prize winners, 55 astronauts and 4,000 admirals and generals.