Naval Academy grad makes seven-figure gift to launch climate change security, resilience center
A Naval Academy graduate has made a seven-figure donation to his alma mater to help launch a new center focusing on American energy security and the impacts of climate change.
Jim Matheson, a 1987 graduate, Harvard Business School professor and a partner at a venture capital firm, directed the gift — on behalf of him and his wife, Julie — to be used for the launch of The Center for Energy Security and Infrastructure Resilience. A portion of their gift will also support the Naval Academy Fund, an unrestricted fund that allows Superintendent Vice Adm. Yvette Davids to meet the emerging needs of the academy.
“Julie and I are honored to be able to support the vital and timely work of the newly established Center for Energy Security and Infrastructure Resilience,” Matheson said in a news release announcing the donation. “The interdependent topics of energy security and infrastructure resilience are central to national and global imperatives, and CESIR’s mission of ensuring that the future leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps understand the risks and opportunities in these areas is mission critical.”
The center was created in the spring of 2024.
Matheson declined to share the exact amount of his donation. John Schofield, executive director of communications at the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation, said that contributions from alumni like Matheson are the difference makers in the national security and long-term military stability of the United States.
“While federal dollars keep the lights on and water running, gifts like Jim’s and Julie’s indeed are the margin of excellence and allow for continued achievement and evolution in the moral, mental and physical education of tomorrow’s leaders,” Schofield said. “One of tomorrow’s challenges facing the young Ensigns and 2nd LTs is installation resilience and the effect of the climate on our bases and our nation.”
CESIR was established to prepare future Navy and Marine Corps officers to navigate evolving global energy and security landscapes.
The center specifically trains midshipmen to address issues — such as rising sea levels — stemming from the changing climate and their impact on infrastructure and national security. The research and educational center also provides professional training, special lectures, and collaboration opportunities with government agencies, universities and industry leaders.
“The dual challenges of energy security and the impact on critical infrastructure are important issues that are impacting the Yard today and will challenge our midshipmen in their future careers as Navy and Marine Corps officers,” Provost Samara Firebaugh said in the news release. “The primary mission of the Center is to prepare midshipmen to meet these challenges with access to first-class resources and subject matter expertise.”
Matheson has served 35 years as a Class of 1987 Officer, including 20 years as president and a stint as vice president of the Boston Alumni Chapter. The Mathesons split their time between Boise, Idaho and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
After earning his degree, Matheson served as an F-14 and FA-18 pilot and a Top Gun instructor. He earned his MBA from Harvard Business School in 2001 and retired from the Naval Reserves as a commander in 2008.
“The generosity and support of our alumni remain the driving forces for our success as an enterprise and the success of the Naval Academy,” Jeff Webb, president and CEO of the Alumni Association and Foundation, said in the news release. “This is yet another example of the philanthropy of an alumnus creating a margin of excellence that continues to propel USNA forward. Across the moral, mental and physical missions at Annapolis, the contributions of our alumni make a difference and help create a better warfighter for the Navy and Marine Corps.
Have a news tip? Contact James Matheson at jmatheson@baltsun.com, 443-842-2344 or on X @jamesmatheson__
Originally Published: