Dennis LaFlam

In 2026, UC Berkeley’s Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) celebrates its 100th anniversary as one of the original six NROTC units established by the U.S. Navy in 1926.

The program’s first commanding officer and Professor of Naval Science was Captain Chester W. Nimitz, who later served as Commander of Allied forces in the Pacific during World War II, Chief of Naval Operations, and one of only five officers to attain the rank of Fleet Admiral. After retiring in 1947, Nimitz settled in Berkeley and served on the University of California Board of Regents from 1948 to 1956.

Today, Cal’s NROTC unit, based in Hearst Gymnasium, serves students from UC Berkeley, Stanford, UC Davis, and the California Maritime Academy. About 65 Midshipmen are preparing for commissions as officers in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. The program was formerly housed in Callaghan Hall, which included the Nimitz Library and memorabilia before the building was destroyed by arson in 1985.

Since admitting its first women in 1973, following the opening of ROTC programs to women nationwide, Cal’s NROTC has continued to evolve while maintaining its reputation for producing outstanding Navy and Marine Corps officers. The program benefits from Berkeley’s academic excellence and its location in the Bay Area, giving Midshipmen unique exposure to leaders in technology, business, public policy, and national security.

To commemorate the centennial, alumni will host events on September 19, including a memorial wreath ceremony at Golden Gate National Cemetery honoring Fleet Admiral Nimitz and other World War II naval leaders, followed by a Centennial Banquet at the Marines’ Memorial Club in San Francisco.

More information is available at www.calnrotccentennial.org.