Veterans Day

Jesuit High School's annual Veterans Day celebration Monday (Nov. 12) featured an inspiring Convocation presentation by Rear Admiral David Hahn '81, USN, who has served in the U.S. Navy since his graduation from Jesuit 37 years ago, and was returning to campus for the first time since.

Rear Admiral Hahn is one of four brothers to graduate from Jesuit (Mike Hahn '80, Jeff Hahn '84, and Charles Hahn '87, along with nephew Myles Hahn '16). With classmates, veterans, and family in attendance Monday, he spoke about the vital role of the U.S. Navy in the enormous, and vitally important, task of keeping the world safe for travel on the water ("the blue stuff") all around the planet.

His specific message to the students in their role as future leaders was to always be ready/prepared, to seek great partners, and to take educated risks but don't gamble. He spoke about such a risk taken during World War II in the Pacific by Admiral Chester Nimitz, who used critical information to help the U.S. win the Battle of Midway. It turned the tide against the Japanese just six months after Japan's surprise bombing of Pearl Harbor launched the U.S. into WWII.

Hahn graduated with distinction from the the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985, earning a Mechanical Engineering degree. He also earned an MBA from George Mason University and has completed the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI program in International Security Affairs.

Hahn has served aboard multiple ballistic missile carrying submarines in the North Atlantic and Western Pacific. He commanded the USS Pittsburgh, and he was deployed to the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific. He also conducted an Engineered Overhaul in Portsmouth, N.H.

Two years ago, Hahn became the 26th chief of Naval Research with responsibilities as director, Innovation Technology Requirements, and Test & Evaluation. He has been awarded the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and various campaign and unit awards.

Hahn currently resides in the Washington D.C. area. He and wife, Nancy, have a daughter and two sons.  

While a student at Jesuit, Hahn was actively involved in Masque Club and Student Council, was on the soccer team, and is a founding member of the Blue Tide.

Each year, a Jesuit alumnus with a military background addresses the student body on Veterans Day. Last year it was Jesus Delgado-Jenkins '82, who served 17 years in the U.S. Army and is now the Executive VP and CMO of 7-Eleven. In 2016 it was Mike Petters '77, the CEO of Huntington Ingalls in Newport News, Va. In 2015, it was Lt. Col. Lucien Campillo ’88, and in 2014 it was Bruce Czaja ’85.

This year, for the third straight year, Jesuit's Veterans Day Convocation also featured the University of South Florida's Air Force ROTC Color Guard.

Please view below a video of Hahn's presentation, and below that a photos slideshow: