The U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F) is proud to announce a seven-figure gift from Jim ’87 and Julie Matheson to support the launch of The Center for Energy Security and Infrastructure Resilience (CESIR) at the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA). Their gift coincides with the appointment of Dr. Robert Fishman ’73 as the inaugural Jim and Julie Matheson Class of 1987 Director of CESIR. Their gift will also support the Naval Academy Fund, providing flexible resources to advance the mission 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” shared Jim Matheson. “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. We are especially grateful to Superintendent Davids and Provost Firebaugh for their vision in establishing CESIR, and for Dr. Fishman’s commitment to launching and leading it, and look forward to working with them to grow CESIR’s impact in the coming years.”
Jim Matheson earned a Bachelor of Science degree with Merit from USNA in 1987 and later obtained an MBA from Harvard Business School (HBS). He served as a Navy F-14/18 pilot and TOPGUN Instructor, retiring from the Naval Reserves as a Commander in 2008. Jim serves on the Entrepreneurship Faculty at Harvard Business School, and as a Special Partner at Engine Ventures and Venture Partner at Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Julie Matheson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from The Ohio State University and a Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Counseling and Psychology from Lesley University, and is an author, mental health therapist, and Founder of Lotus Flower Living.
Jim has been deeply engaged with the Naval Academy community, serving for 35 years as a Class of 1987 Officer including 20 years as President, and previously as the Vice President of the Boston USNA Alumni Chapter. He and Julie split their time between Boise, Idaho, and Cambridge, Massachusetts and regularly host alumni gatherings to promote alumni engagement and connection.
Jim and Julie Matheson’s gift represents a significant step forward in advancing CESIR’s mission while demonstrating the critical role of philanthropy in sustaining the Academy’s leadership in energy security and resilience. The Center, established in the spring of 2024, is dedicated to addressing the complex challenges of preparing future Navy and Marine Corps officers to navigate evolving global energy and security landscapes. CESIR is also dedicated to bolstering USNA’s infrastructure by enhancing energy resilience and developing mitigation strategies during extreme weather events. Additionally, CESIR provides interdisciplinary professional training, special lectures, and collaboration opportunities with government agencies, universities, and industry leaders to ensure USNA remains at the forefront of energy and resilience education.
Dr. Fishman has dedicated his career to power generation, renewable energy, and energy economics, with expertise in power grid operations, systems integration, optimization, reliability, and thermal hydraulics. Dr. Fishman’s extensive leadership experience includes serving as President and CEO of NAES Corporation, COO of General Atomics, and key executive roles at Calpine Corporation and PB Power. A graduate of USNA and former U.S. Navy Surface Warfare Officer, Fishman also holds advanced degrees in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Fishman remains an influential voice in engineering, energy, and aviation history, and previously served as a USNA Alumni Association Trustee for the Puget Sound Chapter.
“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,” said Provost Samara Firebaugh. “The primary mission of the Center is to prepare midshipmen to meet these challenges with access to first-class resources and subject matter expertise.”
As an organization, the AA&F serves 69,000 living alumni and the broader USNA community, ensuring that Midshipmen and graduates alike have the resources and opportunities to lead and serve at their highest potential for the nation’s benefit. The philanthropy of alumni and donors enhances the Academy’s core mission, supplementing federal funding with crucial support.
“The generosity and support of our alumni remain the driving forces for our success as an Enterprise and the success of the Naval Academy,” said Jeff Webb, President and CEO of the Alumni Association & Foundation. “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. I want to personally thank Jim and Julie for making a difference and leading through their generosity.”