Congressman Fong Announces U.S. Service Academy Nominations for California's 20th District

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - Today, Congressman Vince Fong (CA-20) announced his nominations to the United States Service Academies for students from California's 20th Congressional District. Nominees were selected through a highly competitive process that included many qualified applicants committed to academic excellence, leadership, and service.

"It is a tremendous honor to nominate these outstanding local students to our nation's Service Academies," said Congressman Fong (CA-20). "Their dedication, discipline, and commitment to service reflect the very best of our region. They will represent our community with distinction as they pursue careers serving our country. I am grateful to my committee members for their time and expertise throughout this rigorous selection process."

As a Member of Congress, Congressman Fong is authorized to nominate candidates to fill up to five vacancies at each Service Academy. For the U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, and U.S. Military Academy, Congressman Fong designated one principal nominee per academy and submitted a slate of competitive alternates. Alternate nominees are ranked by each academy's admissions board and selected at the academy's discretion. Traditionally, alternates are notified by April if they receive an appointment. Some applicants received nominations to more than one academy based on their stated preferences.

Each candidate was interviewed by Congressman Fong's Service Academy Interview Committee, which evaluated applicants on academics, leadership, character, and commitment to service before submitting recommendations to Congressman Fong.

See the 2025 Service Academy Interview Committee Members below:

• Cam Martin, former External Affairs Director, NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center; parent of two U.S. Naval Academy graduates
• Rear Admiral Keith Hash, Commander, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, China Lake; U.S. Naval Academy graduate
• Jenny Frank, Director of Veterans Services and Programs, Bakersfield College
• Blake Zante, Executive Director, Kenneth L. Maddy Institute, Fresno
• Israel Sotelo, Chief of Staff, Tulare County Board of Supervisors, Visalia

See the nominees to the U.S. Service Academies below:

• United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, CO (USAFA):
• Principal Nominee: Samuel Chambless, 18, Bakersfield, CA, Heartland Charter School, Son of Mark and Christie Chambless
• Competing Alternates:
• Luke Arends - Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA
• Dustin Bui - Sherman E. Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA
• Ronin Davis - Liberty High School, Bakersfield, CA
• Lauren Delgado - Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA
• Tyler Diaz - Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA
• Charles Gadbois - Liberty High School, Bakersfield, CA
• Lake Ginn - Paraclete High School, Lancaster, CA
• Andrew Haas - Sherman E. Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA
• Kairi Hall - SHAPE American School, Europe West District
• Hadassah Jackson - Desert Christian High School, Lancaster, CA
• Connor Machado - Monache High School, Porterville, CA
• Franco Martinez-Cortez - Frontier High School, Bakersfield, CA
• Preston Riley - Liberty High School, Bakersfield, CA
• Henry Van Germert V - Sierra Pacific High School, Hanford, CA

• United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD (USNA):
• Principal Nominee: Luke Arends, 17, Clovis, CA, Buchanan High School, Son of Gary and Julie Arends
• Competing Alternates:
• Tyler Bridges - Clovis Community College, Clovis, CA
• Dustin Bui - Sherman E. Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA
• Samuel Chambless - Heartland Charter School, Bakersfield, CA
• Lauren Delgado - Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA
• Tyler Diaz - Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA
• Lake Ginn - Paraclete High School, Lancaster, CA
• Andrew Haas - Sherman E. Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA
• Deacon Naylor - Legacy Academy Homeschool, Clovis, CA
• Mason Rothermel - Tehachapi High School, Tehachapi, CA
• Henry Van Germert V - Sierra Pacific High School, Hanford, CA

• United States Military Academy, West Point, NY (USMA):
• Principal Nominee: Mason Rothermel, 17, Tehachapi, CA - Tehachapi High School, Son of Jairus and Sarah Rothermel
• Competing Alternates:
• Tyler Bridges - Clovis Community College, Clovis, CA
• Dustin Bui - Sherman E. Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA
• Samuel Chambless - Heartland Charter School, Bakersfield, CA
• Lauren Delgado - Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA
• Hadassah Jackson - Desert Christian High School, Lancaster, CA
• Connor Machado - Monache High School, Porterville, CA
• Preston Riley - Liberty High School, Bakersfield, CA

• United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, NY (USMMA):
• Note: The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy does not allow Members of Congress to designate a principal nominee. All nominations are submitted as an unranked slate.
• Nominated Candidates:
• Dustin Bui - Sherman E. Burroughs High School, Ridgecrest, CA
• Lauren Delgado - Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA
• Tyler Diaz - Buchanan High School, Clovis, CA
• Franco Martinez-Cortez - Frontier High School, Bakersfield, CA
• Mason Rothermel - Tehachapi High School, Tehachapi, CA

Congratulations to these outstanding students!