ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk is retiring after 24 years as the President of the Naval Academy Athletic Association and Director of Athletics. Gladchuk is currently the second-longest tenured athletic director in the FBS.

“Since the day the opportunity to represent the United States Naval Academy was extended to us over 24 years ago, Kathy and I have remained committed to its mission without reservation and with the greatest sense of responsibility and privilege,” said Gladchuk. “In addition, the many men and women who are or will be alumni have motivated us every day to not fall short on the expectation of pursuing excellence in every dimension of our service. Our association has been our passion and to have made a dedicated personal and professional investment of our lives to what this Academy stands for has been a vocation we will always cherish. Our sincerest gratitude to so many coaches, staff, associates and friends who have made our journey at the Naval Academy the finest days of our 50-year career in athletics.”

“Our appreciation to Chet and Kathy for their years of dedicated service to our mission and midshipmen,” said Naval Academy Superintendent Vice Adm. Yvette Davids, USN. “We have enjoyed many wonderful accomplishments under Chet’s administrative leadership and the NAAA and Academy is positioned extremely well into the future due to his contributions. We wish the Gladchuks the very best and will remain grateful for many years to come due to a legacy of excellence and the untiring commitment he made to the advancement of the physical mission.”

Gladchuk has overseen the most successful era in the history of Navy Athletics as he has seen the Midshipmen win four national championships, 251 conference titles, produce 352 All-Americans, 139 Academic All-Americans, 12 Commander-in-Chief trophies and 16 bowl games.

Navy’s current streak of 10-consecutive Patriot League Presidents’ Cup titles is the most in Patriot League history and Navy has finished either first or second over the last 17 years. Over the last 10 years, Navy has won 84 Patriot League conference championships, with the next closest school in the league at 38. The Mids have dominated their biggest rival, Army, over Gladchuk’s tenure, winning the Star series 21 times over the past 23 years. Academically, Midshipmen student-athletes have excelled in the classroom and are annually one of the top programs in the nation for graduation success rate.

Since Gladchuk has been the Director of Athletics, Navy has added six varsity sports to give Navy 36 varsity sports teams, tied with Stanford and Ohio State for the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Gladchuk’s efforts have been recognized on a national level. He received the John L. Toner Award from the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame, which recognizes an athletics director who has demonstrated superior administrative abilities and shown outstanding dedication to college athletics.

Gladchuk also received the Bobby Dodd Athletic Director of the Year Award. This national award is presented in recognition of an athletic director’s support and commitment toward the successful advancement of intercollegiate athletics.

He has been recognized by the Secretary of the Navy for his contributions and service to the Navy and the Naval Academy with the Superior Public Service Award to the Department of the Navy. He was awarded the Commodore Perry Distinguished Citizens Award by the Navy League, has served as the President of the Division I Athletic Directors Association and has been a member of the prestigious Division I FBS College Football Playoff Committee.

After 134 years as a football independent, Gladchuk was recognized for engineering the move to the American Athletic Conference, which has secured Navy’s football future as a FBS program of national stature for years to come.

Gladchuk’s initial impact on the Naval Academy was the $80 million renovation of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. He was awarded the Green Star award by the City of Annapolis for commitment to the environment and the neighborhood during the ongoing renovation of Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

Gladchuk and the NAAA have also teamed up with the Naval Academy Foundation to raise private funds for physical mission facilities on and off the Yard. Over the past decade, more than $200 million private dollars have been raised in support of facility projects in support of the physical mission and intercollegiate athletics. In addition, as a 501c3 non-profit business entity, and under Gladchuk’s leadership, the Naval Academy Athletic Association has generated non-government annual operating funding to support 36 varsity sports programs, provide coaching and staffing salaries and operation and maintenance expenditures for major athletic facilities. During Gladchuk’s tenure, over $1 billion has been externally generated with non-appropriated funding in support of the annual operating budget.

Gladchuk has been heavily involved with many NCAA, American Athletic Conference and Patriot League committees. He was selected to serve on the NCAA Leadership Council, the NACDA (National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors) Executive Committee and served as the Chairman of the Executive Committee in the Patriot League and a member of the NCAA Olympic Sport Liaison Committee. Currently he remains President of the Naval Academy Golf Association and recently led a capital campaign to successfully complete a $10M renovation of the facility leading to a top-15 national ranking as a collegiate course.

Gladchuk came to the Naval Academy from the University of Houston, where he had been the Director of Athletics for four years.

Before Houston, Gladchuk was the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics, Intramurals and Recreation for eight years at his alma mater, Boston College.

Prior to rejoining Boston College, Gladchuk served as AD at Tulane University from 1987-90.

Gladchuk lettered three years in football at Boston College and graduated with honors in business management in 1973. He earned a master’s degree in sports administration from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst in 1974.

The Naval Academy Athletic Association will commence a national search and the successful candidate will assume responsibilities upon a timely transition.

Gladchuk will remain involved with capital projects to the benefit and in support of the physical mission as necessary.