Mr. Chet Gladchuk, originally from Massachusetts, lettered in football at Boston College University, graduated with honors and subsequently earned a master’s degree in sports administration from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Mr. Gladchuk took over as the USNA Athletic Director (AD) in 2001 after tenures as AD at Tulane, Boston College and the University of Houston. Mr. Gladchuk’s 24 year tenure at Navy took Navy sports to new heights at both the varsity and club sports levels. Through his support and partnership with the Navy Rugby Alumni Association and hiring a world class Navy Rugby coaching staff, the vision of a prominent dedicated rugby facility became a reality as the Prusmack Rugby Complex opened in 2016. Additionally, Mr. Gladchuk recognized the outstanding contributions that both the men’s and women’s Navy Rugby teams make in supporting the Naval Academy’s mission “to graduate leaders dedicated to a career of naval service with the potential for future development to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government”. Mr. Gladchuk established the framework for men’s and women’s Navy Rugby to become varsity sports and was present when Navy won the men’s 2023 National Championship in it’s first year as a varsity program!