CAPT Asbury “Sandy” Coward IV

CDR Sara Stires 1998:

CAPT Sandy Coward called my home in November 1993 offering me an appointment to the United States Naval Academy. I was so lucky to be a part of the “Coward Mid” tribe. So many of my best memories had CAPT Coward in them including my ring dance and wedding! I learned so many wonderful life tips and lessons from him-the grit to never give up, the inspiration to lead without apology and others…. He had the dedication and vision to support women at USNA in an era when so many were unwilling, and the women he recruited have gone on to represent USNA at the highest levels of government and the civilian sector. He always had my back, and I will never forget the scathing email he wrote on my behalf to his classmates who wanted to discredit my hard work and dedication to Naval Aviation. He helped guide my passions and goals as a lifelong mentor, and I am forever grateful to him.  I wholeheartedly support an award in his honor!

 

Jeannette Gaudry Haynie, Class of 1998:

CAPT Coward’s unwavering support and advocacy for women leaders at USNA and beyond changed the course of my life forever. He believed – when so many others clearly didn’t – that we were capable of anything, and he followed through, living his life to mentor, teach, and build up others, including women at USNA. He invested his energy, reputation, time, and family in us, and he left an indelible mark on USNA women and on the Navy and Marine Corps as a result, We will never forget him or the example he gave us of what true leadership and advocacy looks like. Beat Army!

 

Bridget Stamp Ruiz, Class of 1998:

I first met CAPT Coward when he personally called, as the Director of Admissions, to offer me my USNA appointment verbally in 1993. That moment was the first of 28 years of positive impact he had on my life: from my USNA days, to my time in the fleet, and many subsequent years of support through to the last months of his life. CAPT C never told me, or anyone else, what to do unless we directly asked for his advice. Instead, he was resolutely present in my life and his fierce passion for Navy, his fighting spirit, and his leadership practices modeled a standard that helped me continue to grow into the leader I aspire to be. I am smiling as I write this thinking of his booming support at my own swim meets, as well as endless other Navy sporting events through the years. Capt C’s active support for the female midshipmen of my era stands out as crucial to launching so many careers and lives of service. I cannot think of a more appropriate way to celebrate that legacy than by honoring him with an award to future Navy midshipmen.

 

CDR Mark Brophy – Class of ‘98:

I had a pretty lackluster high school career graduating with a mediocre GPA and fairly low SAT. After attending a prep school to raise my SAT scores and a semester at junior college, my prospects were pretty bleak with not a single college acceptance, but I knew I wanted to attend USNA. I called the Office of Admissions to plead my case to anyone who would answer and thankfully, CAPT Coward was the one. I did my best to convince him that even though I did not look good on paper, that if I was just given a chance, I would not let him down or make him regret his decision. He did a masterful job of letting me know that the competition was stiff without outright telling me I had no chance. To my surprise (and complete relief), two weeks later CAPT Coward personally called me and asked, “How would you like to go to NAPS?”. 

I will never forget that phone call and as I learned more about the Navy, I became even more impressed that as a weak prospect, I received a personal call from a Captain. I also never forgot the feeling I had of someone like him giving me an opportunity based on nothing more than my word and intense desire to make something better of myself. Thanks to CAPT Coward, I was able to do just that. 

 

CDR Blair Keithley (Class of 1995):

Captain Coward was as much a family friend as a Navy mentor. His step son and my brother were college roommates and led to my introduction to CAPT C. He interviewed me as a high school student and wrote a letter of recommendation for me. I believe his intervention helped me come to USNA. He and his wife, Croom, arrived on the Yard my youngster year, and having them both was an amazing boon to me – mentors, parents, Croom helped me with my Spanish. More importantly, I got to watch them work as a team, and to have deep conversations with CAPT C regarding the Academy, Naval Aviation, and the candidates he was recruiting. Learning from CAPT and Mrs. Coward inspired me to not only be a Naval Aviator, but to come back to USNA as a company officer and try to have the impact on midshipmen that I know CAPT C had on me and many others. Throughout my career he was there – my acceptance to USNA, Plebe Parents Weekend, Graduation, and at my retirement ceremony 21 years later. That’s loyalty, dedication, and inspiration. It sums up Captain Coward.

 

Becca Chaney Baas, Class of 1998:

CAPT Coward saw potential in everything and everyone. He knew exactly the right way to challenge and inspire, and I am certain he left every organization better than he found it. His vision and drive created opportunities for a generation of Midshipmen who directly benefitted from his ability to advocate on our behalf while encouraging us to push ourselves, learn from mistakes, and chart our own course.  CAPT C and his wife Croom created a “leadership laboratory” around the dining room table for an entire generation of Midshipmen, young officers, and our families. We listened to (and later told) sea stories, debated, and reflected on what service both in and out of uniform could be. I am forever grateful for these lessons, for the potential CAPT C saw in me and my peers so many years ago, and for the incredible impact his vision had on our lives at the Academy, as well as our careers in the Navy and Marine Corps, and beyond. His presence is greatly missed and I enthusiastically support this award in his honor.

 

LtCol Amy McGrath (Class of 1997):

I’m just one of hundreds who have been impacted by Captain Coward in a tremendously positive way. He was one of the most influential persons during my midshipman days. When he was Director of Candidate Guidance, in the early 1990s, more doors were open to women in our military because of a push from outside the services, Congress and the President. These doors stayed open because of CAPT Coward, and much of my success (and many others) was due to his advocacy and guidance within the service. He felt it was critical for our country that the integration of women be done right and he personally made sure of it. In the process, he became a champion for women, including myself, in the Navy and Marine Corps in uniform and beyond. Many are aware of Sandy’s love for USNA, and the Navy, but his love for our country is what I remember even more. He believed the mission of USNA is to mold leaders, not just for the military service, but to lead our entire country. He inspired me to step up, do the hard things, and if you love this country, you must do the hard things to protect it. The American leaders of the future should know about Sandy Coward.