02/16/2026
Midshipman Sydney Barber reached a historic milestone by becoming the first Black woman named brigade commander at the U.S. Naval Academy. This important role had her leading the whole brigade of midshipmen during the spring 2021 term.
The mechanical engineering student from Lake Forest, Illinois, spoke about sharing the good news with her family. “My dad always supported my goals and said he wasn’t surprised,” she said, but he cried because he was so proud of her success. Chosen through a competitive application and review by academy leaders, the brigade commander holds the top student leadership position. After graduation, Barber was commissioned as a Marine Corps officer, continuing her service to the country. Thank you for your dedicated service. Congrats, Sydney, let's show her some love!
(Photo: Sydney Barber)
