Retired Navy Captain TJ Grady '96 has worn many hats: goalkeeper, aviator, squadron commander, Deputy Commandant, and now Executive Vice President for Engagement and Communications at the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation. Through every phase of his career, one constant has remained, his deep-rooted connection to the Naval Academy community and his unwavering belief in the power of the Navy "tribe."
Grady isn't just a passionate supporter of Navy Athletics. He lives the mission—on the field, in uniform, and now as one of the most visible advocates for the Academy's alumni and midshipmen. His journey from the soccer field to the senior leadership of the Alumni Association is a testament to how Navy Athletics forges character, connection, and lifelong commitment.
As a goalkeeper for Navy Men's Soccer in the mid-90s, Grady earned his place in the record books, second all-time in career saves and, more importantly, found a family that has lasted well beyond graduation.
"Navy Men's Soccer was my tribe," Grady says. "Playing a Division I sport here is humbling—everyone's good. You have to make a choice: Do I want to just be on the team, or do I want to excel? Everyone's pushing in the same direction. That's what makes it so special."
That tribal mentality extended beyond the soccer field. Whether it was the pressure cooker of flight school or the rigors of leading in the fleet, Grady found the same bonds of shared hardship, discipline, and mutual respect.
"You see someone with a class ring, a Navy 'N' star, or a pair of Navy shorts and it's an instant connection. That's your tribe, just a bigger one."
As Deputy Commandant of Midshipmen, Grady made it a point to visit every varsity team at the Academy, attending practices, talking to coaches, and getting to know the athletes, because he knew what the physical mission meant to future officers.
"Athletics teach you how to get up after getting knocked down," explained Grady. "And if you're going to lead, military or corporate, you will get knocked down."
Grady brings that same understanding to his current role at the Alumni Association, where he helps connect graduates, supports Academy initiatives, and promotes engagement across generations.
"The connections we make here, and the people we bring back, they all went through the same crucible. That bond doesn't break."
Last spring, Grady helped organize a special Navy Soccer Alumni Weekend honoring Coach Greg Myers. The event brought together alumni spanning seven decades, from the early 1960s to recent grads, for a weekend of connection and celebration.
"We had people fly in from Europe. That tells you how important Coach Myers was," Grady says. "But more than that, it was about creating opportunities for the generations to connect. And the current coaching staff was all in. Coach Tim O'Donohue is incredible and wants to keep the alumni engaged."
That enthusiasm carries over to events like the upcoming Army-Navy Cup in Chester, Pa., where the Alumni Association is planning a major tailgate. The Army-Navy Cup returns to Subaru Park on Friday, October 10, with a special doubleheader featuring both the men's and women's teams soccer teams for the first time in the event's history.
"We're trying to help break the record for the most attended college soccer match—12,000 people. That's big. And now that we've got a tailgate planned, even more folks want to come."
Along the lines of engagement, the recently opened Fluegel Alumni Center has quickly become a hub for the Navy community. Recruits tour it before hitting the Yard. Fans gather there for podcast tapings and game-day events. Coaches now see it as a launchpad for team engagement.
"We've had women's soccer here signing autographs, women's lacrosse doing game-day podcasts, and baseball tailgates. It's become a place where alumni and midshipmen come together," Grady says.
And for him, that's the whole point.
From the second-most career saves in Navy Men's Soccer history to commanding squadrons in the skies, from walking the Yard as Deputy Commandant to now leading alumni engagement, Captain TJ Grady '96 has never stopped showing up for Navy and for the tribe that shaped him.
