News and Intel from Navy SEAL Museum San Diego
Exhibition Build-out Begins
Have you ever seen a SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) come through the second story window of a museum? Neither have we. But that’s what we’re doing on September 26 when we bring one of our largest items in our collection into Navy SEAL Museum San Diego.
Now that we are almost done with our tenant improvements, we are getting ready to move in exhibition pieces.
SDVs are what the U.S. Navy use to get SEALS to an underwater location, and do so with complete secrecy, they use these.
Executive Director, Todd Perry, US Navy (ret) says, “This is the biggest artifact in our collection and one of the most visually contemplative. Once installed, it will be displayed prominently, suspended 15-feet above the visitor’s head. We will also have a SDV simulator, meaning visitors will be immersed in this exhibit and experience what it takes to ‘fly’ this wet submarine through challenging mission scenarios—although they will miss out on the ‘full benefit’ of being wet and cold in this dark, cramped, and clandestine submersible.”
We look forward to seeing you at the museum!”
From the Executive Director
Our growing Navy SEAL Museum San Diego (NSMSD) staff remains excited about the progress and increased awareness of this decades-long dream of opening a Navy SEAL Museum in San Diego, where all of our SEAL and Special Warfare Combat Crewmen (SWCC) operators are selected and trained, nearly half of the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) Force is based and our NSW leadership is headquartered. Progress continues at our premiere location on Kettner Blvd and Broadway, a few blocks away from the USS Midway and the San Diego Maritime Museum.
Our targeted goal remains to complete this ‘Maritime Triad’ by summer 2025,
allowing us to educate, entertain and inspire the residents and visitors in America’s 8th largest city (and largest military city!).
NSMSD will tell the incredible story of our 82-year history up to ‘NSW Today’. It will include an Immersive Gallery, and interactive Honor Wall for our fallen, a Virtual Reality experience, Interactive ‘Featured Missions’. Guests can also remain dry while ‘flying’ a SEAL Delivery Vehicle (SDV) during a simulated undersea mission. We will embed into San Diego through various Community Engagement programs, and remain closely supportive / aligned with our entire NSW enterprise – from top leadership and active/reserve community to NSW families and veterans.
Finally, NSMSD will allow our visitors to better understand how the ‘Attributes’ required to become a SEAL or SWCC operator apply to all Americans, and these traits are much more than just the courage and fitness NSW is known for – seeking challenges, overcoming adversity, strong work-ethic, integrity, team-player and above all…a positive, ‘Never Quit’ mindset.
Very respectfully,
Captain Todd Perry, USN (ret.)
Executive Director, Navy SEAL Museum San Diego
Power of Generosity
Attention Retirees – Did you know that the Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) is a smart tax-free way to donate to your favorite charity
The QCD is an excellent way to show your support for Navy SEAL Museum San Diego and receive tax benefits in return. Whether you are planning your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) or not, consider making a gift from your traditional IRA to make the most of your charitable giving. You receive a tax benefit even if you take the standard deduction!
To Qualify:
- You must be 70 ½ or older at the time of the gift.
- Distributions must be made directly from a traditional IRA by your IRA administrator.
- Gifts must be outright, meaning they go directly to UDT-SEAL Museum Association. Please designate your gift to go to the Navy SEAL Museum San Diego.
- The maximum annual QCD amount is $105,000 (2024).
- For a QCD to count towards your current year’s RMD, the funds must come out of your IRA by your RMD deadline, generally December 31.
We recommend that you consult with your IRA Administrator or your tax advisor before making a decision of this nature.
For more information, please contact Kim Rhinehelder, CFRE, Director of Development and Capital Campaign, Navy SEAL Museum San Diego at 916/301-2208.
Did you know?
On the night of 5 August 1950, a detachment from UDT-3 infiltrated from USS Diachenko (APD-123) with their inflatable boat to conduct a demolition raid against train tracks and a bridge-tunnel near Yosu.
LTJG Atcheson and BM3 Warren “Fins” Foley, as the swimmer scouts, swam 200 yards ahead of the boat in swift current, exiting the water at a seawall just below their target.
After patrolling up a 35-foot embankment and making a hasty reconnaissance, they signaled the remaining men to come ashore with the explosives.
Suddenly 10 North Korean soldiers on a handcar came out of the tunnel and opened fire. Foley was hit and fell over the seawall. LTJG Atcheson threw several hand grenades that dispersed the enemy, and this allowed time for the UDT men to get clear and back to their boat for return to the Diachenko.
Foley, who had a smashed kneecap and wounds in his hand and thigh, was the first U.S. Navy casualty of the Korean War.
New Boots on the Ground
Navy SEAL Museum San Diego’s Board of Directors has appointed Vice Admiral Tim Szymanski, USN (Ret.) to serve as its chairman for the next term.
Szymanski served most recently as the Deputy Commander for United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) after previously serving as the Commander of Naval Special Warfare (NSW). Szymanski’s previous Naval Special Warfare and operational assignments include platoon and task unit commander at SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 2. He served as troop and squadron commander and as operations officer and deputy commanding officer at Naval Special Warfare Development Group. He commanded Special Boat Unit 26, SEAL Team 2, O6-level Joint Task Force in Afghanistan and Naval Special Warfare Group 2. He served as deputy commanding general sustainment to Special Operations Joint Task Force-Afghanistan/NATO Special Operations Component Command-Afghanistan.
Szymanski says of his appointment to the chairmanship, “This is an incredibly worthy project to be a part of. San Diego, home to the training of our NSW operators, deserves a place for them, their families—and quite honestly, San Diegans in general—to call home. There will be nothing like this museum in the country and it makes sense for it to be here.”
Captain (SEAL) Brian “Beef” Drechsler, USN (Ret.) has been hired to oversee operations of the Museum and serve as Deputy Executive Director.
Drechsler retired from active duty on June 1 of this year and was awarded the Navy’s 2017 Stockdale Leadership award and will bring those guidance skillsets to NSMSD.
Mr. Drechsler previously commanded the Naval Special Warfare Center overseeing the production of all new SEALs and Special Warfare Combat Crewman.
“I look forward to working with the outstanding museum team and tackling the challenges of learning my new role. I’m honored as well to help generate interest and find funding to fulfill our mission which is to preserve and share the history and heritage of Navy SEALs and their predecessors, honor our fallen, and care for our families.”
