On October 13th, 1775, the Continental Congress formally established the Continental Navy with the purchase of two armed ships that would be used to harass and attack British supply vessels headed to the colonies. Little did Congress know at the time but this humble, nascent “fleet” was just the start of the long and illustrious history of the U.S. Navy, which celebrated its 250th anniversary on October 13th, 2025.
Interestingly, the Continental Navy was disbanded in 1785, two years after the Treaty of Paris ended the Revolutionary War, because of cost concerns and Congress’s philosophical leeriness about maintaining a large standing military force. Later, George Washington, seeing the need to protect U.S. merchant vessels from pirates, pushed Congress to reestablish the U.S. Navy, which it did under the Naval Act of 1794.
From the earliest days of the Revolutionary War to the more recent U.S. Navy actions across the globe, the once tiny Continental Navy has met every challenge and transformed itself into the most powerful naval force in the world.
Our very own CEO and Chairman of the Board, Mel Chiogioji, played his own part in the U.S. Navy’s story.
After completion of the Naval Reserve Officers’ Training Corp (R.O.T.C.) Mel was commissioned an Ensign in the U. S. Navy. Following active service, he served in various reserve assignments culminating in his selection to Rear Admiral in 1987. As a Rear Admiral his last position was as Commander of the Second Naval Construction Brigade, responsible for all the Seabee operations in the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions.
Admiral Chiogioji was the first Reserve Admiral, Naval Construction Force, to command an active brigade, 2nd Naval Construction Brigade, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, responsible for crisis response forces for Desert Storm in the Middle East, Somalia, Bosnia, and Panama.
Thank you to Mel and the other Navy veterans who work or have worked at MELE. And we offer the deepest respect to all those who served the U.S. Navy across its history and to the families that supported their loved one’s patriotic efforts in both peace and wartime.
Happy 250th Birthday, U.S. Navy!
