Naval ROTC at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln
UNIT HISTORY: The Nebraska Naval ROTC unit was established on 15 August 1945 as one of 25 new NROTC units established under the “Holloway Plan” expansion. The unit’s first campus home was Architecture Hall on the southwest corner of the city campus. Construction of the Military and Naval Science Building began in 1945, but due to construction delays, was not completed until 1948. The building was designed to house only Army and Naval ROTC Units, but the establishment of the Air Force ROTC program in 1948 meant changes would have to be made to accommodate the new service. At one time the building housed retired military armaments in what is now the well deck. These were removed after a fire in the building during anti-Vietnam War rallies in the early 1970s.
Over the past six decades, 26 commanding officers from the Navy and the Marine Corps have led the unit. Captain Scott Bowman has been in command since his arrival in 2022.
The current Midshipmen carry on the tradition passed down from Midshipmen before them to make the UNL NROTC unit one of the most accomplished in the nation with five currently serving flag officers.
MISSION: To develop Midshipmen morally, mentally, and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, and loyalty, and with the core values of honor, courage and commitment in order to commission college graduates as naval officers who possess a basic professional background, are motivated toward careers in the naval service, and have a potential for future development in mind and character so as to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.