Photo by Stephanie Elverd Brodie Baker, accompanied by his grandmother Diana Carroll, receives congratulations and recognition for his appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy from Moundsville Mayor Randy Chamberlain and City Manager Rick Healy during Tuesday's City Council meeting.

MOUNDSVILLE – Moundsville City Council took a moment during Tuesday’s meeting to celebrate Brodie Baker, a senior at John Marshall High School and a city resident, for his recent appointment to the United States Naval Academy.

Baker, a standout student-athlete, is not only a three-sport varsity captain — leading the cross country, swimming, and track teams — but also excels academically. As a sophomore and junior, he earned the AP Scholar with Distinction award and is an active member of several honor societies and organizations, including the National Honor Society, the National Technical Honor Society, the Student Council, the Youth Leadership Association, the Legacy Club, and the Drug-Free Club.

In addition to his academic and athletic pursuits, Baker earned his Eagle Scout rank through Troop 82 of Glendale and is deeply involved with the Ohio Valley Young Life organization. He also received an appointment to West Point before choosing the Naval Academy.

Baker, who plans to attend the Naval Academy at Annapolis in June for pre-summer training before beginning his formal studies in aerospace engineering, hopes to become a naval aviator.

“What a resume,” said Moundsville Mayor Randy Chamberlain, congratulating Baker. “What an honor to have you here with us.”

Baker shared how his family’s military background influenced his decision to pursue a career in the military.

“My stepdad was in the Air Force and my father was in the Army, so I’ve grown up talking about the military and all the opportunities it can provide you,” he said. “As I grew and began to think about options for after high school and what I might want to do, I was discussing these things about what the military could provide, how I could serve in the military while preparing myself for a future not just in the military, and my stepdad brought up the academies – West Point and the Air Force and Naval Academies so I started to look into that.”

Baker went on to explain why he ultimately chose the Naval Academy.

“As I decided to narrow my focus when I realized it was something I was definitely interested in, I decided to pick a specific academy – one I could train my sights on and make that my goal,” he said. “All three are great schools. But the Naval Academy was really one that seemed like my thing.”

Baker’s stepdad, a former Air Force member, had hoped he would apply to the Air Force Academy, while his father, an Army veteran, advocated for West Point.

“But nobody in my family, at least in my direct family, had been in the Navy, so I decided that was going to be my thing,” Baker said.

He also reflected on his experiences visiting the Naval Academy multiple times, including attending the Summer STEM program, where he got to explore the campus and the facilities.

“I saw the degrees and the leadership training and the preparedness for future endeavors that the academies would provide. It was a really good opportunity to see the faculties. Not just the dorms or the mess hall and the stuff that everybody thinks is cool. You get to see the classrooms, the chemistry rooms, the massive wind tunnels that the aerospace program has. That was my favorite part. They have a super sonic wind tunnel there. They turn it on and you hear a big sonic boom. I saw that and all the other things that were there and I thought ‘Wow, this place is definitely for me.'”

Baker also discussed the challenges of the application process, which requires candidates to meet several stringent requirements for an appointment to a U.S. military academy. These include securing a nomination from a U.S. senator, congressperson, or vice president, submitting detailed essays, completing physical fitness tests, and undergoing interviews. In addition to these steps, candidates must demonstrate leadership experience, maintain high academic standards, and excel in extracurricular activities, such as athletics or community service. The academy looks for well-rounded individuals who show potential for future leadership and service.

Baker’s application journey included receiving nominations from U.S. Senators Shelley Capito and Jim Justice, as well as U.S. Representative Riley Moore.

He shared how the nomination processes differed for each of the three elected officials who nominated him for the U.S. Naval Academy. U.S. Sen. Shelley Capito’s process involved a panel of eight people, where Baker underwent an interview and submitted four essays as part of the evaluation. U.S. Senator Jim Justice, on the other hand, did not require an interview but had a comprehensive application process that involved a detailed review. U.S. Representative Riley Moore’s process was similar to Justice’s but with a slightly more streamlined approach.

“It came with a lot of challenges. Everyone who attends the military academies needs a nomination from a congressman or senator so that’s a hurdle on its own,’ Baker said. “That’s a second application process, essays you have to write, interviews you have to go through, and not just that you have to build yourself as a candidate in addition to those nominations. You have to have leadership experience. You have to be a strong student, and an athlete.”

Baker wouldn’t have it any other way and plans to make the most of the prestigious opportunity.”

“That’s one of the things I really enjoy about the academy and I hold in high regard, that when they approach a candidate looking at who they are going to admit, it’s not just who has the highest SAT scores or who is the best athlete,” he said. “It’s who is the best overall candidate, who is well-rounded, and I think that really appealed to me because I might not be the fastest person on the track or in the water and I may not be the smartest person in the classroom, but I am going to go in there and work hard and do what I can to be the best version of myself.”

Baker will join a freshman class of 1,100 students at the U.S. Naval Academy, coming from all corners of the country.

“Congratulations on that appointment. That is such an honor,” Chamberlain said to Baker. “You are an outstanding young man obviously. We wish nothing but the best in the future.”

Justice also expressed his pride in Baker’s achievement early this year.

“There is nothing better than seeing the next generation step up and answer the call to serve,” Justice wrote in a Facebook post after informing Baker of his appointment. “Telling Brodie he’s accepted into the Naval Academy was an unforgettable moment. He is a great young man, and I know he will serve our country with honor and make West Virginia proud.”