$15 million gift from Michael Wilson Taylor to naval academy alumni

The United States Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F) is proud to announce a transformative $15 million commitment from Michael Wilson Taylor.

His generous contribution will strengthen the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA) and its alumni, ensuring continued excellence in education and engagement.

Taylor’s gift will establish an endowment for academic excellence, providing long-term funding for educational programs that support Midshipmen in their leadership and professional development. Additionally, his contribution will sustain daily operations at the Fluegel Alumni Center, reinforcing its role as a central hub for alumni engagement for generations to come.

“There is nothing more impactful and wholesome than giving back to the U.S. Naval Academy,” said Taylor. “I fundamentally believe in the mission of the Alumni Association & Foundation, and philanthropy will always be critical in providing the ‘margin of excellence’ that enables Midshipmen to become leaders of character and consequence for our nation.”

Michael Wilson Taylor earned his Bachelor of Science degree (with distinction) from USNA in 1986. He served as a Naval Aviator, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Commander, before transitioning to the private sector.

He received his MBA in Finance from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania in 1995 and worked at Morgan Stanley’s investment banking division before joining HarbourVest, a global private markets firm with over $138 billion in assets under management. He remains with HarbourVest as a Senior Advisor.

Taylor made his first gift to the Naval Academy Foundation in 2006 and has been an active alumni leader in Boston and Singapore. In 2019, he joined the Foundation’s Board of Directors and in April 2024, he initiated this transformational gift to the Academy.

The AA&F serves 69,000 living alumni and the broader USNA community, supplementing federal funding with philanthropic support to enhance leadership, academic, and professional development programs.

“Our alumni are instrumental to our success at the Naval Academy, and commitments like Mr. Taylor’s help us provide exceptional opportunities to the Brigade and beyond,” said Vice Adm. Yvette Davids ’89, Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy. “This remarkably generous gift will have a profound and lasting impact on the Academy, and we are deeply grateful for his leadership and support.”

In recognition of his generosity, the event wing of the Fluegel Alumni Center will be named in Taylor’s honor, further solidifying its role as a cornerstone of alumni connection and tradition.

“Michael Taylor’s generosity and leadership embody the deep loyalty of our alumni to their alma mater,” said Jeff Webb, President and CEO of the Alumni Association & Foundation. “His support is vital to advancing the Naval Academy as a premier institution of leadership, higher learning, and warrior development.”

Taylor’s philanthropy ensures that the U.S. Naval Academy will continue to educate, train, and inspire future leaders, leaving a lasting legacy for Midshipmen and alumni alike.