51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ

Extra

 

August 2026

Alum traveled globe during Navy career, as civilian

Cyrus Murphy initially joined the U.S. Navy during the height of the Vietnam War, intent to serve his required two years and then move on. Several decades later, he had amassed a decorated career in Navy, then worked as a Navy Civil Servant in his field for another 17 years.

A native of Mission, Texas, Cyrus now lives in Colonial Beach, Va., on the Potomac River. Enlisting in

the Navy as a Seaman and advancing through of all the enlisted ranks, he was competitively  commissioned an Ensign in the Limited Duty Officer Surface Electronics Program. The Navy took him from that South Texas town to ports literally around the world.  Most recently, 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ’s Hawaii campus named Cyrus their Distinguished Alumni Award winner for 2026, acknowledging his storied career.

Based on his Navy test scores, Cyrus was placed into the electronics technician field, and he stayed in that field throughout his 32 years in the Navy as both enlisted and officer. Along the way, he moved up in rank and retired as a Commander. While he said he enjoyed the work on ships and mentoring other sailors, he came away from the experience with nothing but great memories overall.

“I definitely saw the world. I probably went around the world four times in all the different deployments and different ships and shore stations” he said. “Some of the biggest things for me were the travel. I mean, we stopped at all the major seaports, and probably the most interesting were Egypt, Greece, Italy, Kenya, and Spain, and I especially loved the Holy Land.”

Cyrus was 20 years into his Navy career when he found himself stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.

There, he found an opportunity to get his formal education and open the doors to more advancement.

“If you want to be a senior officer Limited Duty Officer, there’s a big expectation to get that college degree, going at night or whatever. So I knew I had to do that. I had another Limited Duty Officer working for me in Hawaii, and he was going to 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ,” Cyrus recalled. “He talked me into it and introduced me to the advisors there. She got me set up on a program that worked for me and I began going to night school.”

He recalls enjoying the multitude of courses he took, everything from psychology to finance. And as a self-described “non-practicing Catholic,” he found the required Bible courses very interesting, seeing things he had never encountered in his own study. Later he became Episcopalian.

After a few years of wrapping up a workday, slipping into a drive-through for dinner and driving to the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ campus for night class, Cyrus finally earned his degree in June 1986. But for him, it wasn’t just the piece of paper. The love of learning meant he also began encouraging other sailors to

pursue their degree at WBU.

“It was the education, and that fact that I was going to get a lot of

good knowledge. I went into every class completely open-minded like a sponge,” he said. “I wanted to learn everything I could possibly learn. And it paid off. The fact that I had a degree then I got some really, really great assignments.”

Those assignments circled the globe, and at each port Cyrus said he took advantage of the chance to sight-see in different countries and really get a taste of the cultures, food and languages. In one

particularly long port stay in Italy, the Navy brought a university professor on board to teach the crew Italian. That skill came in handy as Cyrus was able to go into many cities across Italy.

Stateside, Cyrus spent much time in Norfolk, Va., a major Navy city, as well as San Diego, Calif., Pearl Harbor, HI., San Francisco and Washington DC. He served on two aircraft carriers, a cruiser and two different destroyers.

“Everywhere you go you make friends, and I have stayed in contact with many. I still have friends in

those places,” he said. “After I got commissioned I went from ships and shore commands to specifically electronics, either technology or engineering commands.”

Cyrus had the opportunity to be an Executive Officer at a Navy Base in Stockton, Calif. While there he worked under a strong captain there and assisted in closing the naval base. As an Electronics Material Officer on the carrier, Cyrus supervised 80 sailors.  In Hawaii, at the Naval Communication Master Station Pearl Harbor, he supervised 200 sailors.  In his final assignment at the Pentagon in Washington DC, he served as the Head, Aircraft Warfare Systems and C5I Requirement and Resource Officer,  overseeing a $15 billion budget that handled new construction, overhauls, and repairs of the aircraft carriers.  He enjoyed all of his active duty roles as well.

After retirement from active duty in 2000, he was quickly hired as a civilian, taking Cyrus from the Pentagon to the Naval System Engineering Command as a Ship Self Defence Deputy Major Program Manager, and later the Naval Surface Warfare Center as an Aircraft Carrier Systems Senior Technical Manager, providing direct Aircraft Carrier electronics Field Engineering.  He attributes that advancement to his 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ degree as well as his years of experience.

At the end of the day, Cyrus is proud of his service to his country and the experiences he encountered along the way. He’s also proud that his two sons joined the Navy, one retiring as a naval

officer and the other as a Chief Petty Officer. His youngest son was a Naval Flight Officer for F-18 Growlers, and the oldest was in the aviation warfare electronics field. Two granddaughters also served in the Navy, and one grandson served in the Coast Guard.  And, he is very proud of his daughter who is the Computer Science Department Head and a professor in a Northern California college. 

A widow after losing his wife the Rev. Deacon Linda to Alzheimer’s two years ago, Cyrus has a blended family of six children and 27 grandchildren total plus a few great-grandchildren.

 

Devotional: Growing older, growing closer

 

"Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness."
— Proverbs 16:31 (NIV)

One of life's greatest blessings is watching the years unfold. As alumni, we carry with us decades of memories—late-night study sessions, lifelong friendships, professors who challenged us, and moments that helped shape who we are today. Time has a way of changing many things. Careers begin and end. Families grow. Children become adults. Grandchildren arrive. Communities evolve. Even our campuses continue to grow.

Yet amid all the changes, one truth remains: relationships matter.

Growing older often reminds us that time is one of God's most precious gifts. We begin to realize that the conversations we postponed, the letters we never sent, and the phone calls we meant to make become more valuable than accomplishments or possessions. The people God has placed in our lives are never meant to be taken for granted.

The Apostle Paul understood this well. Throughout his letters, he repeatedly reached out to friends, churches, and fellow believers. Even while imprisoned, Paul wrote words of encouragement, gratitude, and love. He knew that maintaining relationships required intentionality.

"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God."
— Philippians 1:3 (NLT)

What a beautiful habit—to thank God for people and then let those people know they are remembered.

As the years pass, staying connected may require more effort than it once did. Friends move away. Schedules become busy. Health challenges arise. Some loved ones can no longer travel as they once did. But a handwritten note, a phone call, an email, a shared meal, or even a simple message saying, "I was thinking about you today," can become a powerful reminder of God's love.

Our 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ family is built on more than shared classrooms and traditions. It is built on relationships that continue long after graduation. Every reunion attended, every story shared, every prayer offered, and every encouraging word spoken helps strengthen the bond we share as fellow Pioneers.

Perhaps today God is bringing someone to your mind—a former roommate, a professor, a teammate, a mentor, or an old friend. Don't ignore that gentle prompting. Reach out. You never know how much your message may encourage someone who needs it.

Growing older is not simply about adding years to our lives. It is about deepening our gratitude, strengthening our relationships, and leaving a legacy of love that points others to Christ.

In the mix

 

Remember your first move-in day? The car was packed tighter than it

should have been. Boxes were stacked to the ceiling. Someone inevitably asked, "Did we remember the bedding?" Parents were giving advice (whether you wanted it or not), friends were snapping pictures, and somewhere in the middle of all the excitement you realized something big—you were beginning a brand-new chapter.

In just a few weeks, 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ's campus will once again come alive as students return to residence halls, classrooms, and campus traditions. Hallways that have been quiet all summer will once again echo with laughter, late-night conversations, and the excitement of new friendships. It's one of our favorite times of the year because every move-in represents another Pioneer beginning a journey that has the potential to change a life.

For many alumni, the memories of move-in day are still vivid. Maybe you remember carrying a mini-fridge up three flights of stairs, decorating your room with posters that reflected your personality, meeting your roommate for the very first time, or saying goodbye to family with a mix of excitement and nervousness. Those moments often become the stories we tell for years to come.

This month, we'd love to hear from you!

Think back to your first day in the residence halls and answer a few questions:

• What was the first thing you unpacked?
• Who was your roommate, and are you still in touch?
• What item could you not have survived your first semester without?
• What advice would you give this year's incoming students?
• What is your funniest or most memorable move-in story?

 

As our newest Pioneers settle into campus life, we invite you to celebrate with them by sharing your

own memories. Your stories remind us that while buildings change and generations come and go, the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ experience continues to shape lives through friendships, faith, learning, and community.

School begins in just a few weeks, and we can't wait to welcome students back to campus. The residence halls are ready. Faculty and staff are preparing for another incredible year. Classrooms are

waiting to be filled. Most importantly, another generation of Pioneers is about to create memories that will last a lifetime.

So...what do you remember most about moving into the dorms?

We'd love to hear your story!

 

 

 

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