
USGIF Honors Vice Admiral Robert Sharp, USN (Ret.), with 2025 Lundahl-Finnie Lifetime Achievement Award
As Director of NGA, VADM Sharp led a global workforce of more than 14,000 professionals across 120+ locations, delivering trusted geospatial intelligence to decision-makers, warfighters, first responders, and allies. His leadership was instrumental in modernizing NGA operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, emphasizing agility, resilience, and a people-centered approach.
A Naval Intelligence Officer for more than 34 years, VADM Sharp played a pivotal role within the Navy's Information Warfare Community. Known for fostering high-performing teams and strategic transformation, his career reflects a deep commitment to service, collaboration, and excellence.
VADM Sharp earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the Pacific and a Master of Science in National Resource Strategy from the Industrial College of the Armed Forces. In his current role as CEO of B Sharp – Global Solutions, he advises organizations dedicated to making a positive global impact.
The award will be formally presented at the annual GEOGala, taking place on Friday, December 5, 2025, at the Ritz-Carlton in Tysons, VA.
About USGIF:
The United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation is a non-profit educational foundation dedicated to promoting the geospatial intelligence tradecraft and building a stronger GEOINT community through education, professional development, and innovation.
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Miami Herald
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
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Royal Caribbean Cruises Jumps Into the Top 100 Stocks to Buy. Should You Bite?
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The trend remains your friend, and I'm not talking about the stock's momentum, but rather the ongoing demand for cruising. It's off the charts. Back in June 2023, I suggested that cruise stocks remained a Buy. 'If the demand keeps up for the next 12-24 months and it gets its operating margins back to where they were pre-pandemic, $94 will appear very cheap for RCL stock,' I wrote in 2023. 'Whether you're looking at RCL, CCL, or NCLH, their stocks have more room to run in the second half of 2023.' Royal Caribbean's stock has gained 237% in the 24 months since, suggesting I wasn't the only one who felt the cruise operator's stock had room to run. And run it did. Is it too late to buy? Maybe. However, barring a major flare-up in the Middle East, the demand for cruising remains high, as does profitability. The company reported strong Q1 2025 earnings at the end of April, including an upward revision to its annual guidance. It now expects to grow its earnings per share to $15.05 at the midpoint of its guidance, from a 3.5% increase in net yield. The net yield is revenue generated per available cruise day, after accounting for commissions, transportation, and other cruise-related expenses. The 3.5% increase is in addition to an 11.6% increase in 2024. 'Bookings for 2025 have remained on track, cancellation levels are normal, and we continue to see excellent close-in demand," said Jason Liberty, Royal Caribbean's CEO, in the company's April 29 press release. If you do buy a cruise stock, Royal Caribbean is the best option among them. If you need the money in a year for your kid's college education, I wouldn't risk it. However, if you are willing to put aside some dry powder to buy more should RCL stock hit a rough patch in the next year, it's one of the best S&P 500 stocks to own for the long haul. I write a fair bit about options. They're an inexpensive way to bet on RCL's stock moving higher over the next 6-12 months. The simplest move would be to buy a call deep OTM (out of the money) like the June 18/2026 $410, which will cost you $19.50, or 6.12% of its stock price. If the share price at expiration is above $429.50 (38.55% higher), you'll, at worst, break even on the bet, and if it closes much higher than that, you'll profit nicely from the difference between the share price and the lower strike price. Worst-case scenario, its share price goes nowhere, and it expires worthless. However, should it move higher, but not quite to the breakeven point of $429.50, you could sell the option before it expires to recover some of your net debit, thereby reducing your loss on the trade. Will RCL stock be over $429.50 by next June? I'd be shocked if it were, despite my belief that it's an excellent long-term investment. On the date of publication, Will Ashworth did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on