Díaz-Balart Proudly Announces 2025 Service Academy Appointments
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26) is pleased to announce six remarkable students from Florida's 26th Congressional District have earned appointments to prestigious United States Service Academies such as the U.S. Military Academy, the U.S. Naval Academy, and the U.S. Air Force Academy.

These talented young men and women were nominated by the Congressman and have now been accepted as members of the Class of 2029 for their respective academies.
The students and their respective academies are:
- William Brockmeier - U.S. Military Academy, Gulf Coast High School
- Christian Febres - U.S. Military Academy, Doral Academy Preparatory
- Luca Guerra - U.S. Military Academy, Rise Preparatory Academy
- Alejandro Merlano Jr. - U.S. Military Academy, Divine Savior Academy
- Valeria Isabel Gumucio-Colmenares - U.S. Naval Academy, Divine Savior Academy
- Patrick McDonald - U.S. Naval Academy, Naples Classical Academy
Military Academy Nominations
The honor of attending a service academy comes with the obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. For more information, please review the page of Frequently Asked Questions for those seeking a Military Academy Nomination.
Members of Congress may nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five U.S. service academies: U.S. Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, MD; the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), Colorado Springs, CO; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA), Kings Point, NY. The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (USCGA), New London, CT, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.
Congressman Díaz-Balart may nominate up to 15 individuals for each vacant academy slot allotted to our district. To request a Military Academy Nomination from our office, please complete the form below. Best wishes to you as you pursue your goal of attending one of the U.S. Service Academies and serving our country.
To find out more on requesting a Military Academy Nomination from our office, please visit Military Academy Nominations | Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart.