The Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) was established by Congress in 1926, with the University of Colorado joining in 1941 as part of a nationwide expansion to prepare reserve naval officers before World War II. Though the Navy’s presence at the university dated back to a brief 1918 ROTC program, the 1941 NROTC unit marked the Navy’s first permanent establishment on campus. After World War II, the program transitioned to peacetime operations and became part of the 1946 “Holloway Plan,” which expanded NROTC units to 52 universities to train future regular Navy and Marine Corps officers. The University of Colorado’s unit grew alongside the university, relocating to larger facilities in Folsom Stadium by 1956. A highlight came in 1959 when Admiral Arleigh Burke, a Boulder native and Chief of Naval Operations, visited to commission new officers. Throughout its history, the unit has thrived through the dedication and spirit of its members, excelling in athletics, marksmanship, and community involvement while fostering a strong sense of pride and camaraderie.