October 26, 2026
USS Constitution Museum to Honor Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti and Representative Daniel J. Ryan at 2026 Salute to Service
WCVB Channel 5 Anchor and Reporter Erika Tarantal to emcee gathering celebrating leadership and service to country and community
CHARLESTOWN, MA (October 20, 2026) — The USS Constitution Museum will bring together leaders from across Greater Boston’s civic, business, military, and philanthropic communities on Friday, November 6, for its annual Salute to Service at the Four Seasons Hotel Boston, honoring Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti, U.S. Navy (Ret.), 33rd Chief of Naval Operations, and Massachusetts State Representative Daniel J. Ryan.
Salute to Service is the Museum’s signature annual gathering, recognizing individuals whose leadership reflects a commitment to serving others — through military service, public service, and service to community. Proceeds from the evening support the USS Constitution Museum and its mission to share the stories of “Old Ironsides,” her people, and the enduring values she represents.
“Service is one of the values at the heart of USS Constitution’s story, but it isn’t confined to the military or to the past,” said Jeff Draeger, President and CEO of the USS Constitution Museum. “It is the choice to contribute, to lead, and to take responsibility for something larger than yourself. Admiral Franchetti and Representative Ryan have each demonstrated that commitment in very different ways. Salute to Service gives us an opportunity to honor them and to bring our community together around a value that continues to matter.”
Emmy Award-winning journalist Erika Tarantal, Anchor and Reporter, WCVB Channel 5, will serve as emcee for Salute to Service. Tarantal co-anchors WCVB’s NewsCenter 5 at 5:00 and 5:30 and contributes to the station’s iconic local news magazine, Chronicle. She also champions WCVB’s “5 For Good” stories, for which she was awarded a prestigious national Gracie Award, highlighting people making a difference in communities across Massachusetts. WCVB Channel 5 is the media partner of the USS Constitution Museum Leadership Forum.
Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti, U.S. Navy (Ret.)
Recipient of the Charles Francis Adams Award
Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti served as the 33rd Chief of Naval Operations, the Navy’s highest-ranking officer, from November 2023 to February 2025. Her appointment marked a historic milestone: she became the first woman to lead a branch of the United States Armed Forces and the first woman to serve as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Over four decades of distinguished service, Franchetti commanded at every level and deployed in every U.S. Fleet, accumulating nearly 20 years of operational and at-sea experience.
A Surface Warfare Officer, Franchetti commanded USS Ross, Destroyer Squadron 21, two carrier strike groups, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, U.S. Sixth Fleet, and Naval Striking and Support Forces NATO. She also served as Vice Chief of Naval Operations and Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy on the Joint Staff. The USS Constitution Museum will present Franchetti with the Charles Francis Adams Award in recognition of her extraordinary leadership, public service, and enduring commitment to those who serve.
The Honorable Daniel J. Ryan
Recipient of the “Old Ironsides” Exemplary Service Award
Massachusetts State Representative Daniel J. Ryan has represented the Second Suffolk District in the Massachusetts House of Representatives since 2014. The district encompasses the Charlestown and Fenway/Kenmore neighborhoods of Boston as well as sections of Cambridge and Everett. A Charlestown resident, Ryan’s career in public service has included responsive constituent advocacy and a commitment to ensuring that government remains accessible to the people and communities he serves.
Before his election to the Massachusetts House, Ryan served as a legislative aide for Congressman Michael E. Capuano in Washington, D.C., and Massachusetts. Today, he serves as House Chair of the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Service. Throughout his tenure, he has advocated for veterans and military families, public education, workforce development, public safety, infrastructure, and the preservation and vitality of Charlestown’s historic waterfront and the district’s riverways. The Museum will present Ryan with the “Old Ironsides” Award in recognition of his dedicated leadership, longstanding partnership, and commitment to the community USS Constitution calls home.
The Meaning of Service
The 2026 Salute to Service takes place during a historic year for USS Constitution and the Museum. As the nation marks its 250th anniversary, “Old Ironsides” continues to connect generations through the stories of those who have served aboard her and the values that have endured throughout her more than two centuries of history.
“Salute to Service” brings those values into the present. By recognizing leaders whose paths and experiences are different, the evening reflects a broader idea of service — a commitment to contribute, to lead, and to strengthen the communities and institutions around us.
The November 6 gathering will welcome approximately 250 guests from across the region. Proceeds support the USS Constitution Museum’s educational mission and its work to welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to discover the stories of USS Constitution, the people who served aboard her, and the values that continue to give those stories meaning today.
EVENT INFORMATION
What: USS Constitution Museum Salute to Service
When: Friday, November 6, 2026; 6:00 p.m. cocktails; 7:00 p.m. dinner and program
Where: Four Seasons Hotel Boston, 200 Boylston St., Boston, MA
Media: Working media are invited to attend. Advance RSVP is required to Sharlene Sones at ssones@usscm.org. Interview requests should be submitted in advance and are subject to availability.
For information about attending or sponsoring A Salute to Service, visit usscm.org/salute/
