South Dakota: academy nominations
Class of 2031 (enters summer 2027). Collected from official pages on Oct 17, 2026.
U.S. Senators
Senators can nominate from anywhere in the state.
U.S. Senator
John Thune
Verify with the office
Deadline:Not found · Year not stated on page — verify with the office
“scores, and three letters of recommendation including a letter from your high school principal or guidance counselor together in one packet by November 1st to my Sioux Falls service office.”
Academies mentioned: USMA, USNA, USAFA, USMMA, USCGA (mentioned only; no nomination needed)
Official nomination page (thune.senate.gov) · checked October 17, 2026
U.S. Senator
Mike Rounds
Passed
Deadline:October 10, 2026
“Applications for the 2027-2028 freshman class (Class of 2031) are due October 10, 2026 .”
Academies mentioned: USMA, USNA, USAFA, USMMA
Official nomination page (rounds.senate.gov) · checked October 17, 2026
U.S. Representatives
Which Representative is yours?
Apply to the Representative for your congressional district (USMMA accepts any Representative from your state).
Find your district on house.govU.S. Representative (at-large)
Dusty Johnson
Upcoming
Deadline:October 30, 2026
“You may either upload the required documents below or mail them in one envelope to my Sioux Falls district office no later than Friday, October 30, 2026 .”
Academies mentioned: USMA, USNA, USAFA, USMMA, USCGA (mentioned only; no nomination needed)
Official nomination page (dustyjohnson.house.gov) · checked October 17, 2026
Also check
- Vice Presidential nomination (USNA, West Point, USAFA only)
- Service-connected nominations if a parent served; see each academy's nomination page.
Where nominations come from
USNA, West Point, USAFA and USMMA require a nomination from an authorized source before they can offer an appointment. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not use congressional nominations. Apply to every source you are eligible for.
Congressional
- Both U.S. Senators for your state.
- Your U.S. Representative for your congressional district. (USMMA notes that any Representative from your state may nominate you for USMMA.)
- Each office runs its own application with its own deadline, and some offices interview applicants.
Sources: usafa.edu nominations, usmma.edu 8 steps
Vice President
USNA, West Point and USAFA accept Vice Presidential nominations; USNA lists the window as after March 1 of the year before entry through January 31 of the entry year. USMMA states it does not accept Vice Presidential nominations.
Sources: usna.edu VP nomination, westpoint.edu steps, usafa.edu nominations, usmma.edu
Military-affiliated categories
Some students qualify for additional categories, for example children of career military members (Presidential), children of deceased or disabled veterans, children of Medal of Honor recipients, honor military schools / JROTC, ROTC, and active-duty or reserve service members. Eligibility rules are specific — read the academy's own page.
Source: usafa.edu nominations. USMMA does not accept military service-connected nominations.
Timing
Most congressional offices prefer contact in the spring or summer before senior year; many have deadlines as early as September 1, and most stop accepting requests after October.
Source: usafa.edu nominations. See the nomination timeline.