Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to The Midshipman Navigator.

Navigator is designed to help connect United States Naval Academy midshipmen, prospective or current military personnel, mentors, alumni, officers, and other members of the broader professional community. The App provides mentorship opportunities, career-path information, professional development resources, and other educational or networking tools.

We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting the personal information you provide when using the App.

This Privacy Policy explains:

• What information we collect
• How we use that information
• When information may be shared
• How we protect information
• Your choices regarding your personal information
• How to contact us with privacy questions

By using Navigator, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect information that you provide directly to us, including:

Account and Profile Information

Depending on the features you use, this may include:

• Name
• Email address
• Username
• Profile photograph
• Service affiliation or professional background
• Class year or graduation year
• Career interests
• Professional interests and goals
• Education and professional experience
• Mentorship preferences
• Areas of expertise
• General biographical information you choose to include in your profile

Users should provide only information that is appropriate for a professional networking and mentorship platform.

Communications

If the App allows users to communicate with mentors, midshipmen, alumni, officers, or other users, we may collect and process information associated with those communications as necessary to provide and maintain the service.

Usage Information

We may automatically collect limited information about how users interact with the App, such as:

• Features used
• Pages or screens viewed
• General device information
• App performance and error information
• General usage patterns

This information may be used to improve the functionality, reliability, and user experience of the App.

3. How We Use Information

We may use collected information to:

• Create and maintain user accounts
• Connect midshipmen with appropriate mentors
• Provide mentorship and professional networking features
• Personalize career-path information and resources
• Improve mentor recommendations and matching
• Provide educational and professional development content
• Communicate important updates about the App
• Respond to user questions or support requests
• Improve the security, performance, and functionality of the App
• Prevent fraud, abuse, or misuse of the platform
• Comply with applicable legal obligations

We will not use personal information for purposes unrelated to the operation and improvement of the App without an appropriate legal basis or notice.

4. Mentor Matching and Profile Visibility

Certain information from a user's profile may be visible to other authorized users when necessary to support mentorship, networking, or career-development features.

For example, a mentor or midshipman may be able to view information such as:

• Name
• Professional background
• Career interests
• Areas of expertise
• General mentorship preferences
• Information voluntarily included in a user profile

Users should carefully consider the information they choose to make available through their profile.

The App may provide settings that allow users to control aspects of profile visibility and mentorship preferences.

5. Information We Do Not Intend to Collect

Navigator is intended for professional, educational, and mentorship purposes.

Users should not use the App to share, upload, or communicate:

• Classified information
• Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), unless the App is specifically authorized and approved to handle such information
• Sensitive operational information
• Mission-sensitive information
• Personally identifiable information about other individuals without authorization
• Information that could compromise operational security (OPSEC)
• Information prohibited from disclosure by law, regulation, policy, or applicable military guidance

The App is not intended to serve as an authorized system for handling classified or otherwise sensitive government information.

6. How We Share Information

We may share information in limited circumstances, including:

With Other Users

Information you choose to include in your profile may be shared with other authorized users as necessary to support mentorship, networking, and career-development features.

With Service Providers

We may use trusted third-party service providers to help operate the App, such as providers of:

• Cloud hosting
• Authentication services
• Data storage
• Analytics
• Customer support
• Technical infrastructure

These providers may receive access to information only as necessary to perform services on our behalf and subject to appropriate contractual or legal obligations.

For Legal or Security Reasons

We may disclose information when reasonably necessary to:

• Comply with applicable laws or legal processes
• Protect the safety and security of users
• Protect the rights and property of Navigator
• Investigate suspected fraud, abuse, or security incidents

Business Changes

If Navigator is involved in a merger, acquisition, restructuring, or similar transaction, information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable law.

7. We Do Not Sell Personal Information

We do not sell users' personal information to advertisers or data brokers.

We do not use personal information collected through the App for unrelated advertising purposes without appropriate notice and consent where required by law.

8. Data Security

We take reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or disclosure.

However, no application, network, or electronic storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Users should also take reasonable steps to protect their accounts and credentials.

9. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to:

• Provide and maintain the App
• Support mentorship and professional networking features
• Comply with legal obligations
• Resolve disputes
• Enforce applicable agreements
• Maintain appropriate security and business records

Users may request deletion of their accounts, subject to applicable legal, security, and operational requirements.

10. Your Privacy Choices

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the ability to:

• Access certain personal information we hold about you
• Update or correct information in your profile
• Request deletion of your account or certain information
• Control certain profile visibility settings
• Opt out of certain non-essential communications

To submit a privacy-related request, contact us at: themidshipmannavigator@gmail.com

11. Third-Party Services and Links

The App may include links to third-party websites, resources, educational materials, or professional organizations. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites or services. Users should review the privacy policies of those services before providing personal information.

12. U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Navy Affiliation Disclaimer

Unless expressly stated otherwise in writing, Navigator is an independent platform and is not an official application of the United States Naval Academy, the United States Navy, the Department of Defense, or the United States Government.

References to the United States Naval Academy, the United States Navy, military service, alumni, officers, or related organizations are intended solely to describe the communities and professional interests the App may serve.

Nothing in the App should be interpreted as official guidance, policy, endorsement, or communication from the United States Naval Academy, the United States Navy, the Department of Defense, or the United States Government.

13. Professional and Career Information Disclaimer

Career information, mentorship, professional advice, and other content available through the App may be provided by individual users, mentors, contributors, or third-party sources. Such information is intended for general educational and informational purposes and may not reflect official policies, requirements, or positions.

Users should consult appropriate official sources and authorized personnel when making decisions related to military service, career assignments, commissioning, employment, education, or other significant professional matters.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time.

If we make material changes, we may provide notice through the App, by email, or through another appropriate method.

The “Effective Date” at the top of this Privacy Policy indicates when it was most recently updated.

Your continued use of the App after an updated Privacy Policy becomes effective may be subject to the updated policy, as permitted by applicable law.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

The Midshipman Navigator
Email: themidshipmannavigator@gmail.com
Website: themidshipmannavigator.org