On 28 July 2016, Colonel James W. Crowhurst, US defence attaché to Bulgaria, paid an official visit to Nikola Vaptsarov Naval Academy. The purpose of his visit was to introduce Commander Michael Zimmerman – the acting naval attaché of USA to Bulgaria.

The visitors were met by Commodore Prof DSc Boyan Mednikarov. He made a presentation on the history, presence, academic structure, curricula, international activities and business contacts of the Naval Academy. This briefing was followed by a walk through some of the facitilites, laboratories, training centres and simulators at the Academy.