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Understanding 9/11tv Commencement Speeches Defense Secretary Delivers Commencement Address at... CSPAN June 10, 2024 4:00am-4:21am EDT
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let's try thatin. [laughter] good morning, class of 2024 (202) 748-8903! ["godod morning sir"] that's more like it. it's great to see so many distinguished guests ambassadors, public officials. including governor wes moore. governor, i'm glad i'm not the only army guy here today. [laughter] let may also acknowledge a close friend and mentor of mine, admiral mike mullen of the class of 1968. [applause] admiral, congratulations on the
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naming of the future ddg 144 as uss michael g. mullen. vice admiral davids, family, friends, midshipmen and above all, the class of 2024. it is indeed an honor to join you today. it is great to be back at this ceremony for my second year in a row. so this is starting to be a habit. i'm just so happy you are eager to bring back an old west point guy. i'm gout of the way. for anyone who thinks the second installment cannot be as good as the first, just think of top
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gun: maverick. [applause] now, you should start getting used to to some new titles. congratulations and second lieutenants. [applause] sounds pretty good, doesn't it? i think so. today, weing sailors and marines to the greatest navy and marine corps on earth. and the most powerful fighting force in history. now, i know i am standing between you and your first salutes, so i'm going to keep this brief. because i believe a good commencement speaker should be tall -- [laughter]
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but a good commencement speech should be short. [applause] the class of 2024 didn't have easy road to get to this day. during your fleet year, liberty was rare. i am told you used some unconventional tactics to protest. [laughter] lly, you threw printers out of windows and off bridges. [cheers] i understand that one interbedded member of this class even climb dome to put a printer on top. which is impressive considering how long it took the class of 2024 to climb.
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as a former service academy cadet, iort of thing. which brings me to an important piece of business. for all midshipmen still serving restrictions for minor infractions, you are hereby absolved. [cheers] you know, that never gets old. [laughter] i mentioned this is my second consecutive year on the yard but for two guests with me today stan and nancy martineau it is their third. stan served in the marine cove
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for 20 years. and nancy is an force veteran. they are also the parents of second lieutenant sean martineau of the naval academy class of 2022. and of ensign thomas martineau of the class of 2023. and of christopher and kelly who will be commissioned today as ensigns. that is an outstanding military family. so is every other family here today. you can feel the pride in the sailors and marines. that's because of the thousands of loved ones and sponsors hertoday. graduates, their values guided you. their encouragement fuel due and
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their love suso, your day is also their day. class of 2024, please stand up. face your families and give them a round of applause. [applause] okay take seats. this is a great day and a proud day. but it's also a day of reflection and remembrance. i know that two of your own are no longer with us. so i would ask that we take a moment to remember midshipmen
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luke byrd and midshipman mason halsey. we are all deeply grateful that the byrd and halsey families are here with us today. i want to say a few words about the challenges facing america's newest lieutenants and ensigns. you have lived by your class motto " from adversity, victory." during a once in a generatiopandemic, that's exactly what you showed. for weeks, you could rarely leave your rooms. so you bonded with your teammates over google meet. your classes were run as well. you still passed fleet chemistry. eventually. [laughter] and i know you were shot gunned
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into new companies to start your youngster year. i hope you will see your years here asgrid adaptabilityand grow as teammates. that exactly what will continue to expect of you today and every day. the united states has the most capable navy and marine corps in the world. make no mistake we're going to keep it that way. and you are going to keep it that way. [applause] last year, i told the class of 2023 that they would learn that the lifeblood of the rules-based
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international orr is sea o rder. over the past year, we have seen how important your mission is. sea power projects american power in principle to the world. our leaders, allies and partners depend on it. our foes and rivals envy it. today from the sea to the red sea we are seeing new challenges to the open world of rules, rights and responsibilities filled with american leadership after world war ii. at times like these freedom of navigation rides on the ways of u.s. navy ships. as officers, you will help us increaseów security and model american values worldwide.
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our sailors and marines let the u.s. military project power anywhere on earth. so we're depending on you to secure the world's sea lanes for the free flow of ships, commerce and ideas. we're depending on you to sail, fly and operate law allows. we're depending on you to deepen old alliances and forge new friendships. and we're depending on you to deter conflict and keep the peace. as admiral harley burke said in 1961, u.s. navy officers must understand not only how to fight a waruse a tremendous power which they
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operate to sustain a world of liberty and justice. that's your mission and you will be tested. just ask last year's graduates. two members of the class of 2023 asked me to pass along a message today. both ensigns were aboard the uss carney. they helped defend freedom of navigation in the red sea. they help those in distress at sea. they helped but capabilities of iranian-backed houthi militia and helped shoot down missiles and uav's. the carney conducted 51 engagements in six months. the most direct navy engagements with a foe since world war[applause]
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and the message of those ensigns on the carney to the class of this. "you are ready, believe it. you are ready because as one of those ensigns put it, the academy of the ultimate teambuilding exercise. what comes next is not a drill. you will lead sailors and marines through tension and uncertainty. your teammates will look to you for leadership. for grace under pressure. for calm under fire. and you will beensigns and lieutenants, long after you leave the yard, you will steer by the values that
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you learned on the yard. those values will be your northstar. you will uphold your convictions with courage. hold yourself accountable. treat others with dignity and respect. and defend our democracy and constitution with honor, courage and commitment. because isn't just about what you do. it's about who younow i know that today marks a milestone after years of formal education. but sailors and marines, your education is just beginning. admiral nimitz was once talking to a young marine. the admiral said today is a special day for me because it was just 63 years ago that i
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entered the naval academy. the marine said, well, admiral do you think you will make a career of it? and admiral nimitz replied yes i think i shall. and the admiral added i'm still learning every day. i'm still trying to do my best. that's what we will ask of you as well. don't think that your education is anywhere close to being over. and i hope you commit yourself today to lifelong learning. you will learn from your peers. from your leaders. from your sailors and marines. from the allies and partners you will serve alongside. and you will need to keep learning and growing.
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because your mission will only get more complex. and ensigns and lieutenants your character judgment and integrity, and courage will let you play a central role in the next chapter of american history. so we are counting on you. we know you will all make us proud. we know you will excel. we know you will keep turning adversity into victory. congratulations, class of 2024. may god bless you and your families. may god bless our troops. and may god continue to bless the united states of america. [cheers and app
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