on behalf of the faculty of the united states naval academy, i present these candidates for the degreesommend that this degree be conferred upon them. as you have successfully completed your personal study at the united states able academy and recommended by the academic board, as superintendent and by virtue of the authority vested in me by the congress of the united states, i confer upon each of you the baccalaureate degree with the rights and privileges -- rights and privileges thereunto pertaining. [applause] please be seated. the commandant of the marine corps, united states marine corps will administer the openoffice to those being commissioned in the united states marine corps. , i present two hundred 65 midshipmen of the graduating class to be commissioned in the united states marine corps. [applause] >> thank you, captain bird, secretary hagel, secretary mavis. it's a wonderful day for the united states of america and its maybe entering core. friend,miller, my good once again, you have done a fantastic job of molding and shaping the character of these future military leaders. p

appeared on pbs and npr, c-span, and fox. 2006-2008 bond was a visiting professor at the united states naval academy where he taught a course entitled future global security challenges. in 2009 secretary of defense robert gates pointed into the defense policy board which is a federal advisory committee to the united states to bar and of defense, and he served on a body for two years. historical writings have garnered him an awful lot of praise. he was recipient of a greenway when should award. in 2002 he was awarded the united states state department distinguished public service award. new york times columnist, -- thomas friedman one of the most widely read authors define the post cold war era along with harvard professor samuel d. huntington and deal professor paul keating. our rear company in the. perhaps this explains why in 2011 foreign policy magazine named kaplan as one of the world's top global 100. i think we could pull a room like this in the night just by asking to make a mountain you want to tell us what you think? but tonight we are especially privileged to year him talk and to give his

and i didn't write his speech, but i was saying, the point was i remember sitting at the united states naval academypeech of my graduation, getting ready to throw my hat in the air. and i would have loved to this time have heard from the president of the united states say, no matter what you see going on with the v.a. right now, i'm going to guarantee you we have your back. this will never happen moving forward. those guys have to walk out of west point and get ready to go fight the battle that both sides of congress and senator are trying to put us into in africa, in the ukraine. they're trying to send more boys off to die, and we won't even settle the problem here. erin, please, look. i'm telling you. i don't -- this is not going after the president. this is not going after the congress or senate. >> people are turning it into a political statement against them. >> i wish he would have said something. i wish the politics would stop. look, you can cut the head off a chicken. this is so crazy. my brother told me this stupid story there was a chicken called magic mike. they cut the head off the chick

seated.e be the 61stgentlemen, superintendent of the united states naval academy, vice .dmiral michael h. miller [applause] >> good morning. hagel, thank you for joining us today as our guest of honor. ofased to welcome ambassador --ama, mario congressman whitman, thank you so much ohs our chairman of the of visitors, been a tireless supporter as have been congressmanguthrie, smith, a pleasure to have you here. secretary, admiral, dear sincerely appreciate you taking time out of your busy concerns to join us. guests, family and friends of the naval academy and most importantly the growing what a great day. applause]d we gather in this stadium, this memorial that just happens to contain a sports to celebrate those that have gone before us and those who are about to embark on their to the nation.ce we here today are all witnesses to the next chapter in the history of this remarkable institution as we commission another link in our long blue chain. today's ceremony is book ended by traditions that draw our skyward. obviously the blue angels always so impressive. it welcomes today's gradua