Good morning, everyone – and welcome!

To all of our distinguished guests – Honorable Cao, Chairman Caine, General Smith, Lt. Gen. Borgschulte – and most importantly the Class of 2026, it is an honor to be with you today.

To our families and friends in the audience, this moment is just as much about you as it is for your sons and daughters. On behalf of the United States Navy, thank you for guiding and supporting them through this journey. They couldn’t have done it without you.

Now for the moment you’ve all been waiting for.

Soon to be Ensigns in the United States Navy, congratulations on reaching this milestone.

Today is truly an accomplishment you’ll remember for the rest of your lives.

It’s an incredible achievement – but not your defining moment. That will come later.

The reality is, today’s not a finish line. It’s the beginning of your watch.

For 250 years, Americans have stood that watch before you. Now it’s your turn.

A transition from our nation’s premiere undergraduate warfighting training grounds to the Fleet.

And as you leave this stadium and the Yard of USNA, and step into the arena that is our Navy, keep in mind this: the stakes will be higher, the competitors will be tougher, the pace will be faster, and the standards will be higher.

This career will test you. But through it all, you’ll discover a strength and a tenacity you didn’t know you had. Embrace it. The nature of our profession demands nothing less.

We ruthlessly defend freedom and democracy. We deter our adversaries and shape their decisions. We project combat power and provide sovereign options. And when our Nation calls, we inflict overwhelming violence on our enemies.

In this profession of arms, fighting on behalf of our country is what we exist to do.

That’s our differentiated value – why America’s Navy matters and why our Nation depends on it.

In the Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, your classmates are showing the world what that differentiated value means.

They’re launching Tomahawks down range. Flying deep in country, behind enemy lines. Prowling silently below the waves. And sinking enemy warships at a rate not seen since World War II.

Today, as we approach the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, you will be responsible for carrying that legacy forward.

Soon, when you don your rank, the decisions you make, the actions you take, and the Sailors you lead will shape the fabric of our naval forces for another 250 years.

Never forget that leadership in our Navy is not about rank or authority – it’s about responsibility for people.

Today, you become inextricably woven into the tapestry of our Navy.

You should all be rightfully proud to have made it here to this graduation ceremony today.

But your most important day, your defining moment, won’t be today. It’ll be when you least expect it.

It’ll be the day your Sailors are exhausted, uncertain, and afraid – and they look to you for calm, clarity, and action.

When your cognitive expertise and mastery of your craft are the only things separating you from mission success and failure.

And in times of war when our Nation calls on you to do what the other 99% will not.

Soon-to-be Ensigns, know this: wherever you go to next, I have the utmost confidence in your ability to lead.

To be bold. To take charge. And to face the unexpected as you step into the arena.

Class of 2026, in a few moments you’ll raise your right hand and swear an oath to our Constitution.

It is your most sacred bond with the American People. It’s your promise to stand the watch. To lead with Honor. To act with Courage. And to serve with Commitment.

Remember why you raised your hand, remember who’s watching in those stands, and never forget the privilege of serving something greater than yourself.

America is counting on you. I know you won’t let her down.