Ladies and gentlemen , the president of
the United States , Joe Biden win
presents
Wing or harms .
Ladies and gentlemen , please welcome
the graduating class of 2023 .
Yeah ,
graduates . Holt left has
wing present harms .
Please remain standing for the playing
of the national anthem and the
invocation
or harm at ease .
Ladies and gentlemen , chaplain ,
Colonel Julian C Gaither , United
States Air Force Academy Command
chaplain .
Let us pray almighty God
in the shadow of these Majestic
mountains and campus steeped with a
rich tradition and history . We are
grateful to gather our Commander in
Chief Air Force Space Force ,
senior leaders , Air Force Academy ,
faculty , staff , family ,
and especially our graduates to honor
and celebrate the completion of a long
four year journey . In June
2019 , cadets , you
arrived anxiously excited about I day .
You thought basic cadet training was
the hardest part . You did not know
what was ahead . We did not know what
was ahead . The world did not know
what was ahead . We did not know a
virus would shape and reshape your
educational athletic and military
journey . COVID reminded us
all that we must be prepared for the
unexpected challenges of our world . So
today , we are grateful that these
graduates understand the importance of
being ready and staying ready
cadets in a few minutes . You will no
longer be first , you will be United
States Air Force Academy graduates and
second lieutenants in the Air or Space
Force . Joining the long blue line of
leaders . You are in doubt with a
degree like no other . Your degree from
the United States Air Force Academy
comes with an expectation that you are
ready . You have been trained to lead
honorably and accelerate change as we
protect our country and our world .
You are the hopes and dreams of many
watching this momentous celebration .
We thank God for your parents , family ,
friends and teachers who have molded
you . We are grateful for all the love
and support . They have shown you on
this journey and as you complete this
chapter of your life , remember it is
only a chapter we believe the promise
for . I know the plans I have for you
plans to prosper you and not to harm
you plans to give you hope and a future
graduates today , you will join the
long blue line much like I day in
2019 , it comes with new sacrifices
to defend our country . All the Air
Force Academy graduates , welcome you ,
all our veterans , welcome you and all
of us still standing to watch . Welcome
you or we must stay ready with great
determination and bold resilience
class of 2023 . You have ,
you have prevailed through the academic
rigor , physical endurance and the
global pandemic . Yet you did not give
up . You did not stop you . Did you
continue to prepare for victory ? May
God continue to fill you with
compassion for those in need and
inspire you to live by our core values
that oppression might cease , freedom ,
might prevail and dignity and honor ,
might reign your God has and will
provide everything you need for the
journey ahead . So all of us here today ,
look forward to serving by your side as
you lead our air and space forces into
the future . Prepare for victory
class of 2023 . And congratulations ,
we pray this prayer always in your
holy name . Amen .
Graduates take seats . Ladies and
gentlemen , please be seated .
Ladies and gentlemen , Lieutenant
General Richard Clark , the
Superintendent of the United States Air
Force Academy .
All right . What a beautiful day we
have and I hope it stays beautiful .
But today we are here for one reason
and one reason only and that is to
honor the commitment , the sacrifice ,
the dedication of the US Air Force
Academy class of 2023 .
So now let me uh open my folder and see
what chat GP T gave to me
too soon . All right , I'm sorry . But
you got to admit artificial
intelligence is pretty awesome . I
think next year I may not be standing
here . They may have uh chat S U P T .
Right . But that's not all bad . I need
all the help I can get . So , but
seriously , to get started today , I'd
like to quote my football coach when I
played here at USA , a Fisher de Beri .
And he used to always tell us any time
you see a turtle sitting on a fence
post , you know , it didn't get there
by itself . It had some help and that
help extends all the way from the White
House , the Department of the Air Force ,
our local community and our loved ones .
So today , we are honored to welcome
the 46th president of the United States
President Joe Biden as our commencement
speaker . What a profound honor for our
academy and our graduates , Mr
President . To have you here today . We
thank you and we welcome you to your
United States Air Force Academy .
We're also honored to welcome the 26th
Secretary of the Air Force , the
honorable Frank Kimba , honorable Frank
Kendall and his spouse , Beth , his son
James , our 22nd chief of Staff of the
Air Force and the next chairman of the
joint , well , the nominated chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General
Charles Q Brown and his wife , Shereen ,
the second Chief of Space Operations
for the United States Space Force
General , Chance Saltzman and his
spouse Jennifer , the 19th chief master
Sergeant in the Air Force Chief ,
Joanne Bass , the first chief master
sergeant of the Space Force chief Roger
Tober , president of the Falcon
Foundation General , retired Steve
Lorenz , commander of the Space
Operations Command , Lieutenant General
Stephen Whiting , and his spouse ,
Tammy Ceo of the Association of
Graduates and the Air Force Academy
Foundation . Lieutenant General ,
retired Mike Gould and his wife Paula ,
the president of the Association and
the Air Force Academy Foundation . Mr
Mark Hilly , our elected officials ,
mayor of Monument Mitchell Laine and
Colorado Springs , mayor elect Jimmy
Mola and his spouse , Abby . And
last but certainly not least my wife ,
Amy . Round applause roll .
I want to welcome all of our guests and
thank you for supporting our mission
here in Colorado and Washington DC and
throughout our military community . And
I look upon all of our soon to be
lieutenants . And I remember when I sat
right where you are 37 years ago ,
almost to the day . And my academy
experience really built the foundation
that would carry me through every phase
phase of my career and bring me to this
amazing institution for four
assignments . First , as a cadet , then
as a graduate assistant football coach ,
then as commandant of cadets . And now
is your superintendent . And I am
grateful to have spent more time at the
Air Force Academy than anywhere else in
my entire life . And I have to admit
when I was sitting in your seats , I
was grateful to be leaving the Air
Force Academy . But every other time I
was grateful to be coming back but
regardless of why we're grateful , it's
always important to express our
gratitude . So to all of our graduates ,
be sure to take time to thank those
people who put you on the fence post .
And I'll start by expressing my
gratitude to your parents , your
families , your guardians , your
friends , your loved ones , because we
understand that their support was vital
to your success . And I know that
raising Children is the hardest job in
the world . I know because I have to in
college myself . And if your kids were
like mine , they're tearing up your
house , they're eating all your food ,
they're topping teenage attitudes ,
they're spending all your money . And I
know that some of you thought how in
the world is this person going to be a
functioning adult ? But today , I
guarantee you these graduating cadets
are far more than that . They are the
most promising young leaders of our
nation with a sense of duty and honor
to serve and lead our airmen and our
guardians . Thank you for preparing
them for their noble destiny . Now ,
clearly getting them to this point
takes a village so we can't forget to
thank our dedicated faculty , our A O
CS , our A P S , our coaches , our
staff members , mentors and sponsor
families early in their early in these
cade careers . They too probably wonder
is this person going to actually make
it . But here we are and there is no
doubt in any of our minds that they are
ready finally to the members of the
long blue line , our local leaders ,
our community partners and the
lifeblood of our academy , the 10 th
air base wing . Thank you for the
unwavering support that you have shown
our entire academy . So how about a
round of applause for the entire
village that brought these cadets to
where they are right now ?
And when I think about what this class
has been through over the last four
years , I'd sum it up in one word ,
resilient . When you chose your
exemplar , you chose Colonel Leo Thorne .
And little did you know the
similarities that you would share with
Leo Thor together ? You embodied the
closing words of the airman's creed . I
will never falter and I will not fail
for those of you unfamiliar . Each
class of our academy selects an
exemplar whose qualities they hope to
emulate . And each time someone says
their class year 2023
they will shout the name of their
exemplar . Leo thus was a Vietnam era
fighter pilot who on April 19th ,
1967 led a flight of four F
105 S on a mission in North Vietnam .
When one of his wingmen was shot down
despite extreme danger and personal
risk , he decided to stay and to
protect his wingman and to protect the
rescue effort . And when a big 17
fighter rolled in then major , thus
immediately turned his nose engaged the
enemy in a dog fight and shot down that
now he was low on gas . So he departed
to refuel . But after learning there
were more hostile aircraft inbound . He
returned to the scene alone . He
spotted four big 17 s over the downed
air crew and in true American fighter
pilot fashion , he thought four of them .
One of me , the odds are in my favor .
He attacked the formation , damaging
one of the one of the aircraft and
driving the others away from the scene .
Major Thor did not falter and he did
not fail . He later received the
congressional medal of honor for his
heroism . But his sacrifices did not
end there 11 days after that mission ,
he was shot down and captured by the
Viet Cong becoming a prisoner of war
for over six years . He never gave up .
And once again , he did not falter , he
did not fail . Now , during your time
at the Air Force Academy , I saw first
hand the hardship of the class of 2023
had and how you reflected the qualities
of your exemplar like Leo Thor , you
did not falter and you did not fail .
You saw challenges like no other class
before you . During your first year ,
you found yourselves in the middle of a
worldwide pandemic . And we sent you to
sent you home to learn virtually the
deans staff and faculty pivoted on a
dime and moved from in person
curriculum to distance learning let's
be honest . How many times did you
forget to hit the mute button or how
many times did you wear COVID casual ,
which is uniform on top DJ s on the
bottom ? You know , you did it . But
that was the world we were in then in
the middle of the pandemic . When the
situation was uncertain and
uncomfortable , we brought you back to
us , a other universities were forced
to shut down but we couldn't because
your country needed you . This was a
heavy lift , but we made it happen .
You made it happen , there were
challenges and still you lifted up one
another . You adapted and you set the
example as upper class men , you
stepped up , you pulled the wing
through this huge change and you
brought us back to normalcy . I'm proud
to say you didn't just survive . You
thrived militarily . You stood up
combat survival training . After a 10
year hiatus , you were laser focused on
future conflict and you led our school
in the development of leaders of
character to win our nation's wars .
Your class is graduating with a
cumulative GPA of 3.11 .
So I guess that means you all made the
dean's list . It's awesome . See here
in your ranks , you have a Rhodes
scholar , a Marshall scholar , two
Truman scholars , two Fulbright
scholars and over 230 of you have been
selected to go on to get your advanced
degrees next year and on the fields of
friendly strife . Just in the last year ,
you won four conference championships .
You had 49 all American athletes and
you ranked 42 out of 325 schools in the
LA field Cup competition , which is a
compilation of all NCAA sporting
competitions . This placed you number
one in the Mountain West Conference and
number one among all service academies
far , far above West Point and
Annapolis .
And not to mention you brought home the
commander in chief trophy . Thank you
for that .
I am so honored to be your
superintendent because when the odds
were against you , you did not falter ,
you did not fail and you not only
survived but you thrived . And it's my
honor to serve alongside you in the
mightiest military force in the world .
There is absolutely no doubt that you
left this institution better than you
found it . And there is no doubt that
you are ready to support and defend the
constitution of the greatest country on
the planet on behalf of our entire
academy community . Thank you and
congratulations to the United States
Air Force class of 2023 .
And now , ladies and gentlemen , it is
my distinct pleasure to welcome the
26th Secretary of the Air Force ,
the honorable Frank Kendall . Sir .
We are proud to have you here to
celebrate these amazing cadets , these
resilient cadets and an incredible
group of leaders . Thank you , sir ,
General Clark could not resist that
little West Point thing . Could he ?
Congratulations . Class of 2023 .
Congratulations . Also to the parents ,
family members , loved ones and friends
of the class . Well done , Mr President .
Thank you for being here today to help
launch these outstanding young men and
women onto their careers in the Air
Force and Space Force Clark and the
entire US Air Force Academy leadership
team and staff . Thank you for your
leadership as you have work to prepare
this class for a bright future of
service to our country . It does not
escape my notice that I just may not be
the speaker . You are most interested
in hearing from today . I promise to be
brief . There are a few things I would
like to say to the class of
2023
first . I want to encourage you to
savor this moment . It marks a major
accomplishment in your lives and it's a
culmination of years of work and study .
You have overcome some serious
obstacles and challenges to have been
admitted to and to be graduating from
one of our nation's military academies
are joining a select group of military
academy graduates , a group from which
some of our nation's most accomplished
leaders have come as you celebrate . I
would also like you to give some
thought to the new and awesome
responsibilities that are about to rest
on your shoulders . The mission of the
Air Force Academy is to build leaders
of character . Now , you will have the
mission of being leaders of character .
United States taxpayers paid for your
education are now entrusting you with
our national security and with their
safety and freedom . This is a sacred
responsibility , an obligation . You
should never take lightly . Our nation
supports our military academies because
our country needs strong leaders ,
leaders who will serve America . Well ,
in times of crisis , as an officer in
the military of the United States , you
will take on unique and special
obligations a few years ago , while I
was out of government , I was invited
to Singapore by their Minister of
Defense to receive an award . I had to
obtain permission from both the
Department of Defense and the
Department of State to accept . Not
because I had been an under Secretary
of defense . Not because I had been a
member of the Federal Senior Executive
Service because I had been a lieutenant
colonel , a commissioned officer in the
United States Army . It was only in
this capacity that I was subject to the
emoluments clause of the constitution
that restricts foreign gifts for those
who hold an office of trust . You are
now holding an office of trust , trust
by the American people . When you
accepted your commission yesterday ,
you took on a very special role in our
American system . When you took your
oath , swearing allegiance to the
constitution , you accepted a duty and
a responsibility for honorable and
faithful service to the nation .
Whether you will be operating in
aircraft or spacecraft worth many
millions of dollars or controlling
weapons that could take millions of
lives . After today , you will be one
of the people our nation counts on for
your maturity , your professionalism ,
your expertise , your integrity and
your judgment as you control our
nation's most powerful arms . We are
accepting a leadership role in the
military in the midst of a strategic
competition . That is as great a
challenge as we have faced in decades .
Certainly in my career , you will be
challenged to meet the requirements of
our current missions . While preparing
for an uncertain future , you will be
challenged to get everything you can
out of today's force and to help build
tomorrow's force . The resources will
always be limited and the
responsibilities will always be vast .
You will be challenged by changing
technology that alters the character of
war . You will need to adapt as
emerging technologies , create risks
and opportunities equally significant .
Our nation's parents are entrusting
their sons and daughters to your
supervision and care . As the leader of
character , you are now responsible for
creating and strengthening the
readiness of the units you will serve
in and lead as commission officers .
You will be responsible for the example
you set for the conduct of those under
your supervision and for shaping the
culture of the organizations you lead
are a part of as cadets . You have
already experienced organizational
cultures that you are part of shaping
in your squadrons in the cadet wing and
in other organizations here at the
academy starting today , you will take
on the responsibility every military
leader bears not just for their own
conduct but for the organizational
climate in your unit . And for the
conduct of all the people in your
organization , you will be the people ,
setting the standards for the units you
lead . Let me give you one piece of
hard won leadership wisdom . Your
standards will not be defined by what
you say . It will be defined by the
conduct that you accept . You will also
begin your career at a time when
political polarization in our country
is particularly severe in the summer of
2020 before the election , I wrote an
article about what I thought the future
president's greatest national security
challenge would be . I don't know if
then candidate Biden never saw that
piece and I think it still applies
today . The challenge was to restore
mutual respect and trust in a deeply
divided country . I think that job is
well begun but not finished . As
President Lincoln , eloquently observed
a nation divided against itself cannot
stand a military divided , also cannot
effectively defend the nation . That
challenge will now be your challenge as
well . We are a diverse country ,
diverse from many perspectives . And
after today , you will share the
responsibility for leading a diverse
American military along with our
commander in chief myself , John Brown
and General Salman . I know that you
are ready to face these challenges .
You have been educated , trained and
inspired by loved ones , by leaders and
you have put in your work to continue
your journey of leadership and service .
Congratulations . Class of 2023 .
It is now my pleasure and distinct
honor to introduce our commander in
chief President Biden has a long
history in the business of national
security . Serving for a dozen years as
a chairman , a ranking member of the
Senate Foreign Relations Committee and
eight years as vice president before
his election by the American people as
our president , ladies and gentlemen ,
the 46th president of the United States ,
Joe Biden ,
the
the falcons .
Good day .
Great to be back at the Air Force
Academy at the altitude of 7258
ft above sea level , far , far above
that of West Point Annapolis .
I figured I should say that . So my Air
Force one pilots , Colonel Kirkland
class of 99 Colonel Donnelly class of
one , make sure they are willing to
take me back to DC . Also brought today
my Air Force and Space Force military
aides , Lieutenant Colonel John Rowe ,
class of seven , Lieutenant Colonel
Anne Hughes . Class of eight . These
officers travel the world with me
demonstrating and I mean , this is
really demonstrating the values of this
institution every single day . It's no
exaggeration to say I trust my life to
academy graduates and some of my team
members have trusted their lives to
academy cadets . Few months ago , I
called to speak to my national security
advisor was out here , but I was told
he was unavailable . Turns out first
the Andrew diver had him out doing
loops and bar rolls on a glider .
I asked if I could do that today and
the secret service said no , we'll have
to shoot it down work .
Thank you , Colonel Clark . Lieutenant
Lieutenant General Clark , and to all
the faculty and staff here at the
Academy for your dedication and
commitment in shaping the next
generation of American air power and
space power . And thank you to all the
parents and families and sponsor
families out there in the stands . You
supported these cadets throughout their
lives . You taught them how to stand up .
Never bow , never bend , never yield ,
inspired them to put integrity first
choose service over self . Sounds like
hyperbole , but it's literally what you
did to pursue excellence and all they
do . But I know you're bursting with
pride at what they've already
accomplished . So graduates give your
family round of all , stand up and give
them a round of applause .
Show them your appreciation .
I think you're excited .
The only thing your moms and dads are
saying is I wish I could have paid for
this education every
other graduation I do . And I've done a
lot of graduations , college
graduations . I usually say parents
today you all get a pay raise no more
tuition . But Secretary Kendall General
Brown General Saltzman , thank you for
leading our Air Force and our space
force to take on the missions that most
matter , most matter for today and the
future . So we can continue to
maintain aerospace superiority just as
we have in every US conflict in this
century . But graduates , you're not
just commissioning into the Air Force
and Space Force , you're commissioning
into a joint force . One thing working
more closely together across the
service branches than ever before in
new , new ways to deter if necessary
defeat every threat to our nation .
Last week , I was proud and I mean to
sincerely to nominate your Air Force
Chief General C Q Brown Junior , the
next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
staff , stand up
General
General , our country . Thank you . And
I look forward to working with you as
chairman , these graduates who have the
additional pride of starting their
careers as a service led by a general
that might say , but kicking American
airmen , I think you used that phrase
class of 2023 .
Alright man , you better . This is a
day you've worked hard to reach , think
back to that first day of basic when
the bus dropped you off at the
footprints , didn't know what the hell
lied ahead . Maybe you're wondering
what exactly you've got yourself into .
And then after a few days of
acclimating , getting yelled at non
stop by your cadre here , he knows
words that mean it would only get worse .
The P T ban has been lifted as if
that's a good thing . Right .
P T ban has been lifted marching down
to Jack's building tent city even
sweeping the dirt to make it look like
there were hallways , you know , before
making a pass , the assault course ,
fall and assault course Nunes , Nunes
and I tell you what , you're all crazy .
But anyway , kidding , remember ,
remember the pride you felt joining the
flying wedge and theo the first
time during an acceptance day parade
only to face an even more difficult
challenge when the school year began
academics . It wasn't all push
ups and cramming for Prague week
though , uh to set the Guinness Book of
Records . World Records . Most
simultaneous push ups there had to be
an enormous amount of push ups beyond
you . We are . But all of you , I think
you had some fun along the way , may be
a good use of epic passes .
That would be reason enough to join .
Had a few steaks and Toni dinners
celebrate commitment and job drops . I
got to see some of you at the White
House a few weeks ago to celebrate
winning the commander in Chief trophy
for the 21st time
when I was graduating from high school .
300 years ago , I
applied to the Naval Academy
and I was picked by Senator . There's
two ways senators can pick , you can
pick individually or they can name 10
people unless the academy choose I was
a relatively good football player , so
I had a shot . I remember the day that
a guy named Steve Dunning from my class
was also nominated , drove up was about
seven in the morning . We were going to
drive down to Annapolis and I had just
heard the night before they had a
halfback named Joe Bolio won the
Heisman trophy and a quarterback named
Roger Staubach . I went to Delaware
Blue Horizons Rocketry team
managed to send the superintendent's
fight cap all the way to space . I
don't know whether he knew it or not ,
but even more impressive . You got it
back some 70 miles away . Of
course , there may also have been
achievements of less sterling nature .
Maybe he had to do a few tours , maybe
you're one of the cadets who decided to
enjoy the view from the top of the
chapel on the box .
So before I forget , since I was one of
those schools at a state university , I
found myself in a little bit of trouble
a couple of times . I really wish that
the commander in chief had spoken at my
graduation because I have the power to
hereby waive any confinement to
restrictions of minor cadet
disciplinary systems violations . They
are waived , man .
I wish my commencement speaker had that
power .
Look after four long
years , you push to the limits
and forges into leaders of character .
And after finally getting to jump into
the fountain , you commissioned as a
second lieutenant in the United States
Air Force , the United States Space
Force , part of the greatest , and this
is not hyperbole . You're part of the
greatest fighting force in the history
of the world . That is the truth .
That's the God's truth . That's not an
exaggeration , the finest military in
the history of the world . And you ,
this day is the day to celebrate .
And as your commander in chief , I'm
honored to be here as you take on the
duties of serving and defending our
nation in the years to come . You'll
have a memorial of you . You'll take on
greater responsibilities and you'll be
challenged even beyond everything
you've yet experienced . But you have
those mountains , you leave them as you
look at you , I'm sure you're gonna be
thinking about this a lot as you're
moving through your careers as you
leave these mountains where the air is
rare and to take with you the
confidence that your years have
prepared you for whatever is ahead .
After all your time at this proud
institution is defined by so much
history , so much tradition marked by
significant changes was referenced
earlier , unlike classes that proceeded ,
you , you've had to adapt and overcome
time and again to reorient yourself
together with your squadron and your
wing and find new ways to soar has been
mentioned already . When COVID hit
during the four degree year , you had
to , you had to excuse me , you had to
rapidly redeploy back to your homes and
learn new ways to study and maintain
camaraderie during COVID COVID se
and by the way , I wonder how many of
you had to kick your brother out of
your room when you went back . All kid
inside recognition may have been cut
short , but it came back in the fall .
You did the run to the rock . You
earned the prop and wings just like
every cadet before you resilience
creativity , endurance commitment .
These have been essential parts of a
unique academy training . You're going
to need those qualities as you continue
your careers . Because the world you're
graduating into would not only change
you rapidly , the pace of change is
accelerated as well . We're seeing
proliferating global challenges from
Russia's aggression and brutality in
Europe for our competition with China
and a whole hell of a lot in between
from growing instability , the food
insecurity and natural disasters , all
of which are being made worse by the
existential threat of climate change .
I don't hear many of my friends anymore
saying there's no climate change . We
finally figured it out and trying to
push that since 1981 . But we're seeing
engaging technology , emerging
technologies , all A I from A I
and 3D printing that could change the
character of conflict itself , not
gonna be easy decisions . Guy I met in
the oval office in my office with 12
leading there going to be eight leading
scientists in the area of A I some are
very worried that they are can
actually overtake you were thinking of
planet . So we got a lot to deal with
an incredible opportunity , a lot to do
with . We're also working across
multiple domains , developing new
capabilities like our new next GEN B 21
radar . You can be flying that
sucker . We're going to count on you .
Keep us at the forefront of air and
space dominance , enabling an entire
joint force to be stronger graduates .
You've made a noble choice to lead a
life of service . Now you also shoulder
a great privilege and a mighty
responsibility . Leadership . Yeah ,
leadership word often used in the years
ahead . Your airmen and guardians
are going to look to you for guidance
and inspiration because the world is
going to get more confusing . They'll
put their trust in you and you in turn
must strive to always be worthy of
their confidence . Listen to them ,
listen to them . I've always believed
that America is strongest when we need
not only by the example of our power ,
but by the power of our example . Let
me say it again . I've traveled the
entire world and in almost every
country respect us so much is not just
our power but the power of our example
and it matters , it matters . The same
is going to be true in your own
experience of leadership . No matter
what changes or challenges come your
character , your moral clarity , your
capabilities must never waver
again , not hyperbole , the nation
needs you genuinely need you .
Our world stands at an inflection point .
I had a professor who used to say an
inflection point as when you're driving
your car down the highway at 60 miles
an hour and suddenly you turn the wheel
10 degrees , you can never get back on
the same track you're on before the
decisions we make today are going to
determine what the world looks like
decades from now . No , graduating
class gets to choose the world into
which they graduate . Every class
enters the history of a nation up to
the point that has been written by
others . A few classes
once every several generations at the
point in our history where they
actually have a chance to change ,
change the trajectory of the country .
The only reason I ran said to our
speaker , I read his article ,
that's why when I ran , I said I was
running for three purposes , two of
which were to restore the character of
this country to , to unite it .
You face that inflection point today .
And I know you're going to meet the
moment to make sure that the future
we're building is one that
fundamentally aligns with our values ,
protects America's interest to make
sure that our skies and orbits remain
open and navigable to everyone to make
sure that new technology used to lift
people up to new heights , new
opportunities not hold them down or
exploit them . And to make sure that
the fundamental rules of the
international system we put in place
more than seven decades ago to prevent
another world war are upheld and
strengthened to address new threats .
One of the greatest strengths the
United States of America brings to this
effort as one of the greatest assets
you will harness throughout your
careers . It's our unmatched network of
alliances and partners , allies and
partners . I've spent the bulk of my
first year just reestablishing that ,
meeting hundreds of hours with our NATO
allies and others . Those nations who
willingly stand beside us to face down
threats and solve shared challenges .
We already gotten some sense of that
with the friendship and bond you've
built with the cadets graduating today
who will commission in their home
militaries across Europe , Middle East ,
North Africa and the Pacific . Our
partnerships , amplify our strength and
make us more effective and don't think
our adversaries don't understand it .
So they work so hard to try to split us .
We , we , we've seen it over and over
again , especially the global support
for the brave people of Ukraine as they
defended their families and their homes
against Russian brutal assault .
Remember or said Putin was certain
that NATO would crack that they would
not stand together . We put 40 nations
together . The United States has
rallied the world to stand strong with
Ukraine and defend the values that the
American people hold so dear freedom ,
sovereignty , democracy , simple
dignity . Working with a coalition of
more than 50 nations . We've delivered
historic security assistance that has
enabled Ukraine to defend itself . I've
been there many times before the war .
Spoke of the Rod . I've been there
since the war began . The United States
Air Force and Space Force have been the
backbone of that operation , providing
airlift capacity and logistical , know
how to remove artillery ammunition ,
fighting vehicles , anti tank and air
defense system , providing missile
warning space , space is r supporting
communications , no other nation in the
world , the whole world as the
enabling capacity we do and what we
have to do to thank you
and your immediate predecessors . Just
a few weeks ago , I was with President
Zelinsky and here is Shima , the G7 I
told him we work with our partners
began training Ukrainian pilots in
Europe on fourth generation fighter
aircraft , including the F-16 . So
Ukraine can defend itself today . And
in the future , Ukrainian people's iron
resolve to live in freedom will never
be broken . They are incredible
average women and men fighting ,
giving their lives to their country and
their families and the American
people's support for Ukraine will not
waver . We've always stand up for
democracies . Always
ask you to contemplate what happens if
it wavers and Ukraine goes down ?
What about Belarus ? What about the
rest of Eastern ? You
look , the G7 also demonstrated
remarkable unity in the world's leading
democracies when it comes to China ,
United States , I've met with Xi
Jinping more than any more than any
leader in the world . Starting back
when I was vice President , the United
States does not seek conflict or
confrontation with China . China and
the United States should be able to
work together where we can to solve
some global challenges like climate .
But we are prepared for vigorous
competition and we will stand stand up
for our interest , for our friends and
for our values with our G7 partners .
We should a set of shared principles
for engaging with China and minimizing
the threats to our nations by
bolstering our economic security ,
resisting economic coercion ,
countering harmful practices and
protecting a narrow set of advanced
technologies critical to our national
security by not trading by working
together with nations that share the
most fundamental values . We multiply
one another's strength and firmly fix a
course toward our shared vision for the
future in every part of the world . We
advanced our partnerships in concrete
ways and strengthened American security
in the Indo Pacific . We've deepened
our alliance and our trivial
cooperation with Japan and the Republic
of Korea who are now talking together
and working together to enhance
deterrence against threats in the
region including from the Democratic
People's Republic of Korea . We've
elevated the quad , bringing together
Australia , India , Japan and the
United States to advance an Indo
Pacific that's free and open ,
prosperous and secure didn't exist
before we're delivering on a , a new
strategic partnership , brings the
United States close together with
Australia and the United Kingdom , two
of our most capable allies . NATO
is more energized and more united than
it's been in decades . It's now even
stronger with the accession of our
newest ally Finland and soon Sweden
the alliance as soon as possible .
It will happen . I promise you working
with Canada to upgrade no capabilities
to ensure that North America's air
defense surveillance systems are the
best in the world . And in just the
past 12 months , I've hosted in the
United States , the leaders of every
country in the western hemisphere ,
every country in Africa , Southeast
Asia and the Pacific Islands . We are a
Pacific nation . These nations may not
agree with us on every issue but they
want to work with us . They choose us
not because of threats of coercion ,
but because of the common interest we
pursue together to make the world a
better and safer place for everyone .
That , that is what the United States
stands for . When people around the
world see a United States gray tail
flying overhead with the stars and
stripes on your shoulders . They know
what that means no matter where you go .
Freedom , opportunity , possibilities ,
hope it's who we are .
It's what we fight for . It's why we
choose this path . So graduates
as you head out , whether to graduate
school or pilot training to serve as
missiles or space operators ,
scientists or engineers never forget
the sacred oath you swear and the
mission you serve is something far ,
far greater than any person or
president . It's our constitution ,
it's our country and it's our enduring
American values . You know , we're the
most unique nation in the world and say ,
well , everybody says , but we are ,
we're the only nation in the world
formed . And based on an idea , an idea ,
every other nation in the world is
formed based on things like geography ,
ethnicity , religion . We're the only
nation building . An idea that we hold
these truths to be self evident that
all women and men are created equal and
endowed by the creator with certain
inalienable rights , life , liberty
pursuit . That's the organizing
principle of America .
We haven't always lived up to it but we
never except on one brief moment , even
thought about walking away from it .
Generations of our forebears have
fought and sacrificed to defend it .
Sacrifices . We honor earlier this week
on Memorial Day , my
son was an army
officer major , the attorney general
who sought permission to go fight with
his unit in Iraq for a year .
Unfortunately , the search was very
close to these burn pits . He came home
stage four ST and died . I
remember looking at him in the bed .
This is the God's truth . I had planned
on saying this maybe I shouldn't . He
looked at me . He said , we're talking
about war . He
said , dad , he was Attorney General .
Odds on favored to become the governor
said , dad , the proudest thing I've
ever done in my life is putting on that
uniform , proudest thing just
before he passed it . I'm not afraid ,
I'm not afraid that's what you all are
made of as well . Right ?
Fried . Not in yourself and what you're
fighting for . It's a sacred charge
that you now inherit as well . This
year marked the 75th anniversary , this
year of an integrated force . The
75th anniversary of women serving in
the forest , the 50 th anniversary of
an all volunteer military .
And your class is one of the most
diverse classes in the history of this
academy or any academy to graduate .
That's why we're strong . That's why
we're who we are . That's why we'll
never give up . That's why
we also recognize that with every step
we've taken to harness the full
diversity of our nation to tap more of
our indomitable American spirit . Our
armed forces have only grown stronger ,
more effective and more admired . The
same is true of this institution . This
year's graduating class is among the
most diverse in our academy history .
You're graduating the highest
percentage of women , by the way I met
with uh who are those guys that fly
over shortly ? You heard them , haven't
you ? Three of them were women ?
So don't screw around guys and the
highest percentage of minority cadets
in history . You're strengthening force ,
a force that depends , depends on
American values and reflect America
itself . And each of you has an
obligation to treat the armor
guardians , you lead and everyone you
encounter with dignity , your honor
code says we will not lie , steal or
cheat or tolerate among us . Anyone who
does so it's on all of you to
root out the scourge of sexual assault
and harassment in the military . They
never tolerated among , never tolerated
to make sure that every member of our
forces , no matter who they are , who
they love , feels safe and respected in
the ranks . Class of 2023
you've been trained to lead to set an
example of your leadership for others .
You've been given the skill set to
think clearly and make strategic
decisions and to do what is right under
pressure . You've earned the trust and
respect of your fellow cadets and your
instructors . You are
the very embodiment of the American
Military of Excellence and you are
ready for anything . Any ,
as I look out today , I give him my
word as a bi and I've never been more
optimistic . Never been more optimistic
about the future of this country . No
small part because of you . I mean it
sincerely , four years ago , you
arrived as individuals today . You're
part of a long blue line . Future
generations will stand in your
footsteps , strive to meet the heights
of your , of your expectations , draw
inspiration of the example of honor and
integrity you're going to set held
aloft by the core values you learned
here , our Air Force , our space force ,
our joint force . Indeed , our nation
is safe and steady hands with all of
you . May God protect you all
as you set out in your journeys . And
remember , remember never
been , never buy never you .
And remember who we are . May the Lord
God and guide the ones who fly through
great space in the sky and may God
protect all those who wear the uniform .
United States of America . Let us hear
us one more time . The class of
2023
ladies and gentlemen , the cadet class
president for 2023 cadet first
class Yusa bomber , the summer cadet
wing commander , cadet , first class
Julia Gunlock , the fall cadet wing
commander , cadet first class
Christopher Von Hos and the spring
cadet wing commander cadet first class
Eric Kenneth will present the class
gift to the president of the United
States
President Biden for your dedicated
service to our nation , to the United
States Air Force and to the United
States Air Force Academy . It is with
great pride that today's graduating
class designates you by acclamation ,
an honorary member of the United States
Air Force Academy's class of 2023
right ? As tangible evidence of
that honor . We ask that you accept
this painting by Steve Weed . On behalf
of the United States Air Force Academy ,
we will also present you with our class
coin as a token of our appreciation