Vice president, SecAF congratulate class of 2026
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. (AFNS) -- Vice President JD Vance addressed more than 900 graduating cadets during the U.S. Air Force Academy’s Class of 2026 commencement ceremony at Falcon Stadium May 28, recognizing the graduates’ readiness to lead as the nation’s newest Air Force and Space Force officers.
The ceremony marked the culmination of the cadets’ journey at the Academy — an experience designed to forge warfighters to win, inspire leaders of character and quality, and motivate critical thinkers to adapt.
For decades, America’s senior national leaders have addressed graduating service academy classes, underscoring the significance of commissioning the nation’s future military officers.
During his address, the vice president emphasized the unprecedented speed at which global conflict is changing, calling on the graduates to meet these new challenges head-on.
“We ask you to apply that same adaptability, that same innovation that you learned at this academy to an entirely new era of warfare, one shaped by autonomous systems, AI and cyber operations, technologies evolving far faster than military institutions have historically been accustomed to,” Vance said. “You joined that Long Blue Line at a moment when your nation needs your skill, your nation needs your adaptability, your nation needs your discipline, your sense of honor, and your love of your fellow Americans.”
Vance addressed a packed stadium of graduates’ family members and supporters, Academy faculty and staff, local leaders and community partners, and Department of the Air Force senior leaders, including the Secretary of the Air Force, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and the Chief of Space Operations.
Arriving at the Academy in the summer of 2022, the class navigated a demanding environment designed to test their mental, physical, and leadership capabilities, consistently demonstrating the adaptability expected of future officers.
The Academy’s 47-month development program combines rigorous military training, nationally recognized academics, and highly competitive athletics with character development, all designed to prepare cadets to lead and win in complex and contested environments.
Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink told graduates those experiences prepared them to lead through a highly dynamic era of global security as the newest officers in the Air Force and Space Force.
“Like it or not, whether you feel ready or not, your career will be marked by rapid change,” Meink said. “We are modernizing nearly every mission area in our Department… It will be up to you young men and women with fresh ideas and unmatched technical education. You will be expected to navigate through this changing world.”
The Class of 2026 consists of 931 graduates. Of those, 805 were commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Air Force, and 94 were commissioned into the U.S. Space Force. The graduating class also included 13 international cadets.
“I’m extremely proud of how you tackled the critical changes we have made at the Academy during your journey,” said Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind. “This last year, in particular, we witnessed you step into your leadership roles as firsties and you delivered excellence. You embraced warrior ethos, upheld our standards, tackled warfighter training, hit the books hard, and left it all on the athletic fields. Today, you are our warrior-leaders ready to lead in the Air Force and Space Force.”
Following the presentation of diplomas, the graduates took the oath of office, officially transitioning from cadets to military officers. The newly commissioned second lieutenants will soon report to their respective specialized training, flight schools, and operational units around the globe.
Timed with the graduates’ traditional hat toss, the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, flew over Falcon Stadium in a demonstration of the precision, discipline, and operational excellence the graduates now join as newly commissioned officers.
The ceremony was open to the public and livestreamed worldwide, allowing families, friends, and members of the public to witness the cadets take the oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Funded by and accountable to the American people, every Academy graduation demonstrates a return on their investment: delivering mission-ready warfighters for the nation. Since the institution’s first graduating class in 1959, graduates have served in conflicts and contingency operations around the world, from Vietnam and the Gulf War to the Global War on Terrorism.
Coinciding with the United States’ 250th anniversary, this year’s graduation ceremony reflected the Academy’s longstanding connection to American service, military leadership, and national heritage. To secure the nation’s freedom for the next 250 years, the Air Force Academy leads military education by integrating emerging technologies like artificial intelligence and cyber operations to prepare graduates for the complexities of the future fight.