President Biden Delivers the Commencement Address at the United States Air Force Academy Transcript

Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the United States, Joe Biden.

(00:20)
Wing. Present. Harms.

(00:21)
Wing. Order. Harms.

(00:21)
Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the graduating class of 2023.

(02:12)
Graduates. Halt. Left. Hace. Wing. Present. Harms. Please remain standing for the playing of the national anthem and the invocation.

(08:57)
Order. Harms. 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.

(11:53)
Today we are grateful that these graduates understand the importance of being ready and staying ready. Cadets, in a few minutes, you’ll no longer be firsties. You’ll 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 endowed 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.

(13:15)
Graduates, today you’ll 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 the watch welcome you, for we must stay ready with great determination and bold resilience. Class of 2023, you have prevailed through the academic rigor, physical endurance, and the global pandemic. Yet, you did not give up. You did not stop you. 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. 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’re 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. Now, let me open my folder and see what ChatGPT gave to me.

(15:50)
Too soon? All right, I’m sorry. Oh, but you got to admit artificial intelligence is pretty awesome. I think next year I may not be standing here. They may have Chat SUPT. But that’s not all bad. I need all the help I can get. But seriously, to get started today, I’d like to quote my football coach when I played here at USAFA, Fisher DeBerry. And he used to always tell us, “Anytime 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. Today, we’re 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 Kendall and his spouse Beth, his son James. Our 22nd Chief of staff of the Air Force, and 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 of the Air Force, Chief Joanne Bass. The first Chief Master Sergeant of the Space Force, Chief Roger Toberman. President of the Falcon Foundation, General Retired Steve Lorenz. Commander of the Space Operations Command, Lieutenant General Steven Whiting, and his spouse, Tammy. CEO of the Association of Graduates in 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 Hille, our elected officials, Mayor of Monument, Mitchell Lakind, and Colorado Springs Mayor-Elect Yemi Mobolade and his spouse Abbey, and last but certainly not least, my wife Amy. A round of applause for all of them. I want to welcome all of our guests and thank you for supporting our mission here in Colorado, in 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 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 the cadets, and now as your superintendent, and I am grateful to have spent more time at the Air Force Academy than anywhere else in my entire life.

(19:20)
Now, 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 two in college myself. And if your kids were like mine, they’re tearing up your house, they’re eating all your food, they’re copping 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’re 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.

(20:44)
Now clearly getting them to this point takes a village, so we can’t forget to thank our dedicated faculty, our AOCs, our AMTs, our coaches, our staff members, mentors and sponsor families. Early in these cadet careers, they too probably wondered, 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.

(21:12)
Finally, to the members of the Long Blue Line, our local leaders, our community partners, and the lifeblood of our Academy, the 10th 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?

(21:33)
Now, 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 Thorsness, and little did you know the similarities that you would share with Leo Thorsness. Together you embody 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-

Thor.

… they will shout the name of their exemplar.

(22:26)
Leo Thorsness was a Vietnam era fighter pilot, who on April 19th, 1967, led a flight of four F105s 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 wingmen and to protect the rescue effort. And when am MiG-17 fighter rolled in, then Major Thorsness immediately turned his nose, engaged the enemy in a dog fight and shot down that MiG. 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 Mig-17s 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 aircraft and driving the others away from the scene. Major Thorsness did not falter and he did not fail.

(23:35)
He later received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism, but his sacrifices did not end there. Eleven days after that mission, he was shot down and captured by the Vietcong, becoming a prisoner of war for over six years. He never gave up, and once again, he did not falter, he did not fail that.

(23:57)
Now during your time at the Air Force Academy, I saw firsthand the hardship of the Class of 2023-

Thor.

… Had, and how you reflected the qualities of your exemplar. Like Leo Thorsness, 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 home to learn virtually. The dean’s 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, PJ’s on the bottom? You know you did it, but that was the world we were in.

(24:49)
Then in the middle of the pandemic, when the situation was uncertain and uncomfortable, we brought you back to USAFA. 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 upperclassmen, 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 lists. That’s awesome. She here?

(25:54)
In your ranks you have a Rhode 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 Learfield 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’s Trophy. Thank you for that.

(26:53)
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.

Thor.

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.

Thor.

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. Lieutenant General Clark and the entire US Air Force Academy leadership team and staff, thank you for your leadership as you have worked to prepare this class for a bright future of service to our country.

(28:53)
It does not escape my notice that I just may not be the speaker you are most interested in hearing from today. While I promise to be brief, there are a few things I would like to say to the Class of 2023.

Thor.

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. You are joining a select group of military academy graduates, a group from which some of our nation’s most accomplished leaders have come.

(29:38)
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. The United States taxpayers paid for your education and 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.

(30:22)
As an officer in the military of the United States, you’ll 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 undersecretary 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.

(31:07)
When you accepted your commission yesterday, you took on a very special role in our American system. When you took your oaths, swearing allegiance to the Constitution, you accepted a duty and the responsibility for honorable and faithful service to the nation. Whether you’ll be operating an 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. You 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’ll be challenged to meet the requirements of our current missions while preparing for an uncertain future. You’ll be challenged to get everything you can out of today’s Force and to help build tomorrow’s Force.

(32:09)
The resources will always be limited and the responsibilities will always be vast. You’ll 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 a leader of character, you are now responsible for creating and strengthening the readiness of the units you’ll serve in and lead. As commissioned officers, you’ll 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 or are part of. As cadets, you have already experienced organizational cultures that you were part of shaping, in your squadrons, in the cadet wing, and in other organizations here at the Academy.

(33:05)
Starting today, you’ll 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, they will be defined by the conduct that you accept. You’ll also begin your career at a time when political polarization in our country is particularly severe.

(33:41)
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 ever saw that piece, but 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’ll share the responsibility for leading a diverse American military. Along with our Commander-in-Chief, myself, Generals Brown and General Saltzman.

(34:32)
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.

Thor.

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 or 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.

Hello, Falcons. Big day. It’s great to be back at the Air Force Academy, at the altitude of 7,258 feet above sea level, far, far above that of West Point or Annapolis. I figured I should say that. So my Air Force One pilots, Colonel Kirkland, Class of ’99, and Colonel Donnelly, Class of ’01 make sure they are willing to take me back to D.C.

I also brought with me today my Air Force and Space Force military aids, Lieutenant Colonel John Rowe, class of ’07, Lieutenant Colonel Ann Hughes, class of ’08. These officers travel the world with me, demonstrating, and I mean this sincerely, 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. A few months ago, I called to speak to my national security advisor who’s out here, but I was told he was unavailable. Turns out, [inaudible 00:36:45] Andrew Deaver had him out doing loops and barrel rolls on the glider. I asked if I could do that today and the Secret Service said, “No. We’ll have to shoot it down.” Look, thank you Colonel Clark, 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. You inspired them to put integrity first, choose service over self. Sounds like hyperbole, but it’s literally what you did to pursue excellence in all they do. So I know you’re bursting with pride at what they’ve already accomplished. So graduates, give your families round of applause. Stand up and give them a round of applause. Show them your appreciation. I think they’re excited. The only thing your moms and dads are saying is, ” I wish you 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.”

(38:44)
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 for today and the future so we can continue to maintain air and space 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 ways to deter, and if necessary, defeat every threat to our nation. Last week I was proud, and I mean it sincerely, to nominate your Air Force Chief General CQ Brown Jr. the next chairman of the joint chiefs of staff. Stand up, General. General, our country thanks you and I look forward to working with you as chairman. And these graduates who have the additional pride of starting their career as a service led by a general that might say, “butt kicking American airmen.” I think you used that phrase.

(40:13)
Class of 2023 … all right 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, you didn’t know what the hell lied ahead. Maybe you were wondering what exactly you’d gotten yourself into. Then after a few days of acclimating, getting yelled at nonstop by your cadre, hearing those words that meant it would only get worse. “The PT ban has been lifted,” as if that’s a good thing. PT ban has been lifted. Marching down to Jack’s, building tents, and even sweeping the dirt to make it look like there were hallways. Before making it past the assault course [inaudible 00:41:14] and the assault course Nunez, and I tell you what, you’re all crazy, but at any rate … no, I’m almost kidding.

(41:25)
Remember the pride you felt joining the flying wedge in the T-zone, the first time during the acceptance day parade only to face an even more difficult challenge when the school year began, academics. It wasn’t all pushups and cramming for [inaudible 00:41:48] week, though you set the Guinness Book of Records world records for most simultaneous pushups, there had to be an enormous amount of pushups. But all of you, I think you had some fun along the way. Maybe a good use of your epic passes, that would be reason enough to join. Had a few steaks and tortellini dinners to 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.

(42:40)
When I was graduating from high school 300 years ago, I applied to the Naval Academy and I was picked by the senator. There’s two ways senators can pick. They can pick individually or they can name 10 people and let the academy choose. And I was a relatively good football player, so I had a shot. I remember the day, a guy named Steve Dunning from my class was also nominated, drove up. It was about seven in the morning. We were going to drive down to an Annapolis and I had just heard the night before they had a halfback named Joe Bellino, who 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, he got it back some 70 miles away. Of course there may also have been achievements of less sterling nature. Maybe you 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. Before I forget, since I was one of those schools out of state university, I found myself in a little bit of trouble a couple of times, I really wish that a commander in chief had spoken at my graduation because I have the power to hereby waive any confinements or restrictions of minor cadet disciplinary systems violations. They’re waived. Man, I wish at my commencement the speaker had that power.

(44:38)
Look, after four long years, you pushed to the limits and forged into leaders of character. And after finally getting to jump into the fountain, you commission 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. We’re the finest military in the history of the world and you’ve earned it. And 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 even more asked 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.

(45:42)
You leave them as you look … I’m sure you’re going to be thinking about this a lot as you’re moving through your careers. As you leave these mountains where the air is rare, you going 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 and marked by significant change, as was referenced earlier. Unlike [inaudible 00:46:11] time and again, you reorient yourself together with your squadron and your wing and find new ways to soar. As has been mentioned already, when COVID hit during your four degree year, you had to rapidly redeploy back to your homes and learn new ways to study and maintain camaraderie during COVID session.

(46:40)
And by the way, I wonder how many of you had to kick your brother out of your room when you went back. But all kidding aside, 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 your unique academy training. And you’re going to need those qualities as you continue your careers, because the world you’re graduating into is not only changing rapidly, the pace of change has accelerated as well. We’re seeing proliferating global challenges, from Russia’s aggression and brutality in Europe, to our competition with China and a whole hell of a lot in between, from growing instability, to food insecurity, to 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.

(47:53)
We’re finally figured it out. Been trying to push that since 1981, but we’re seeing emerging technologies, all AI, from AI and 3D printing that could change the character of conflict itself. And it’s not going to be an easy decision, guys. I met in the Oval Office, in my office with eight leading scientists in the area of AI. Some are very worried that AI can actually overtake human thinking and planning, so we got a lot to deal with. Incredible opportunity, but a lot to deal with. We’re also working across multiple domains, developing new capabilities like our new next Gen B21 Raider. And you’re going to be flying that sucker and we’re going to count on you to keep us at the forefront of air and space dominance, enabling an entire joint force to be stronger.

(49:02)
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, a word often used. In the years ahead your airmen and guardians are going to look to you for guidance and inspiration because the world’s 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’s strongest when we lead 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, been in almost every country. The reason we’re respected so much is not just our power, but the power of our example. And it matters. It matters.

(50:06)
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 waiver. Again, not hyperbole. The nation needs you, genuinely needs you. Our world stands at an inflection point. I had a professor who used to say an inflection point is 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 enters at a point in our history where they actually have a chance to change the trajectory of the country.

(51:21)
That’s the only reason I ran. I 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 united. You’ll 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 interests, to make sure that our skies and orbits remain open and navigable to everyone, to make sure that new technology is 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.

(52:26)
One of the greatest strengths the United States of America brings to this effort is one of the greatest assets you’ll 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. You already gotten some sense of that with the friendship and bonds you’ve built with the cadets graduating today, who will commission in their home militaries across Europe, Middle East, North Africa, Indo-Pacific.

(53:20)
Our partnerships amplify our strength and make us more effective. And don’t think our adversaries don’t understand it. They work so hard to try to split us. We’ve seen it over and over again, especially in the global support for the brave people of Ukraine as they defended their families and their homes against Russia’s brutal assault. Remember what 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. [inaudible 00:54:29], 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 move artillery, ammunition, fighting vehicles and tank, and air defense system. Providing missile warning, space-based ISR, supporting communications. No other nation in the world, the whole world, has enabling capacity we do and what we have to do to thank you and your immediate predecessors.

(55:07)
Just a few weeks ago, I was with President Zelensky in Hiroshima at the G-7. I told him we worked with our partners, began training Ukrainian pilots in Europe on fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including the F-16 so Ukraine can defend itself today. Freedom will never be broken. They are incredible. Average women and men fighting, giving their lives for their country and their families. And the American people support the Ukraine will not waiver. We’ve always stand up for democracies, always.

(55:59)
We’ll ask you to contemplate what happens if it waivers and Ukraine goes down. What about Belarus? What about the rest of Eastern Europe? Look, the G-7 also demonstrated remarkable unity in the world’s leading democracies when it comes to China. The United States, I’ve met with Xi Jinping 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 up for our interest, for our friends and for our values. With our G-7 partners, we should have 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 them.

(57:18)
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 Indo-Pacific, we’ve deepened our alliance and our trilateral cooperation with Japan and 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.

(58:11)
We’re delivering on AUKUS, a new strategic partnership brings the United States closer together with Australia and 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 and the Alliance, as soon as possible. It will happen, I promise you.

(58:46)
We’re working with Canada, upgrade NORAD’s capabilities and ensure that North America’s air defense surveillance systems are the best in the world.

(58:55)
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 all 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 interests we pursue together to make the world a better, safer place for everyone. 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.

(59:57)
So graduates, as you head out, whether to graduate school or pilot training to serve as missileers 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.

(01:00:29)
We’re the most unique nation in the world. You say, “Well, everybody says it,” 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 built on an idea and we hold these truths to be self-evident that all women and men are created equal, endowed by the Creator with certain inalienable rights: life, liberty, pursuit of… That’s the organizing principle of America.

(01:01:15)
We haven’t always lived up to it, but we never accept on one brief moment even thought about walking away from it. Generations of our forebears have fought and sacrificed, defended. Sacrifices that we honored earlier this week on Memorial Day. My son was an army officer, a major, Attorney General who sought permission to go fight with his unit in Iraq for a year. Unfortunately, his hooch was very close to these burn pits and he came home, stage four glioblastoma and died. I remember looking at him in the bed, this is the God’s truth. I hadn’t planned on saying this, maybe I shouldn’t. He looked at me, he said, we were talking about war. He said, “Dad,” he was attorney general, odds on favored to become the governor. He said, “Dad, the proudest thing I’ve ever done in my life is putting on that uniform. Proudest thing.” Just before he passed he said, “I’m not afraid. I’m not afraid.” That’s what you all are made of as well. Pride. Pride, not in yourself, but what you’re fighting for. It’s a sacred charge that you now inherit as well.

(01:02:47)
This year we marked the 75th anniversary, this year, of an integrated force. The 75th anniversary of women serving in the force and the 50th 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.

(01:03:24)
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 most diverse in academy history. You’re graduating the highest percentage of women. By the way, I met with… Who are those guys that fly over shortly? You heard of them, haven’t you? Three of them are women. So, don’t screw around guys. And the highest percentage of minority cadets in history. They’re a strengthening force, a force that depends on American values, that reflect America itself.

(01:04:20)
And each of you has an obligation to treat the airmen, guardians you lead, and everyone you encounter with dignity. Your honor code says, will not lie, steal or cheat, nor 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, and to never tolerate it among… Never tolerate it. To make sure that every member of our forces, no matter who they are, who they love, feels safe and respected in the ranks.

(01:04:54)
Class of 2023, you’ve been trained to lead, to set an example of your leadership for others. You’ve been given the skillset to think clearly and make strategic decisions to do what is right under pressure. You’ve earned the trust and respect of your fellow cadets and your instructors, and you are the very embodiment of the American military excellence. And you are ready for anything. Anything.

(01:05:32)
As I look out today, I give you my words as a Biden. I’ve 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 expectations, draw inspiration from the example of honor and integrity that 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.

(01:06:22)
May God protect you all as you set out on your journeys. And remember, remember never bend, never bow, never yield. Remember who we are. May the Lord guard and guide the ones who fly through great space in sky, and may God protect all those who wear the uniform, the United States America. Let us hear us one more time the class of 2023.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Cadet Class President for 2023, Cadet First Class Usama Bamieh, the Summer Cadet Wing Commander, Cadet First Class Julia Gunlock, the Fall Cadet Wing Commander, Cadet First class Christopher von Hassel, and the Spring Cadet Wing commander, Cadet First Class Eric Kenes will present the class gifts to the president of the United States.

Thank you.

Just leave it.

Thank you.

(01:08:24)
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 to you by acclimation, an honorary member of the United States Air Force Academy’s class of 2023.

(01:08:47)
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.