USAFA Graduates Face Tough Road Ahead, Air Force Secretary Says
May 29, 2025 | By Rachel S. Cohen
The Air Force Academy’s newest graduates endured four years of homework, exams, and military drills. But tougher challenges lie ahead, service leaders told the Class of 2025 at the school’s May 29 commencement ceremony.
The Air Force and Space Force are in the midst of a major transition that requires tenacity and innovation from even their youngest officers, Air Force Secretary Troy E. Meink told roughly 900 graduates assembled at Falcon Stadium. Meink’s commencement speech marked his first major address to the force since becoming its top civilian on May 16.
The new Airmen and Guardians must turn their attention from America’s yearslong wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria to instead challenge China’s bid for dominance in the Pacific, Meink said. The U.S. military’s shift toward competition with other world powers has prompted a scramble to develop weapons that are stealthier, faster, and more resilient, as well as combat tactics geared toward flexibility and deception.
https://www.airandspaceforces.com/usafa-graduates-face-tough-road-ahead-air-force-secretary-says/
