New Air Force Secretary tells Academy graduates they’ll defend homeland, deter China

New Air Force Secretary tells Academy graduates they’ll defend homeland, deter China

Newly confirmed Air Force Secretary Dr. Troy Meink told Air Force Academy graduates Thursday they were being commissioned as officers at a time of transition for the military. Meink was the Class of 2025 commencement speaker.It was the first time many of the graduates, and much of the general public, have heard from Secretary Meink following his May 13 confirmation by the Senate in a 74-25 vote.As the civilian leader and 27th Secretary of the Ai…

Meink Gives Commencement Speech to Class of 2025

U.S. Air Force Academy, Colo. — Troy E. Meink, Secretary of the Air Force, delivers remarks during the U.S. Air Force Academy Class of 2025 graduation ceremony at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 29, 2025. Nine hundred nine cadets received their commissions as second lieutenants in the Air Force and Space Force. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dylan Smith) MAY 30, 2025 – Approximately 900 cadets, along with their friends and loved ones, l…

SECAF gives commencement speech to USAFA Class of 2025

Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink speaks to graduates and audience members during the U.S. Air Force Academy’s 2025 graduation ceremony held at Falcon Stadium in Colorado Springs, Colo., May 29, 2025. During his first public speech as SECAF, Meink emphasized the importance of national security and the shift of focus to the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Dylan Smith) By Tech. Sgt. Sahara Fales U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic C…

USAFA Graduates Face Tough Road Ahead, Air Force Secretary Says

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 Stadi…