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Joint Chiefs Chairman General Mark Milley Will Deliver Air Force Academy Graduation Address

April 12, 2021 / 11:03 AM MDT / CBS Colorado

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U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY (CBS4) - Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark A. Milley will address Air Force cadets at the 2021 commencement ceremony next month. The Air Force Academy made the announcement on Monday morning.

Spaced 8 feet apart, United States Air Force Academy cadets celebrate their graduation as a team of F-16 Air Force Thunderbirds fly over the academy on April 18, 2020 in Colorado Springs. (Photo by Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)

General Milley will giver the graduation address for the first time. The Academy normally rotates speakers between the president, the vice president, the secretary of defense, and the secretary of the Air Force.

WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 19: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley delivers keynote remarks during a ceremony commemorating the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima at the World War II Memorial on the National Mall February 19, 2020 in Washington, DC. 6,821 American and more than 17,000 Japanese combatants were killed were killed during this five-week battle, which saw some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting in the Pacific Theater during World War II. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

"General Milley has served in numerous command and staff positions as well as several operational deployments throughout his distinguished Army career," said Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark, Air Force Academy Superintendent, said. "Graduating cadets and their loved ones are privileged to have the opportunity to welcome the chairman and hear his thoughts and insights on leadership and service."

Commencement is set for May 26. Cadets will be allowed three guests for the ceremony. Those guests will be required to sit together for the ceremony in ratios designated by public health orders.

Last year former Vice President Mike Pence addressed cadets at a socially distanced graduation ceremony.