Celebrate Your Achievement
You've earned this moment. Embry-Riddle commencement ceremonies honor the dedication, precision and ambition that define every Eagle graduate.From Eagle to Alumnus
Embry-Riddle holds commencement ceremonies at Daytona Beach, Prescott, select Worldwide locations and our Asia campus in Singapore each spring and fall.
Your commencement day celebrates years of rigorous coursework, hands-on learning and the growth that defines an Embry-Riddle education.
We handle the details — ceremony logistics, live streaming, professional photography and diploma distribution — so you can focus on the moment.
Congratulations!
Commencement Ceremonies at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach spring 2026 Commencement took place on Monday, May 4, 2026, for graduate students and Tuesday, May 5, 2026, for undergraduate students.
Future Commencement dates and information to come.
Related Resources
Past Commencement Speakers
Past commencement speakers have included Embry‑Riddle alumni, astronauts, entrepreneurs, politicians, military veterans and more.Fall 2025
- Vivek Lall, Eagle of Aviation Award
Chief Executive, General Atomic Global Corporation
Spring 2025
- Christopher Browne, Eagle of Aviation Award
John and Adrienne Mars Director, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (COAS and COE)
- Steve Varsano, Eagle of Aviation Award
Founder and CEO, The Jet Business (COA and COB)
Fall 2024
- Jared Isaacman, Honorary Doctorate of Human Letters (L.H.D.)
CEO, Shift 4; Mission Commander of Polaris Dawn
Spring 2024
- Michael Whitaker, Eagle of Aviation Award
Federal Aviation Administration Administrator (COA and COB)
- Steve Nordlund, Eagle of Aviation Award
Vice President and General Manager, Air Dominance of Boeing Defense, Space & Security (COAS and COE)
Fall 2023
- Bobbi Wells, Eagle of Aviation Award
Vice President of Safety Systems, Efficiency and Compliance
Spring 2023
- Capt. Houston Mills, Eagle of Aviation Award
Vice President of Flight Operations and Safety, UPS Airlines
Fall 2022
- Leanne G. Caret, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (L.H.D.)
Executive Vice President and Senior Adviser, The Boeing Company
Spring 2022
- Hon. Charles F. Bolden Jr., Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (L.H.D.)
Major General, USMC (Ret.); Founder and CEO Emeritus, The Charles F. Bolden Group, LLC
Fall 2021
- Robert L. Sumwalt, Eagle of Aviation Award
Chairman, National Safety Board
Spring 2021
- Ellen Stofan, Eagle of Aviation Award
Under Secretary for Science and Research, Smithsonian Institution
Fall/Spring 2020
- David Calhoun, Eagle of Aviation Award
President and Chief Executive Officer, The Boeing Company
Fall 2019
- Capt. Pierre Thuot, Eagle of Aviation Award
U.S. Navy, Retired
Spring 2019
- Dennis Jones, Eagle of Aviation Award
Brigadier General, USAF; first to break the sound barrier
Fall 2018
- Ronald Ellis Keys, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (L.H.D.)
U.S. Air Force, Retired
Spring 2018
- Joe Martin, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (L.H.D.)
Chairman of the Board, Brooks Automation, Inc.; Co-Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board, Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc. (Retired)
Fall 2017
- Bob Chiusano, Eagle of Aviation Award
Executive Vice President and COO, Commercial Systems at Rockwell Collins Inc. (Retired); Owner, RMC Consultancy LLC; Chairman of the Board, Winnebago Industries Inc.
Spring 2017
- Erik Lindbergh, Eagle of Aviation Award
Founder and CEO, Powering Imagination LLC
- Helen Wessel, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (L.H.D.)
Longtime Embry-Riddle Supporter and Donor
Fall 2016
- Rob Meyerson, Eagle of Aviation Award
President, Blue Origin
Spring 2016
- Robert Sumwalt, Excellence in Aviation Award
Member, National Transportation Safety Board
Fall 2015
- Kevin Mickey, Eagle of Aviation Award
Vice President of Advanced Design, Northrup Grumann Corporation
Spring 2015
- Nicole Scott
Member of the Embry-Riddle Board of Trustees, Astronaut and Alumna
- Dent Thompson, Eagle of Aviation Award
Phoenix Air Group
Fall 2014
- Donald Gaetz, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (L.H.D.)
Florida State Senator
Spring 2014
- Tom Connolly, Dedication of Connolly Quad
Retired Chancellor of Embry‑Riddle's Daytona Beach Campus
Fall 2013
- James Henderson, Honorary Doctoral Degree
Chairman and CEO, Assured Partners, Inc.
Spring 2013
- Robert Cabana, Eagle of Aviation Award
Director, Kennedy Space Center
- Mori Hosseini, Honorary Doctoral Degree
Chairman and CEO, ICI Homes, Inc.
Fall 2012
- Arthur Lichte, Eagle of Aviation Award
U.S. Air Force General (Retired) and Board of Trustees Member
Spring 2012
- Dave Barger, Eagle of Aviation Award
President and COO, JetBlue Airways
Fall 2011
- Mike Haridopolis, Excellence in Aviation Award
Florida Senate
Spring 2011
- Zane Rowe, Eagle of Aviation Award
EVP and CFO, United Airlines; Board of Trustees Member
Fall 2010
- General Keys, Excellence in Aviation Award
Retired General, U.S. Air Force; Board of Trustees Member
Spring 2010
- Nicole Stott, Distinguished Speaker Award
Astronaut and Alumna
Fall 2009
- John Mica, Honorary Doctorate of Law
Florida's 7th Congressional District Representative
Spring 2009
- Steven Sliwa
President and CEO, Insitu Group, Inc.
Fall 2008
- William Parsons, Distinguished Speaker Award
Center Director, John F. Kennedy Space Center
Spring 2008
- Bill Nelson, Eagle of Aviation Award
United States Senator from Florida
- John (Jay) Adams Jr., Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (L.H.D.)
Executive Vice President, Brown & Brown, Inc. (Retired)
Fall 2007
- Jack Pelton, Eagle of Aviation Award
Chairman, President and CEO, Cessna Aircraft Company
Spring 2007
- Karen Holbrook, Eagle of Aviation Award
President, The Ohio State University
Fall 2006
- John Rosanvallon, Eagle of Aviation Award
President and CEO, Dassault Falcon Jet Corporation
Spring 2006
- Irene Trowell-Harris, Eagle of Aviation Award
U.S. Air Force Major (Retired); Director, Department of Veteran Affairs
- Barbara Barrett, Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (L.H.D.)
President, Triple Creek Guest Ranch
- Dave Barger, Distinguished Speaker Award
President and COO, JetBlue Airways
Fall 2005
- Dave Bushy, Distinguished Speaker Award
Vice President of Flight Operations, JetBlue Airways
Spring 2005
- Marion Blakey, Honorary Doctoral Degree
Federal Aviation Administrator
Fall 2004
- Tim Brady
Dean, College of Aviation
- Damon D'Agostino, Distinguished Speaker Award
Vice President, North American-South Pacific CIT Aerospace
- John Johnson
Provost and Chief Academic Officer
- Allen Haggerty, Distinguished Speaker Award
Vice President and General Manager, Boeing Co. (Retired)
Spring 2004
- Robert Crandall, Eagle of Aviation Award
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, AMR Corp./American Airlines (Retired)
Fall 2003
- James Guyette, Distinguished Speaker Award
President and CEO, Rolls-Royce North America
Spring 2003
- Joseph Martin, Distinguished Speaker Award
Senior Executive VP and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors
Fall 2002
- Philip Condit, Honorary Doctoral Degree
CEO and Chairman, The Boeing Company
Spring 2002
- Thomas Weidemeyer, Distinguished Speaker Award
COO and President, UPS Airlines
Summer 2002
- Capt. William Compton, Distinguished Speaker Award
President, TWA Airlines LLC (Retired)
Fall 2001
- David Burner, Distinguished Speaker Award
Chairman, President and CEO, Goodrich Corporation
Spring 2001
- Frederick Smith, Eagle of Aviation Award
Chairman, President and CEO, Federal Express Corp.
Summer 2001
- Mori Hosseini, Distinguished Speaker Award
President and CEO, Intervest Construction
Fall 2000
- Evelyn Lynn, Distinguished Speaker Award
Representative, District 27, Florida Legislature
Spring 2000
- Carol Hallet, Distinguished Speaker Award
CEO, Air Transportation Association
Summer 2000
- John Graham, Distinguished Speaker Award
President, Daytona International Speedway
Fall 1999
- Ambassador Edward Stimpson, Eagle of Aviation Award
U.S. Representative of Council, International Civil Aviation Organization
Spring 1999
- Gordon Bethune, Eagle of Aviation Award
CEO, Continental Airlines
Summer 1999
- Geroge Ebbs
President, Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University
Fall 1998
- Steven Udvar-Hazy, Honorary Doctoral Degree
CEO, International Lease Finance Corporation
Spring 1998
- Jane Garvey, Honorary Doctoral Degree
Administrator of Federal Aviation Administration
Summer 1998
- James Lampe
Director of Flight Operations, ATA
Fall 1997
- General Lloyd Newton, Honorary Doctoral Degree
Commander, United States Air Force
Spring 1997
- Jeffrey Papows, Honorary Doctoral Degree
President, Lotus Development Corporation
Fall 1996
- R. Lyman Wood, Honorary Doctoral Degree
Consultant, Follet Corporation
Spring 1996
- Edgar Mitchell, Honorary Doctoral Degree
Retired Astronaut
Fall 1995
- Dixon Speas, Honorary Doctoral Degree
President, PRC Aviation
Spring 1995
- General Moorman, Honorary Doctoral Degree
Vice Chief of Staff, United States Air Force
Fall 1994
- David Hinson
Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration
Spring 1994
- Paul Meunier
President, Signature Flight Support
Fall 1993
- James Oberstar
Congressional Rep. from Minnesota
Spring 1993
- Jake Garn
Vice Chairman, Huntsman Chemical Corp.
Fall 1992
- Norman Augustine, Honorary Doctoral Degree
CEO, Martin Marietta Corporation - Paul Schweizer, Honorary Doctoral Degree
1989
- Tony Vier, Eagle of Aviation Award
Test Pilot, Lockheed Martin
1988
- John Riddle, Eagle of Aviation Award
Co-Founder, Embry‑Riddle Corporation
1987
- Charles Yeager, Eagle of Aviation Award
Brigadier General, USAF (first to break the sound barrier)
- Jenna Yeager, Eagle of Aviation Award
Co-Pilot, Voyager Aircraft
- Johannes Steinhoff, Eagle of Aviation Award
General
- Richard Rutan, Eagle of Aviation Award
Pilot, Voyager Aircraft
1986
- Anesia Machado, Eagle of Aviation Award
Dean, All Women Pilots
1985
- Robert Overmyer, Eagle of Aviation Award
Colonel, USMC; NASA Astronaut; Pilot STS-5; Commander SL-3
1982
- Len Povey, Eagle of Aviation Award
"Inventor Cuban-8"; Cuban Aviation Legend
1981
- Robert Buck, Eagle of Aviation Award
Author, Aviation Weather and Safety
1979
- Emil Laird, Eagle of Aviation Award
Aviation Legend
1978
- Max Conrad, Eagle of Aviation Award
Aviation Legend; flew around the world in 1961
1974
- Susan Oliver, Honorary Doctoral Degree
Actress and Pilot - Cornelius Whitney, Honorary Doctoral Degree
Commencement Ceremony at Embry-Riddle Prescott
Fall 2026 Commencement Ceremony
Date: Saturday, December 12, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. (approximately 2 hours)
Location: Findlay Toyota Center
3201 N. Main St.
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314
No tickets are required.
Past Commencement Speakers
Past commencement speakers have included Embry‑Riddle alumni, astronauts, entrepreneurs, politicians, military veterans and more.Fall 2025
- Chris "Hanks" Sembroski
U.S. Air Force (Retired)
Spring 2025
- Jim Currier
President and CEO, Honeywell Aerospace Technologies
Fall 2024
- Kathleen R. Jolivette
VP/GM Vertical Lift; Boeing, Defense and Security
Spring 2024
- Norman D. Knight
Director of Flight Operations Directorate, NASA Johnson Space Center
Fall 2023
- Michael Madsen
President and CEO, Honeywell Aerospace (retired)
Spring 2023
- Sally Mason
President Emerita, University of Iowa
Fall 2022
- Joe Sprague
President, Horizon Air
Spring 2022
- Ryan M. Hartman
President and Chief Executive Officer, World View
Fall 2021
- Janet Kavandi, Ph.D.
President, Sierra Space
Spring 2021
- Ellen R. Stofan, Ph.D.
Under Secretary for Science and Research, Smithsonian
Fall 2020
- David Calhoun
President and Chief Executive Officer, The Boeing Company
Fall 2019
- Arlando S. Teller
State Representative, Legislative District 7; Arizona House of Representatives
Spring 2019
- Capt. Nancy Martin-Belitz
Standards Check Airman, Southwest Airlines
Fall 2018
- Russell "Chip" Childs
Chief Executive Officer and President, SkyWest, Inc.
Spring 2018
- Hon. Robert L. Sumwalt
14th Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board
Fall 2017
- Katie Pribyl
Senior Vice President of Aviation Strategy and Programs, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
Spring 2017
- Gov. Doug Ducey
23rd Arizona Governor
Fall 2016
- Nicole Stott
Astronaut (retired)
Spring 2016
- Gabriel L. Navarette
Chief Security Officer, Falcon Global Strategies
Fall 2015
- Amb. Barbara M. Barrett
Chairman, Aerospace Corporation Board of Trustees
Spring 2015
- David B. O'Maley
Chairman Emeritus; Retired President and Chief Executive Officer, Ohio National Life Insurance Company
Fall 2014
- David L. Robertson
Owner, Robertson Racing
Spring 2014
- Robert Wilson
President of Business and General Aviation, Honeywell Aerospace
Fall 2013
- Rep. Paul A. Gosar
U.S. House of Representatives Congressman
Spring 2013
- Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Trask
Director of Force Structure, Requirements, Resources and Strategic Assessments, U.S. Special Operations Command
Fall 2012
- Peggy Chabrian, Ph.D.
President and Founder, Women in Aviation - International
Spring 2012
- Col. Benjamin Alvin Drew Jr.
Colonel, USAF (retired); NASA Astronaut
Commencement Ceremonies at Embry-Riddle Worldwide & Online
Daytona Beach, FL
- When:
- Hooding Ceremony (Master's students): Friday, May 22, 2026, at 3 p.m.
- Commencement Ceremony (All students): Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 9 a.m.
- Where: Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, ICI
- Deadline to register for this ceremony: April 10, 2026
- Order Cap & Gown: April 10, 2026 (Rush Shipping Deadline: April 24, 2026)
- Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student
San Diego, CA
- When: Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, at 7 p.m.
- Where:
- Deadline to register for this ceremony: June 26, 2026
- Order Cap & Gown: June 26, 2026 (Rush Shipping Deadline: July 10, 2026)
- Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student
Seattle, WA
- When: Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, at 7 p.m.
- Where:
- Deadline to register for this ceremony: July 17, 2026
- Order Cap & Gown: July 17, 2026 (Rush Shipping Deadline: July 31, 2026)
- Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student
Frankfurt, Germany
- When: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, at 2 p.m.
- Where:
- Deadline to register for this ceremony: Sept. 1, 2026
- Order Cap & Gown: Sept. 1, 2026
- Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student
Norfolk, VA
- When: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
- Where:
- Deadline to register for this ceremony: Aug. 14, 2026
- Order Cap & Gown: Aug. 14, 2026 (Rush Shipping Deadline: Aug. 28, 2026)
- Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student
Dallas, TX
- When: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at 6 p.m.
- Where:
- Deadline to register for this ceremony: Aug. 28, 2026
- Order Cap & Gown: Aug. 28, 2026
- Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student
Tokyo, Japan
- When: Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026, at 2 p.m.
- Where:
- Deadline to register for this ceremony: Nov. 16, 2026
- Order Cap & Gown: Nov. 16, 2026
- Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student
Related Resources
Commencement Ceremonies at Embry-Riddle Asia
Asia's fall 2025 Commencement took place on Dec. 4, 2025
Future Commencement dates and information to come.
Related Resources
Submit Your Graduation Application
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Contact Us
Daytona Beach Campus
1 Aerospace Blvd.Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Prescott Campus
3700 Willow Creek Rd.Prescott, AZ 86301
Worldwide & Online Campus
Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University1 Aerospace Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
Asia Campus
Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University70 Seletar Aerospace View; #02-01
Air 7 Asia Building
Singapore, 797564