00:00It is now my pleasure to introduce our 79th Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable John C. Phelan.
00:18Well, I've been to many events, but this may be the coolest visual I've seen, so congratulations. It's really awesome.
00:30Mr. Vice President, Commandant, Acting Chief of Naval Operations, Superintendent, Distinguished Guests, Faculty, Staff, Families, and most importantly, the Class of 2025, good morning.
00:47Good morning.
00:50Admiral Davids, thank you for the kind introduction.
00:54Serving as the 79th Secretary of the Navy is a privilege of my lifetime,
00:58and I thank President Trump for his trust and confidence in appointing me to this role.
01:03And it's a particular honor to welcome and thank Vice President J.D. Vance for his presence today.
01:10As a Marine and combat veteran, Vice President Vance represents what makes this nation great.
01:17Courage forged through hardship, service defined by humility,
01:22and deep, unshakable belief that this country is worth fighting for.
01:25From the hills of Ohio to the battlefields of Iraq, and now to the halls of leadership in the White House,
01:32Vice President Vance's journey reminds us that honor is not given, it is earned.
01:37Thank you, Mr. Vice President, for your example, your service, and your continued leadership.
01:42I'm truly honored and humbled to address the newest class of officers who will soon carry the weight of command
01:57and the hopes of our nation on their shoulders.
01:59You have earned the right to wear the uniform, not merely through the rigor of academics
02:04or the trials of Bancroft Hall, but through your daily commitment to something larger than yourselves.
02:10Today is a celebration, but it is also a moment of transition.
02:15In a matter of days, you will be entrusted with lives, with missions vital to our national security,
02:21and with the legacy of those who came before you.
02:23From today forward, you are more than midshipmen.
02:27You are leaders in the Navy and Marine Corps, officers in a force that stands guard over freedom
02:33on every ocean, in every time zone, every hour of every day.
02:39That's no small thing.
02:41But let me be honest with you.
02:43What you're about to step into is not easy.
02:46The pace of change is accelerating.
02:48The threats are growing more sophisticated.
02:50The burden of leadership is heavier than ever, but so is the opportunity.
02:56The opportunity to shape the future of naval warfare.
02:59The opportunity to lead diverse, talented teams in ways that will define missions and even save lives.
03:07The opportunity to be exactly the kind of leader the world needs now.
03:12Smart, grounded, resilient, humble, and courageous.
03:17What will define you from this moment on is not your commission or your class rank or even your service selection.
03:25What will define you is how you lead when the pressure is on, when the plan falls apart, when lives are at stake,
03:33and when everyone around you looks to you for calm and courage.
03:37Leadership is never about you.
03:39It's about those you serve.
03:41General John Lejeune had it right when he said the relationship between officers and enlisted must be like teacher and scholar,
03:49not superior and inferior.
03:51Your people will teach you more than you expect.
03:54Respect that.
03:56Learn from them.
03:58Lead them well.
03:58You are not simply to give orders.
04:01You are to grow those under your command into something better.
04:05Instill in them the core values of honor, courage, and commitment.
04:10Not just with words, but through example.
04:13Now, a quick word about values.
04:16Honor, courage, commitment.
04:18These aren't just words etched on academy walls or printed in manuals.
04:23They are your compass, and in a future filled with new technologies, cyber threats, and global instability,
04:30character will matter more than ever.
04:33You are inheriting a fleet that sails in a world full of complexity and consequence.
04:38We face adversaries who test the rule-based order at sea.
04:43We operate in an environment where innovation moves at the speed of relevance,
04:47and we must be agile, accountable, and adaptive,
04:51because lethality is just not about firepower.
04:55It is about clarity of purpose, efficiency of action, and unity of command.
05:00Admiral Rickover, the father of the nuclear navy, once said,
05:04Responsibility is a unique concept.
05:06You may share it with others, but your portion is not diminished.
05:11You cannot delegate accountability.
05:14When the mission falters, your name is on the line.
05:17When it succeeds, share the credit.
05:20That is leadership.
05:22There will be days when you'll feel the weight or burden of leadership.
05:26That's natural.
05:28But on those days, remember this.
05:30You are not alone.
05:31You stand on the shoulders of those who came before you,
05:34and besides shipmates who will have your back in ways that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
05:40You are stepping into a future that will test you, but I believe, we believe, the American people believe you are ready.
05:49Ready to innovate.
05:50Ready to inspire.
05:52Ready to lead in a Navy and Marine Corps that is evolving, modernizing, and building a more lethal, adaptable, and resilient force.
06:00You are the future of that force.
06:04So take pride in what you've achieved.
06:06Take responsibility for what comes next, and take care of those you were privileged to lead.
06:12Your commission is more than a contract.
06:14It is a covenant with the American people.
06:16They trust you to defend this nation with honor, to wield power with restraint, and to lead with integrity, even when no one is watching.
06:26So, class of 2025, step forward with confidence, but carry within you the humility of those who came before.
06:33From the decks of destroyers to the cockpits of strike aircraft, from forward operating bases to submarines beneath the sea,
06:41you'll be the tip of the spear and the steady hand behind it.
06:44In closing, know this, your country is proud of you, not just for what you've done, but for who you've chosen to become.
06:54You are not just graduates, you are defenders of the Constitution, ambassadors of liberty, and the next generation of American leaders.
07:03May God bless you, your families, and the United States of America.
