Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremonies
Undergraduate
Date: Monday, May 5, 2025
Location: Ocean Center
101 N. Atlantic Ave.
Daytona Beach, FL 32118
- 11 a.m. Ceremony
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Engineering
- 4 p.m. Ceremony
- College of Aviation
- David B. O'Maley College of Business
Graduate
Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Location: ICI Center
601 S. Clyde Morris Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
- 10 a.m. Graduate Hooding and Commencement
- Ph.D. and Master's Degrees
Note: No tickets are required for entry. Additional ceremony details will be posted soon.
Apply to Graduate
Your graduation application for the Spring 2025 term must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar by March 15, 2025, in order to participate in commencement exercises and have your name printed in the commencement program. You may apply for graduation by logging into ERNIE. From there, select "Campus Solutions Student Homepage," followed by the "Academic Advising" tile, and lastly, "Apply for Graduation." For questions regarding your graduation status, please contact dbgradev@erau.edu.
Cap, Gown and Memorabilia Information
Academic regalia, or the dress uniform of one of the U.S. Armed Forces, is required.
Cap and gown orders can be placed online through Herff Jones online. Deadline to order regalia online is March 15, 2025. After that date, orders can be made in person at the University Bookstore and will be charged a $10 late fee. In-store purchases made after April 22, 2025, are not guaranteed and will be charged the $10 late fee plus an additional expedited shipping fee. All caps and gowns ordered will be distributed at the graduation Lift Off event hosted by Alumni Engagement on April 30 at 4 p.m. in the ICI Center.
Honor cords based on the academic standing of GPA (cum laude, magna cum laude and summa cum laude) are permitted and distributed at the ceremony to graduates at check-in.
Stoles are permitted for nationally recognized honor societies sanctioned through Student Engagement, Athletics and ROTC branches. These are distributed by your organization's advisor before the ceremony. Please contact your advisor directly for more information.
Venue Information
Learn more about the Ocean Center with directions, parking map, and disability and limited mobility accommodations and seating.
Past Commencement Speakers
Past commencement speakers have included Embry‑Riddle alumni, astronauts, entrepreneurs, politicians, military veterans and more.
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 ERAU 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 ERAU 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
- Martin Joseph, 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
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