Forever an Eagle DB Graduation graphic

Watch the Fall 2024 Commencement Ceremonies

Spring 2025 Commencement Ceremonies

Undergraduate

Date: Monday, May 5, 2025

Location: Ocean Center
101 N. Atlantic Ave.
Daytona Beach, FL 32118

Graduate

Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025

Location: ICI Center
601 S. Clyde Morris Blvd.
Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Note: No tickets are required for entry. Additional ceremony details will be posted soon.

Apply to Graduate

The deadline to order caps and gowns online through Herff Jones was March 15, 2025. Regalia orders can now be made in person at the University Bookstore and will be charged a $10 late fee.

In-store purchases made at the bookstore after April 22, 2025 are not guaranteed and will be charged the $10 late fee plus an additional expedited shipping fee. All cap and gown orders will be distributed at the graduation Lift-Off event hosted by Alumni Engagement on April 30th. 

Cap, Gown and Memorabilia Information

Academic Ceremonies: Attire and Regalia 

Commencement exercises and other formal academic ceremonies at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University uphold traditional scholarly customs of significant value. This document provides guidelines for appropriate student attire at important academic ceremonies.

Academic Ceremony Attire

Students participating in academic ceremonies, such as honor society inductions, research presentations, or official university functions, should wear business casual or business attire unless otherwise specified. Students will be informed in advance by the organizing committee if regalia is required.

Academic Regalia and Ornamentation at Commencement

Students participating in commencement exercises are required to wear the designated graduation gown, mortarboard (cap), and tassel. While mortarboards may be decorated, no additional accessories—including jewelry, corsages, or other embellishments—may be attached to the approved gown beyond the permitted academic and ornamental items listed below. Any decorations on the mortarboard must remain flat on the top and should not obstruct the view of others or interfere with the ceremony. Only the official university-issued tassel is allowed to dangle from the cap.

Ceremonial Ornamentation: Medallions, Honor Cords, Pins, Stoles, and Sashes

All ceremonial adornments must adhere to university standards. Graduates who have earned academic honors or participated in recognized academic or student organizations may wear officially issued or university-approved ceremonial items with their academic regalia. These include:

  • Medallions awarded in recognition of a university honor;
  • Honor cords signifying membership in an approved academic honor society or national organization;
  • Stoles denoting participation in a university-recognized honor society, student organization, or study-abroad program;
  • Pins representing an academic achievement or affiliation with a university-recognized professional association
  • Religious or cultural attire;
  • Military uniforms or insignias. 

Candidates for master’s and doctoral degrees are only permitted to wear university-issued regalia and approved ornamentation. Any medallions, stoles, pins, sashes, or other accessories obtained during undergraduate studies—whether at Embry-Riddle or another institution—may not be worn with graduate-level academic regalia.

Requests for new ornamentation, including those featuring university trademarks (such as logos or seals), must receive approval from the Office of the Provost at least two months preceding the commencement ceremony. 

Students wearing unauthorized or inappropriate attire or adornments at university academic ceremonies may be required to remove or cover them prior to participation. Students who do not comply with university standards will not be allowed to participate in the ceremony.

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

  • 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

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