Monday, May 5, 2025
Ceremony # 1 – Undergraduate Commencement (Bachelor’s Degrees)
College of Arts & Sciences and College of Engineering
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
*Students Arrive by 9:00 a.m.
Commencement Speaker
Christopher U. Browne
Christopher U. Browne
Christopher Browne is the John and Adrienne Mars Director of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. He joined the Museum in 2017 as Deputy Director and promoted to the Director position in May 2022. Browne accounts for the activities of six directorates comprising a staff of over 320 employees and an annual operations budget of $49m. Included in his area of responsibility is the exhibit development and care for over 60,000 significant aviation and aerospace artifacts stored or on display at the National Mall Building, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, and Paul E. Garber facility in Suitland Maryland. Browne accounts for the Museum’s fundraising efforts and operational activities supporting the reconstruction of the National Mall Building.
In 1980 Browne joined the US Navy and served as a Naval Flight Officer, flying F14 Tomcats off the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, making numerous deployments to the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, and Caribbean during seven years of active service. Browne amassed over 1400 flight hours and more than 300 carrier landings and is a graduate of the US Navy's "Top Gun" Fighter Weapon School. After continuing military service in the Reserves, Browne retired from the U.S. Navy at the rank of Commander in 2000.
In 1988 he joined the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (Authority) where he served in Operations at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) until being selected as the Airport Manager in 1998. He managed DCA for seven years; a period that included significant construction and the events of Y2K and 9-11. In 2005 Browne was selected as the Airport Manager at Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), where he led the airport through a pronounced phase of significant growth and development. In addition to managing a staff of over 500 employees, Browne was responsible for an aviation revenue stream exceeding $400M, as well as the revenues generated on the Dulles Toll Road used to construct the WMATA Metro Rail line to IAD.
Browne holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Dartmouth College and a Master of Science in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and serves on the Space Foundation and Aero Club of Washington Boards. He is married with two grown children, and resides in Fairfax, Virginia.
Ceremony # 2 – Undergraduate Commencement (Associate and Bachelor’s Degrees)
College of Aviation and the David B. O’Maley College of Business4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
*Students Arrive by 2:30 p.m.
Commencement Speaker
Steve Varsano
Founder - The Jet Business
Steve Varsano
Steve Varsano is the founder of The Jet Business—the world’s first street-level corporate aviation showroom, located in London. He started his career as a lobbyist for the General Aviation Manufacturers Association and later served as a senior executive with the holding companies Triarc Companies/Triangle and Yum Brands.
A commercial instrument-rated pilot, Varsano has served on the Board of Directors of Virgin Galactic and XOJet. He currently sits on the Board of Trustees at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and was recently honored with the Lifetime Aviation Entrepreneur Award by the Living Legends of Aviation.
Through his social media platforms —which have amassed over one billion views—Varsano continues to educate and inspire both the younger and older generations about the corporate aviation sector.
Cap, Gown and Memorabilia Information
Academic regalia, or the dress uniform of one of the U.S. Armed Forces, is required. Graduating ROTC cadets can wear their uniforms starting in Spring 2024.
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.
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.
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.
Ceremony Information
The Daytona Beach Ocean Center is conveniently located off Highway A1A in Daytona Beach, about five miles east of the Embry-Riddle campus. Students will enter the Ocean Center through the East Side (facing A1A) and report to the Atlantic Room no later than 1.5 hours prior to the ceremony.
Note: Graduates should not bring any personal belongings that they cannot keep on their person during the Commencement ceremonies. No secure storage areas are available, and University staff will not take possession of, or responsibility for, personal belongings during the ceremonies.
Guest Information
Family, friends and guests will enter through the West Concourse (Earl Street, directly across from Daytona Lagoon and the parking garage). Doors will open 1 hour prior to each ceremony. No tickets are required for entry, and seating will be first come, first served. Saving seats, however, will not be permitted. The Ocean Center has accommodations for those guest needing Disability and Limited Mobility Accommodations.
The ceremony will begin promptly with our processional. The anticipated length of the ceremony is two hours. We ask that you kindly stay in your seat for the duration of the ceremony; be courteous to the graduates and their families and remain seated until the recessional.
To accommodate families and friends of our graduates who are not able to attend the commencement ceremony, the event will be webcast live. A “watch now” link will posted on the home page the morning of the ceremony.
The possession or use of alcohol, noise-making devices (air horns), firecrackers, balloons, flags, banners or illegal substances is strictly prohibited. Cell phones and pagers must be turned to silent.
Due to the stadium seating arrangement at the venue, strollers and baby carriages are not permitted in the event venue. You may check the stroller or baby carriage with an attendant at the North Corridor entrance.
Parking
Parking is available on the day of the ceremony for $15 (cash only) in the designated Ocean Center Parking Lots. Parking outside of these designated lots may result in higher parking rates and are managed by third-party businesses, not ERAU or the Ocean Center.
Note: Parking in Ocean Center parking lots is limited and has run out in the past that parking is first come, first served. Carpooling and early arrival are strongly recommended. Graduates: Consider parking time and walk time to the Ocean Center to ensure you are arriving by your designated arrival time. Students are placed in a specific order for line-up, so prompt arrival is imperative.