Mr. Cronin, Major General Macias, distinguished faculty, and most importantly, the Class of 2026: Good morning.

It is a privilege to join you here this morning. Today, we gather here to recognize a triumph that didn’t happen on a range or in a simulated exercise. It was forged in the quiet hours of the night, while the rest of the world was asleep.

Before we proceed, I must express my profound gratitude to the University of Maryland Global Campus and the Board of Regents. To be awarded a Doctor of Public Service is a high honor. I am told that for those of us in uniform, protocol dictates carrying the doctoral hood over the left arm rather than wearing it. In our line of work, we are used to carrying gear: rucks, weapons, and the weight of command. I will tell you now: carrying the symbol of this institution’s seven-decade heritage in Asia is a weight I am proud to shoulder.

We stand at a historic crossroads. This year marks 70 years since the University of Maryland first planted its flag in Asia.

Think back to 1956. The Korean War had entered a fragile armistice only three years prior. The Peninsula was scarred and rebuilding. But while diplomats negotiated and engineers reconstructed, UMGC was already on the ground.

They didn’t wait for polished ivory towers or air-conditioned lecture halls. They instructed in Quonset huts. They mentored in tents. They taught out of the back of deuce-and-a-halfs. Those early students called their teachers the "Portable Professors." Their creed was simple: "Have Syllabus, Will Travel." They followed the boots.

Even near the DMZ, if a Service Member wanted to better themselves, UMGC found a way to put a book in their hands. Today, as we commemorate seventy years in Asia, we aren't just honoring a school; we are validating a promise: that distance from home should never mean a distance from opportunity.

Graduates, let’s look at your "theatre of operations."

Most commencement speakers talk about the "sanctity of the classroom." But your classrooms were different. Your "campus" was the motor pool at Camp Casey, the flight line at Osan, or a cramped office at Humphreys. You didn't have the luxury of being "just a student."

You were an NCO in the middle of a high-tempo rotation. You were an officer balancing a "Fight Tonight" readiness posture with a Master’s thesis. You were a spouse navigating a foreign culture, managing a household 6,000 miles from home, all while pursuing a credential to ensure your family’s future.

That is resilience. That is the "unbreakable diamond" that UMGC represents. You have proven you can operate under pressure without losing sight of your personal growth.

In my role, I speak often about the ROK-U.S. Alliance. We call it the "Linchpin" of regional security.

But an alliance isn't just about hardware or joint exercises. It’s about people. It’s about the quality of the minds we have in the room when a crisis hits.

Education is a force multiplier. When you sharpen your mind, you sharpen our collective readiness. A Soldier who understands history is a better strategist. A leader who understands ethics is a more reliable commander. A specialist who understands data is a more lethal asset to the Joint Force.

By earning these diplomas, you haven't just checked a box for a promotion. You have modernized your own internal "operating system." You have increased the capability of this command. You are now the "thought leaders" we need to navigate an increasingly complex Indo-Pacific.

To the families: I want you to look at these graduates. You are the "silent partners" in these degrees. You are the ones who picked up the slack while they were in the books. You provided the steady push when the mission got heavy.

This achievement belongs to the whole family. When we recognize these graduates, we recognize your sacrifice, too. Families, please stand so we can thank you.

As you prepare to cross this stage, I have three charges for the Class of 2026:

1. Be a Steward of your Knowledge. You didn't earn this for your resume alone. You earned it for the person to your left and right. Use what you’ve learned to mentor the junior soldier and to solve problems where others only see obstacles.
2. Maintain the "Portable" Mindset. Like those first professors in 1956, be adaptable. The world you are entering is shifting fast. Your degree is the map, but your curiosity is the compass. Never stop learning.
3. Carry the Alliance Forward. You have lived and studied in the heart of one of the most vital partnerships on earth. Whether you stay in the military or transition to the civilian sector, carry the spirit of this alliance with you. Be a bridge-builder.

Graduates, 70 years ago, a Maryland professor walked into a Quonset hut in Korea and started a legacy. Today, you are the living proof that the legacy is thriving.

You have done the work. You have kept the watch. You have earned the title.

Congratulations to the University of Maryland Global Campus Class of 2026. I am proud to be a "classmate" of yours today, God bless you all!

Thank you!