US Naval Academy Graduates 1,049 Officers in 2025 Ceremony

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — The U.S. Naval Academy graduated 1,049 midshipmen during a ceremony Friday morning at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. Graduates were commissioned as officers, entering the Navy as ensigns or the Marine Corps as second lieutenants.

Class members were cheered on by friends and family who attended the annual event, which is traditional before Memorial Day. The ceremony began with a flyover by the Blue Angels, a hallmark of the occasion.

U.S. Navy Ensign Stelios Boyaci expressed his excitement, saying, “I’m super excited, really happy to be graduating with all my classmates. It’s been a long four years, but it’s worth it.”

Classmates shared similar sentiments about their commitment to service. “I love to help people. I like making people happy, so serving my country is the best way to do that,” noted U.S. Navy Ensign Bryanna Chaname.

U.S. Navy Ensign Yasmin Latham, a military veteran, reflected on her past deployments and readiness to serve again. “I love America, I love everything about it, and I wanted to serve,” she said.

Vice President J.D. Vance delivered the keynote address, noting the importance of their education as an investment in their leadership. He emphasized that the graduates will lead the military into a new era of warfare.

“It will be you, the graduates gathered here today, who will lead the way for the rest of us,” Vance said. He highlighted the challenges they will face and the innovative technologies they will deploy.

Among the graduates, 751 were men and 298 were women. Notably, one midshipman, Rayuan Lane III, graduated but did not commission this year as he was drafted into the NFL by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

International representation was notable, with 14 graduates hailing from countries such as Egypt, Fiji, and Indonesia. The accomplishments of the Class of 2025 are part of the academy’s rich history, which boasts around 92,000 graduates since its founding in 1845.