Commencement Ceremonies at Embry-Riddle Daytona Beach
Date: Thursday, December 10, 2026
Location: Ocean Center
101 N. Atlantic Ave.
Daytona Beach, FL 32118
Undergraduate
- 10 a.m. Ceremony
- College of Arts and Sciences
- College of Engineering
- College of Aviation
- David B. O'Maley College of Business
Graduate
- 3 p.m. Graduate Hooding and Commencement
- Ph.D. and Master's Degrees
Related Resources
Commencement Details
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
Ceremony #1 — College of Arts & Sciences and College of Engineering
Time: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Students arrive by 8:00 a.m.)Location: Ocean Center
101 N. Atlantic Ave.
Daytona Beach, FL 32118
Commencement Speaker
Steve Altemus
President and CEO, Intuitive Machines
Mr. Steve Altemus is a distinguished figure in the aerospace industry, renowned for his leadership and engineering excellence. As the co-founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer at Intuitive Machines, he has spearheaded groundbreaking initiatives that have reshaped the economics of lunar exploration.
Before establishing Intuitive Machines in 2013, Mr. Altemus held pivotal roles within NASA, including Deputy Director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. With a strong background in engineering, he served as Director of Engineering from July 2006 to December 2012, overseeing critical engineering endeavors vital to NASA’s human spaceflight programs and projects.
Mr. Altemus holds a B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering from Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University and an M.S. in Engineering Management from the University of Central Florida. His career trajectory began at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and the Space Shuttle Program in 1989, where he undertook increasingly challenging roles in space shuttle operations.
Notably, Mr. Altemus assumed the role of Columbia Reconstruction Director following the tragic loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2003. His expertise and leadership were further recognized when he transitioned to Johnson Space Center in January 2005, ultimately becoming Director of Engineering in 2006.
Throughout his career, Mr. Altemus has garnered numerous accolades, including the Federal Engineer of the Year award from the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, and Johnson Space Center’s Engineering Legacy Award.
Under his leadership, Intuitive Machines achieved remarkable milestones, including the successful landing of the Company’s Nova-C class lunar lander, Odysseus, on the Moon, marking the United States’ first lunar landing in over 50 years since Apollo 17. Additionally, Intuitive Machines validated the Company’s scalable proprietary liquid methane and liquid oxygen propulsion system through pioneering deep space ignitions, enabling successful spacecraft maneuvers with multiple restarts.
Furthermore, Intuitive Machines, under Mr. Altemus’ leadership, became the first commercial-sector company and NASA CLPS (Commercial Lunar Payload Services) initiative vendor to land and transmit scientific data from the surface of the Moon. His innovative approach to opening the lunar economy fundamentally disrupted the economics of lunar exploration through fixed-price performance contracts, showcasing unprecedented efficiency and economics to commercial customers and NASA alike.
Ceremony #2 — College of Aviation and the David B. O’Maley College of Business
Time: 4-6 p.m. (Students arrive by 2:30 p.m.)
Location: Ocean Center
101 N. Atlantic Ave.
Daytona Beach, FL 32118
Commencement Speaker
Kenn Ricci
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.
The deadline to order caps and gowns online through Herff Jones was March 15, 2026. 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, 2026 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 29th.
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 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 one hour prior to each ceremony. No tickets are required for entry, and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. 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.
Venue Information
The Daytona Beach Ocean Center is conveniently located off Highway A1A in Daytona Beach, about five miles east of the Embry‑Riddle campus.
View the full-size Ocean Center Parking Map.
Parking
Parking is available on the day of the ceremony at the Ocean Center parking garage and surrounding parking lots for $15 (credit only). Parking for Commencement is available in the following locations:
- In the Ocean Center West Lot, west of the Ocean Center, near Auditorium Boulevard and North Hollywood Avenue. Handicap parking spaces are available near the southeast side of the lot.
- In the Ocean Center South Lot, south of the Ocean Center and west of the Peabody Auditorium. Handicap parking spaces are available near the northeast side of the lot.
- In the Ocean Walk Garage, north of the Ocean Center, across Highway A1A from the Ocean Walk Shoppes and next to Daytona Lagoon. 31 handicap parking spaces are spread between five floors and are near the elevators on the northeast and southwest corners of the garage.
The Student Entrance is on the east side of the Ocean Center across Highway A1A from the Hilton Resorts. There are two Family & Friends Entrances on the northwest and southwest sides of the Ocean Center.
Please note: Parking is limited and has run out in the past. Please inform your family members that parking is first-come, first-served. Carpooling and early arrival is strongly recommended. Consider parking time and walk time to the Ocean Center to ensure you are arriving by 8 a.m. You will be placed in a specific order for line up so prompt arrival is imperative.
Disability and Limited Mobility Accommodations
A special reserved section will be made available to guests with disabilities. Reserved seat tickets are not required but seating is limited to the person needing the accommodations plus three companions. Guests needing accommodations are encouraged to arrive an hour early as the venue is large, and our guests will have to walk to the special reserved section. Due to safety regulations, only three people may accompany the guest with a disability in the accessible seating area.
A variety of services provided by the Ocean Center are available for guests with disabilities, including sound enhancement devices, designated parking places, and easy access to key areas of the complex.
Some of the Ocean Center’s accessible features include:
- Accessible elevators on the south side of the lobby.
- An escalator is on the north-south concourse.
- The facility is accessible on the north and south sides of all lobby areas.
Entrances are on the facility’s east side (student entrance only), south concourse lobby area, and the north concourse lobby area.
Past Commencement Speakers
Past commencement speakers have included Embry‑Riddle alumni, astronauts, entrepreneurs, politicians, military veterans and more.Fall 2025
- Vivek Lall, Eagle of Aviation Award
Chief Executive, General Atomic Global Corporation
Spring 2025
- Christopher Browne, Eagle of Aviation Award
John and Adrienne Mars Director, Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (COAS and COE)
- Steve Varsano, Eagle of Aviation Award
Founder and CEO, The Jet Business (COA and COB)
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 Embry-Riddle 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 Embry-Riddle 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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