VIDEO: Sean Duffy addresses USMMA Class of 2025
Written by Nick Blenkey
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy addresses USMMA Class of 2025. [Photo: Department of Transportation]
“It truly is an honor to be here today and celebrate some of America’s strongest, finest, and best-looking graduates our great country has to offer,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said yesterday as he delivered the keynote address to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy’s (USMMA) Class of 2025.
At yesterday’s event at the USMMA’s Kings Point, N.Y., campus, the 207 U.S. Merchant Marine and Military Officers in the USMMA Class of 2025 were honored before more than 3,000 friends and family in a formal ceremony recognizing both their academic achievements and commitment to service. Superintendent, Vice Admiral Joanna M. Nunan, United States Maritime Service, and Distinguished UMMA Alumnus Shane Dowling, CEO of TMMG, from Class of ’96, also spoke at the ceremony.
Eighty-four graduates were sworn in as active-duty officers in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Coast Guard. The remaining graduates will serve as Navy reservists in the Strategic Sealift Officer Program while working as United States Coast Guard-Licensed Mariners aboard deep-sea vessels, offshore supply vessels, tugs, and towing vessels.
“I want to start by acknowledging the strength and commitment you all have displayed to get to this moment,” said Secretary Duffy. “You all have faced so many challenges over the last four years. And that’s a polite way of putting it.”
“Allow me to be a little blunter,” he continued. “For years, this institution has been neglected by Congress and mismanaged. The campus has been allowed to fall into disrepair.
“It’s unbecoming of a national service academy. It’s unfair given the depth of the sacrifices you have made, and it’s unworthy of the greatest country in the world.
“Later I’ll be sharing some life lessons I’ve picked up along the way, but here’s one lesson you all have clearly already learned perseverance.
“You all are the class of stupid COVID rules, including shutdowns for Sea Year.
“You all are the class of no hot water for months.
‘’You are the class of not enough food.
“You all are the class of paper plates and plastic forks.
“You all are the class of dorms with mold and a dilapidated, falling apart library.”
“Several months ago, I saw this for myself. I saw the old tar dripping from the ceilings. I saw the dorms rotting with mold. I saw the rusty showers with no hot water. I also saw no work from the previous administration to bring your campus to the standard of a United States service academy. Worst of all, I saw Jesus stuffed away in the basement.
“With all those issues, a lot of people would just give up. With so many challenges, you might expect to see spirits dampened.
“But what I saw when I first came to the Academy in April for the Battle Standard Dinner shocked me.
“Instead, I found before me the most remarkable group of men and women whose spirts simply could not be broken.”
- You can read the full transcript of Secretary Duffy’s remarks to the USMMA Class of 2025 HERE
