Biden to give Coast Guard Academy commencement speech

President Biden will deliver the keynote address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduation ceremonies this month.

The school’s 140th graduation, set for May 19, will be the first time Biden has addressed a military service academy as commander in chief. Biden was previously the keynote speaker at the Connecticut school in 2013 while he was vice president.

“It will be a memorable event for our community, as well as a great opportunity to showcase the Academy and the city of New London on a national stage,” Superintendent Rear Adm. Bill Kelly said in a statement.

It’s tradition for U.S. presidents, vice presidents and Defense secretaries to give commencement speeches to the military academies on a rotating basis, with former President Trump last addressing the Coast Guard Academy in 2017.

Vice President Harris, meanwhile, will give the commencement address at the U.S. Naval Academy on May 28, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Army Gen. Mark Milley will deliver the keynote speech at the U.S. Air Force Academy’s graduation ceremony on May 26.

The U.S. Military Academy West Point has not yet announced a speaker for its graduation ceremonies this year, set for May 22.

The ceremonies will be in person after the Coast Guard Academy and Naval Academy opted to hold virtual graduation events last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.