The 2017 Sea-Air-Space
Exposition was, by all
accounts, one for the
record books. In its

52nd year, the Navy
League’s global mar-
itime exposition had
more exhibitors, more attendees and the
largest square footage in exhibit space
ever. Over the course of three days, sea
service leaders shared their challenges,
their expertise and their visions for the
future with members of industry, federal
employees and each other.

Seeing our uniformed personnel on the show floor and listening to our leaders from the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Maritime Administration, other government agencies and international partners interact during various panel and roundtable discussions assured me that the security of this nation is in good hands. It also made me think about the Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and women and Merchant Mariners who will succeed them.

Graduation time is upon us, and so many of our young people will be launching their academic journey with the ultimate goal of serving this nation in uniform, while others will embark immediately on their military careers.

Supporting youth programs is a key component of the Navy League mission, and councils throughout the United States and its territories support Naval Sea Cadet Corps (NSCC) and Navy League Cadet Corps units, Naval and Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) programs, and Young Marine units by sponsoring training, awards programs and other activities. Among these young people are our future leaders.

For example, the NSCC program served 13,597
cadets in 2016. Of the cadets graduating last year, 112

were accepted to attend the U.S. Naval Academy, eight to the U.S. Military Academy, 10 to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, nine to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 16 to one of the six state maritime academies and 125 to ROTC programs at academic institutions, while another 317 cadets enlisted in military service.

And now is the time we see the Class of 2017 commissioned at the various military and maritime academies, ready to serve their nation. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy at New London, Conn.; U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md.; and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N. Y., will hold commencement ceremonies May 17, May 26 and June 17, respectively.

While the Maritime Administration funds the Merchant Marine Academy, it also provides limited funding to the state maritime academies. The California State University Maritime Academy in Vallejo held its commencement ceremony on April 22, to be followed by the State University of New York Maritime College at Throggs Neck on May 5; Great Lakes Maritime Academy at Traverse City, Mich., and Maine Maritime Academy in Castine on May 6; Texas A&M Maritime Academy at Galveston May 13; and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy at Buzzards Bay on June 17.

To all the students continuing their education with a military career in mind, you have so many remarkable role models to emulate and the Navy League congratulates you and wishes you all the best.

To those graduates starting a new chapter in your lives wearing a military uniform, we thank you for your willingness to serve. Your predecessors have laid a strong foundation upon which you can thrive and, in turn, serve as role models to the next generation.

And to all those who participated in the 52nd Sea-Air-Space as speakers, exhibitors and attendees, you all contributed to its resounding success and have further strengthened the foundation upon which we can continue to grow.