Embry-Riddle Students From Around the World Celebrate Commencement in Tokyo
Graduates, government partners and university representatives celebrated the academic achievements of the 2024 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University graduating class at the Tokyo commencement ceremony at The Hilton Odaiba in Tokyo, Japan, on Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024. Students from mainland Japan, Okinawa, South Korea and as far away as Texas, Florida and Singapore celebrated their academic milestone with friends and family amidst breathtaking views of Tokyo Bay and the iconic Rainbow Bridge.
More than 125 students in the U.S. Military Pacific Command were awarded degrees from August 2023 to September 2024, and 50 graduates attended the annual ceremony.
Undergraduate degrees were awarded in Aeronautics, Aviation Maintenance, Aviation Business Administration, Business Analytics, Homeland Security, Interdisciplinary Studies, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Project Management, Technical Management and Uncrewed and Autonomous Systems. Master’s degrees were awarded in Aeronautics, Aviation and Aerospace Sustainability, Business Administration in Aviation, Engineering Management, Leadership, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Management Project Management, and Space Operations.
Worldwide Campus Chancellor John R. Watret, Ph.D., FRAeS, opened the ceremony, and Nancy Tran-Horne, executive director of U.S. Military Overseas Campus Operations, welcomed the students, families and guests. Sherwin Baptiste, adjunct faculty for the College of Aviation, and commencement speaker Naomi Kurahara, Ph.D., completed the platform party. Hayley Yamanaka, associate executive director for PACOM, served as the ceremony’s reader, and Rica Azuma-Lopez, PACOM administrative assistant, assisted with the diploma presentation.
“Remarkable opportunities are on the horizon for the graduating class of 2024,” said Tran-Horne. “Our graduates have honed important skills through degrees that will serve them well in the aviation and aerospace industries. We are grateful to our government and industry partners for their unwavering support and our academic advisors for guiding students throughout their educational journey. Celebrating our students with their families and friends in Tokyo continues to be a moment of pride for us.”
Kurahara, the co-founder and CEO of Infostellar, offered the graduates valuable advice on how to remain resilient in the face of challenges as they take the next steps toward groundbreaking careers in aviation and aerospace. Kurahara operates an innovative software-driven space communications infrastructure company supporting the new era of space exploration. Her company operates a modern, cloud-based satellite ground station sharing platform, called StellarStation, that allows satellite operators to utilize ground stations around the world.
“Remember the pride of this day after many long nights of study, balancing work and taking care of a family, all while making sacrifices for your education, your country and advancements in your fields of study,” Kurahara told graduates. “After all, hope is the one thing we can truly rely on. Your academic achievement is a testament to your resiliency, resolve, passion and hope for a better future.”
Watret summarized the day’s events, stating: “We are thrilled to celebrate the significant academic milestones that our newest graduates have achieved and are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished. The knowledge and newfound skills they have gained through their degree programs will help them soar to new professional heights and make positive impacts on the industry. We are grateful for our unwavering partnership with INDOPACOM that supports our graduates in continuing their educational pursuits in the Pacific theater. This moment signifies our new graduates’ achievements as they take flight into the next chapter of their careers.”
Embry-Riddle has served overseas U.S. military students in Europe since 1973 and PACOM since 2015.
Learn more about the university’s European Military Campus Operations and PACOM Military Campus Operations.
Posted In: Institutional News