Upcoming Ceremonies

Next Ceremony 

Pensacola, FL

• When: Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 1 p.m.
• Where: National Naval Aviation Museum
• Deadline to register for this ceremony: March 6, 2026
• Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student 

Graduates!

We are excited to celebrate you on Saturday, April 18th at 1 p.m. at the National Naval Aviation Museum in beautiful Pensacola, FL. (1750 Radford Blvd. Pensacola, FL 32508). The ceremony will be live streamed.

Ceremony information

• Each graduate is responsible for bringing their own regalia to the ceremony. This includes the cap, gown, and tassel.
• Honor Cords and Medallions will be provided by the university upon check-in at the museum to all qualified graduates. Please note: Honors are posted upon degree completion. Only graduates who are degree complete at the time of the ceremony are eligible to receive honor cords or medallions.
• Check-in will begin at the museum at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 18th. We ask graduates to come, with regalia, to the registration desk, located in the West Wing of the museum to receive your individual reader card and pick up your Honor Cords or Medallions as applicable.
• Due to venue space, guests are limited to 5 per graduate.
• We ask that graduates remain in the check-in area until the time comes to line up. Graduates will be lined up at 12:15 p.m., and the ceremony will begin promptly at 1 p.m..
• Any guest or graduate arriving later than 12:45 p.m. will be required to wait until after the start of the ceremony to be seated.

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO ACCESS THE MUSEUM

Per the Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) Military Installation:

All visitors over the age of 18 who DO NOT possess a Department of War ID (formerly Department of Defense) must be vetted through the NASP Visitor Control Center (VCC) and receive a Visitor Pass. A SECNAV 5512 form, dated 2027, needs to be completed and MUST be initialed next to question 28. This form has been emailed to all participating graduates.

Please follow the steps below to be cleared to access the museum.

WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND COMPLETING THIS WEEKS OR DAYS PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY. This process can take up to 3 hours.

1. Visitor Control Center (VCC)

All visitors over the age of 18 who DO NOT possess a Department of War ID (formerly Department of Defense) MUST go to the Visitor Control Center (VCC) located at the main front gate at the south end of Navy Boulevard, 150 Hase Rd, Pensacola, FL. Use the left lane when approaching the installation. All visitors (graduates and guests) 18 and older must present the completed SECNAV 5512 form and valid government-issued ID, such as a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or a U.S. passport. **Foreign Nationals will need to present their Passport.**

2. Background Check and Visitor Pass

At the Visitor Control Center, all individuals (graduates and guests) will undergo a routine background check and be issued a visitor pass. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND COMPLETING THIS STEP WEEKS OR DAYS PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY. This process can take up to 3 hours.

Visitor Passes can be issued for the day of the graduation when this step is completed in advance.

3. On the day of the ceremony, access the museum through the West Gate

Only individuals with a visitor pass or a Department of War Card may enter the military installation by the West Gate entrance, located at the south end of Blue Angel Parkway, 1878 S. Blue Angel Parkway, to access the National Naval Aviation Museum. From the West Gate, plan on a 20-25-minute drive to get to the museum.

4. Anticipate longer than normal wait times

Visitors are encouraged to plan and allow extra time to transit through the security process. Although visitation is encouraged, installation operations take precedence. The Visitor Control Center opens at 8:00am, and it is highly recommended to obtain a Visitor pass in advance. It can be issued with a date for the day of the graduation. Please note, the process to obtain the Visitor pass may take up to 3 hours. Plan accordingly.

Commencement begins at 1:00pm sharp on Saturday, April 18th. If you are unable to secure a Visitor Pass prior to the day of the ceremony, please allow up to 3 hours to complete the process. We cannot guarantee participation in the ceremony if you are unable to arrive on time.

5. Security Searches and Forbidden Items

All vehicles and personnel are subject to security searches. Weapons, backpacks, coolers, and alcoholic beverages are not permitted. The museum enforces a clear bag policy.

NOTE: Department of War Cardholders do not need to complete the steps above and may escort up to 10 guests in the same vehicle onto the installation. Everyone being escorted must show a Real ID Driver’s license.

For questions, please visit the National Naval Aviation Museum website or call 850-452-8450. You may also reach out to the GradTeam directly: gradteam@erau.edu or call 386-265-6447 to connect with our Pensacola site director.

We look forward to celebrating you! Please reach out to the Graduation Team with any questions.

Congratulations!
The ERAU Graduation Team

Daytona Beach, FL

• When:
  • Hooding Ceremony (Master's students): Friday, May 22, 2026, at 3 p.m.
  • Commencement Ceremony (All students): Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 9 a.m.
• Where: Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University, ICI Center
• Deadline to register for this ceremony: April 10, 2026
• Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student

San Diego, CA

• When: Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026, at 7 p.m.
• Where: USS Midway
• Deadline to register for this ceremony: June 26, 2026
• Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student

Seattle, WA

• When: Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026, at 7 p.m.
• Where: The Museum of Flight
• Deadline to register for this ceremony: July 17, 2026
• Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student

Frankfurt, Germany

• When: Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2026, at 2 p.m.
• Where: House of Logistics and Mobility (HOLM)
• Deadline to register for this ceremony: Sept. 1, 2026
• Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student

Norfolk, VA

• When: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
• Where: USS Wisconsin
• Deadline to register for this ceremony: Aug. 14, 2026
• Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student

Dallas, TX

• When: Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026, at 6 p.m.
• Where: Frontiers of Flight Museum
• Deadline to register for this ceremony: Aug. 28, 2026
• Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student

Tokyo, Japan

• When: Sunday, Dec. 6, 2026
• Where: Hilton Tokyo Odaiba
• Deadline to register for this ceremony: Nov. 16, 2026
• Due to venue capacity guests are limited to 5 per student