(Photo courtesy of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University)
Tokyo, Japan — 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, December 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.
126 students in the U.S. Military Pacific Command were awarded degrees from August 2023 to September 2024 and 50 graduates attended the annual celebration. Graduates were able to celebrate their accomplishments together with their friends, family, university leadership, faculty, and dedicated academic advisors who guided their journeys to degree completion. Each graduate also received important alumni and career services information. At the reception, Ernie the Eagle, ERAU’s mascot, made a special appearance for candid photos. 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 US Military Overseas Campus Operations, welcomed the students, families and guests. Mr. Sherwin Baptiste, adjunct faculty for the College of Aviation and Naomi Kurahara, Ph.D., commencement speaker, 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 to 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.”
Dr. Naomi Kurahara, the Co-Founder and CEO of Infostellar, offered the graduates valuable advice on how to remain resilient and hopeful 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. Kurahara earned her PhD in Electrical Engineering from the Kyushu Institute of Technology, where she conducted ion engine and space plasma environment research with the Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA). She was also a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Tokyo, where she led development of satellite operations and ground systems for the Hodoyoshi Project, furthering Japan’s technological expertise in microsatellite development. With over a decade of experience in the space industry, she promotes the advancement of space systems and technology in Japan through her innovative, cloud-based ground systems organization. “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.”
Ceremony Playback Link: YouTube
Embry-Riddle has served overseas U.S. military students in Europe since 1973 and PACOM since 2015.
About ERAU’s Overseas U.S. Military Operations
ERAU has had the privilege of serving overseas U.S. military students since the opening of our first European military location in 1973 with the Tri-Services Contract. Campus locations are scattered across Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, & the United Kingdom. Locations include Aviano AB, NATO AB Geilenkirchen, USAG Bavaria (Grafenwoehr/Vilesck/Hohenfels), USAG Ansbach (Katterbach/Illesheim), Incirlik AB, RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, Ramstein AB, NAVSTA Rota, NAS Sigonella, Spangdahlem AB, MK Airbase, and USAG Wiesbaden, while providing support for students located in the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC – Sembach Kaserne, USAG Baumholder, Kleber Kaserne, & USAG Rheinland-Pfalz Landstuhl), USAG Stuttgart, Vicenza (Caserma Ederle), Naples, RAF Croughton, RAF Molesworth, Moron AB, and Poland (Poznan/Powidz). The team celebrated 50 years in Europe in 2023.
European Military Campus Operations Website: Europe Military Campuses
ERAU began offering aviation undergraduate and graduate certificates and degree programs, EagleVision Classroom (EVC) courses, and on-site advising/support services, to members of the U.S. military stationed at overseas Pacific locations in US Forces Japan (USFJ) and US Forces Korea (USFK) in 2015 under a Department of Defense Education contract. ERAU PACOM’s flagship campus locations, Kadena AFB in Okinawa and Camp Humphreys in South Korea, opened their doors in August of 2015. In 2022, ERAU reaffirmed their commitment to military education in the Pacific AOR under the USINDOPACOM Education Services Agreement (ESA). Since 2015, ERAU PACOM has expanded to include eleven campus locations throughout Guam, Japan and South Korea (Andersen AFB, Camp Humphreys, Kadena AB, MCAS Futenma, MCAS Iwakuni, Kunsan AB, Misawa AB, NAF Atsugi, Osan AB, Yokosuka NB, and Yokota AB) and continues to grow. We also support students located in Daegu, Camp Foster, Camp Schwab, Torii Station, Camp Fuji, Camp Zama, and more.
PACOM Military Campus Operations Website: PACOM Military Campuses
