Hannah Allen

By Ray Bowden

U.S. Air Force

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. — Graduation for the Air Force Academy’s Class of 2020 may have been different from what cadets originally expected, but the ceremony on the terrazzo April 18 contained all the trappings and formality you’d expect the school to deliver.

Vice President Mike Pence changed his plans amid the global COVID-19 pandemic to give the commencement address, the Thunderbirds flew over, and 967 new officers closed out their four years at the school by hurling their caps into the air at the end of the ceremony on the terrazzo.

“Today, the 967 exceptional young leaders of the 62nd graduating class of the United States Air Force Academy started their careers as officers, and I am confident that they will take our Air and Space forces and make them their own,” Academy Superintendent Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria said during the ceremony’s opening remarks.

Among those receiving diplomas was Kingsford High School alumna Hannah Allen. “I graduated from Kingsford in 2015, then I ended up applying to the school twice, because they have an 11% acceptance rate, and my application was not competitive enough the first time. I received my bachelor’s of science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the USAF after four years. Next, I will be moving to Texas for my follow-on training this summer,” she said.

She attended Northwestern Prep School and Northern Michigan University before being accepted to the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2016.

Allen noted this was one of the only in-person graduation ceremonies in the country this year. It was the first time a service academy graduated a class in April since World War II, and the first time the Air Force Academy graduated a class in April.

Early in the month, Silveria announced his plan to shift the ceremony from May 28 to April 18, a move supported by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein. It meant faculty and staff at the school ramped up their efforts to get senior cadets to an earlier-than-expected graduation day.

The base also made several moves in March and April to keep cadets, staff and their families at the base safe from the effects of the novel coronavirus. Most freshmen, sophomores and juniors left the Academy in March and all cadets began distance online learning. The base locked down to all but official business and families and friends of cadets learned the graduation ceremony would not be public.

Silveria acknowledged these concerns and expressed his gratitude.

“To the parents, families, friends, loved ones, our local leaders and community members, thank you for your unwavering support,” he said.

The superintendent gave a nod to the online audience watching the event from afar via livestream.

“This is a community we would normally welcome to Falcon Stadium but under the current circumstances we are honored to have your support from wherever you may be tuning in,” he said.

Missing from the ceremony were the hugs, handshakes and chest bumps cadets typically deliver after receiving their diplomas. Each cadet marched or sat at least 6 feet away from their peers before, during and after the ceremony.

Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein and Air Force Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond were at the ceremony.

Goldfein administered the oath of office for the Air Force officers and Raymond administered the oath of office to the 86 graduating seniors who are now officers in the Space Force.

In his remarks during the ceremony, Raymond said the new Space Force officers will “fight and win the battle for space superiority.”

“You are our future and I need you to be bold,” he said.

The Space Force opened for business Dec. 20 to protect U.S. and allied interests in space.

Silveria also thanked the Class of 1959, the Academy’s first graduating class, for a plaque prepared for the Class of 2020 “recognizing the permanent bond between past and future, formally honoring the Class of 2020 as one that has further strengthened the proud traditions of this institution.”

The graduates was to leave the academy in stages throughout April for their first Air Force assignment or their homes for 60 days.

Allen is the daughter of Craig and Trina Allen of Kingsford.