CAU honors class of 2025

Graduates were commended for their achievements, and many of them have already signed contracts with acclaimed businesses such as Robinson Helicopter Co., SkyWest Airlines, and Northrop Grumman. Most of them got degrees in CAU’s Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics program, which trains students for careers in commercial aviation; others received degrees and diplomas in the fields of maintenance technology and aviation science.

President of CAU Matthew Johnston said, “Graduation is more than a ceremony—it’s a celebration of the relationships, resilience, and purpose that brought our students to this point.” He stressed that graduates not only learned about aviation, but also about themselves; that they carry strong values; and that they are equipped to lead. “We’re proud to have been part of their journey and excited to see where their careers will take them.”

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Carlos Pinedo who serves as director of education at the Air Force Test Pilot School, gave the keynote address and said that as graduates prepare for leadership they should “embrace the lessons of aviation—discipline, teamwork, curiosity, and resilience,” according to a press release.

Pinedo is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and the University of Colorado, Boulder, and flew over 135 missions in Boeing B–1B Lancers. He reminded graduates “that attitude determines altitude, and that true success comes from supporting others, staying humble, and always remaining curious.”