Four-star Admiral Cecil Haney was the commencement speaker at the May 15, 2015 commencement ceremony of the MSU graduate Department of Defense and Strategic Studies (DSS), which is located in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.  ADM Haney is  the Commander of the U.S. Strategic Command  (STRATCOM), which is located at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska and is responsible for the U.S. strategic nuclear deterrent, among many other responsibilities.  This commencement ceremony marked the 10th anniversary of the Department’s relocation from the Springfield, MO campus to its offices near Washington, DC. ADM Haney’s commencement address focused on the great opportunities and responsibilities the new DSS graduates would have as they begin their careers in public service in Washington.  He mentioned the title of each graduate’s Master’s thesis in his remarks and offered a number of principles that would help the graduates in their careers.  He also encouraged them  to excellence and perseverance in all there future endeavors.  At the reception for the graduates following commencement, ADM Haney spoke with each graduate individually and presented each personally with the U.S. Strategic Command Commander’s coin.  The  graduates, their friends and families all expressed their great appreciation for ADM Haney’s remarks and the individual attention he showed to each graduate.   It was a great honor for the Department of Defense and Strategic Studies for ADM Haney to participate in its 10th anniversary commencement celebration.