General David W. Allvin named featured speaker for Spring 2026 Commencement

General David W. Allvin, the 23rd Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, will be the featured speaker at George Mason University's Spring Commencement ceremonyon May 14 at EagleBank Arena.

Allvin served as chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force from November 2023 to November 2025, under President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump. His stint as chief of staff cappeda nearly four-decade career defined by his Air Force's focus on strategy, modernization, and international affairs.

As chief of staff, Allvin served as the senior uniformed Air Force officer responsible for the organization, training, and equipping of 689,000 active-duty, Guard, Reserve and civilian forces serving domestically and overseas. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Allvin served as a military adviser to the secretary of defense, National Security Council, and the president.

Allvin has received theDefense Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal (three times), the Legion of Merit (twice), and the Bronze Star Medal.

He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986. In addition to chief of staff and vice chief of staff, the four-star general's many leadership positions included:

• Commanding General, NATO Air Training Command-Afghanistan

• Commander, 438th Air Expeditionary Wing, Kabul, Afghanistan

• Commander, 618th Air and Space Operations Center

• Director, Strategy, Concepts, and Assessments

• Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Plans and Requirements, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force

• Director, Strategy, Plans and Policy, Headquarters U.S. European Command

• Vice Director, Strategy, Plans and Policy, the Joint Staff

• Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy, J-5, Joint Staff

He is a command pilot with more than 4,600 hours in more than 30 aircraft, including 800 flight test hours and 100 combat hours.

Spring 2026 Commencement Information

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