Dear guests, members of staff, and graduates, my name is Lucy Berthoud, and I am Professor of Space Engineering here at the University of Bristol. We are here to celebrate someone extraordinary, someone who has ventured beyond the boundaries of our planet, someone who has embraced the unknown with courage and determination. Please join me in extending a warm welcome to our distinguished guest and recipient of an honorary doctoral degree,NASA astronaut Colonel Anne McClain.  

Col McClain’s journey is an inspiration to us all. She grew up in Spokane, Washington where on the first day of preschool she already stated her intention to become an astronaut. After school she went to US Military academy West Point where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical/aeronautical engineering. Just like our graduates, she had to develop the same qualities of determination, perseverance, and yes, time management skills to survive her degree. "The biggest thing is not to give up," she has said. "If you stay focused on that goal, you can shape your life in that direction.” 

Col McClain's educational journey continued to the UK, where as a Marshall Scholar, she studied in Bath for amaster’s in aerospace engineering and here at the University of Bristol for a master’s in international relations. She alsomanaged to find time to play in the UK Women's Rugby Premiership, for Clifton Women’s Rugby Football club, then the Atlanta Harlequins and the US Rugby Women's National Team.Perhaps Col McClaincould share her time machine with us? 

She is a colonel in the US Army and a senior army aviator and helicopter test pilot.She has more than 2000hrs in 20 different aircraft. She is an OH-58D Kiowa Warrior pilot and instructor pilot, and a rated pilot in the C-12 Huron, UH-60 Blackhawk, and UH-72 Lakotaand sheflew800 hours and 216 combat missions in Iraq. She then attended US Naval Test pilot school. 

She was recruited as an astronaut in 2013 and her skills, ability to collaborate and determination have meant that she has flown ona mission to the International Space Station. Col McClain’s accomplishments remind us to be open to opportunities. As Sheryl Sandberg has said: if somebody offers you a seat on a rocket, you don’t ask what seat. You just get on. (I personally would add to this, you do ask ‘what rocket?’)Shehas spent an incredible 204 days in space (that’s a lot of dried space food) and hasundertaken two spacewalks.She has recently been named part of the NASA’s Artemis astronaut team who will take us back to the Moon and beyond. 

The newer generations of astronauts are training for longer missions, so they have been selected for their interest in team objectives, much more so than earlier astronauts. Col McClainis an example of this. She’s said: "When we can be united, not through fear, but through a common desire to explore, that's powerful."She knows that success in the space exploration, much like in anything, is achieved by diverse individuals from around the world working together towards a common goal (a bit like your university degree!)  

As we honor Colonel McClain with this honorary doctorate, we can draw inspiration from her extraordinary journey. To the graduates who are embarking on your own unique paths beyond the University of Bristol, embrace challenges as opportunities for growth, remain focused on your goals, and work together with others. Your time at the University of Bristol has hopefully equipped you with the knowledge, skills, and teamwork to thrive in a world that is waiting for your contributions.  

Colonel Anne McClain. Your achievements will inspire generationsto come, andyour example of excellence will guide us all towards a brighter future. 

Deputy Vice-Chancellor, I present to you Colonel Anne McClain as eminently worthy of the degree of Doctor of Engineering honoris causa.