Vice-Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Set to Address Graduates May 28, 2016
Randolph-Macon Academy’s graduating class is able to proudly claim a 100% college acceptance rate once again. The class of 2016 is comprised of 70 seniors and 5 postgraduate Falcon Scholars who will be celebrating their graduation on Saturday, May 28th at 10:00 a.m. in Melton Memorial Gymnasium. Joining the class of 2016, their families, and their friends, as the commencement speaker, will be General Paul J. Selva of the U.S. Air Force.
General Selva is the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff making him the nation’s second highest ranking military officer. He serves directly under the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense as a military advisor. For Selva’s outstanding service to his country, he received the “Defense Distinguished Service Medal”. This medal is awarded to senior officers who exceptionally execute their duties involving matters of national security at the greatest levels. It is the highest peacetime defense award offered by the armed forces and can only be awarded by the Secretary of Defense.
Selva was commissioned in 1981 after graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy where he received his Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering. He has also earned two Master of Science degrees in Political Science from Auburn University and Management and Human Relations from Abilene Christian University. General Selva’s previous assignments include Commander of U.S. Transportation, Commander of U.S. Air Mobility, and Vice-Commander of Pacific Air Forces at Joint-Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. He is a command pilot with more than 3,100 flying hours.
Randolph-Macon Academy (R-MA), founded in 1892, is a college-preparatory, coeducational day and boarding school for students in grades 6 through 12. Students in grades 9-12 participate in R-MA’s 91st Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) and may also participate in an optional in-house flight program. R-MA is affiliated with the United Methodist Church and is located in Front Royal, VA.
General Selva’s full biography can be found at:
https://www.af.mil/AboutUs/Biographies/Display/tabid/225/Article/105043/general-paul-j-selva.aspx