Commencement Speech
Vance D. Coffman
Lockheed Martin Corporation Chairman and CEO
May 14, 2004, 9:00 a.m. Reed Arena

President Gates, members of the faculty and staff, ladies and gentlemen of the graduating classes, distinguished guests:

Good morning, and thank you for that very gracious and generous introduction. I am deeply honored to be with you today at Texas A&M University. With 45,000 students and your academic accomplishments, this is a very special place of learning. And the 12th Man tradition says volumes about student enthusiasm.

Also let me say, it is a great personal pleasure to share this commencement ceremony with those receiving degrees. I congratulate each of you on your achievement.

Equally important, I believe, is the recognition that should be afforded your families, friends, and loved ones - those whose support and encouragement have undoubtedly helped you reach today's milestone. As someone who worked for several years at home in the evening to earn his master's and Ph.D. degrees, I know how important it is to have the understanding and encouragement of one's family.

I remember one occasion when my young daughter - aged four or five - watched intently as I pored over books at the kitchen table. She asked me how long I had been going to school. After adding it up, I told her, "It's been about 25 years." She thought about this for a few minutes, and a big frown crossed her face. Then, in the forthright style that we treasure in children, she asked, "Dad, are you a slow learner?"

So to all those here who over the years have been supportive of today's graduates, let me say: Today is your day of achievement too. And I congratulate you, as well.

My time with you today is brief, which is as it should be. Today is a commencement. It is the beginning of an exciting and adventurous period in your lives - and I know you're anxious to get started.

Plus, I realize the only thing that now stands between you and your diplomas...is me - so I will be brief.

But I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to ask each of you to look within yourselves and ask: "What is my dream? What can I do to make our country - and our world - a better place?"

When I was about your age, there were a series of events that literally changed the world. The Soviet Union launched the first man-made satellite - Sputnik - into orbit around the Earth. A few years later, the U.S.S.R. scored another first - putting the first human into orbit. The United States had successes in space as well, but we consistently seemed to be playing "catch-up."

Then, almost exactly 43 years ago, President John Kennedy boldly asserted that we should take the lead in space. He said: "I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before the decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth." Those words, backed by the Congress, supported by the American people, and aided by thousands of scientists and engineers - many of whom were "Texas Aggies" - changed the course of history. Those words spurred our nation to make extraordinary advances in computing, materials research, propulsion, aerodynamics, environmental science, and many other fields. And those words influenced this young farm boy to kick the dust off his shoes and enter Iowa State University to study aerospace engineering.

In a very real sense, that dream drove a generation, and made possible the technological riches that have benefited our society in vast and innumerable ways.

Like all dreams that change history, it was a dream focused on youth. Francis Bacon once wrote, "[The] young embrace more than they can hold; stir more than they can quiet; fly to the end, without consideration of the means." The young people in a society are always the ones who dream the great dreams and then surprise everyone by fulfilling them. At the time, many said the goal of reaching the moon in a decade was impossible. No less an authority than the British Royal Astronomer stated flatly, "[This notion of] space travel is utter bilge."

And yet, eight years later, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the moon. One dream of a generation had been fulfilled.

Today, it is apparent to me that if America is to remain great, we will need new dreams for your generation - and the generations to come. And that's why all of you are so crucial to our country's future.

What will be the dream of your generation? And who will articulate it? Who will have the skills, the foundation of knowledge and talent, the youthful energy and enthusiasm, and the willingness to risk all to achieve that dream?

President Bush recently announced a "New Vision for Space Exploration," challenging NASA and the nation to return to the Moon and to undertake human journeys to Mars and beyond. That new vision is already changing the focus of the aerospace community - and we are beginning to think about how to accomplish what many people considered to be "impossible" tasks. Last week, during the annual "Space Day" activities, NASA announced a new class of 11 Astronauts - one of whom could be the first human to set foot on Mars.

Of course, dreams are not restricted to outer space. Your visions and aspirations might just as easily be focused on the compelling need to preserve and use wisely the Earth's natural resources. Or perhaps you have a dream to extend the application of medical advances throughout the world, including working on cures for cancer and AIDS. Or you might want to devote your talents and energies to engaging the War Against Terrorism that threatens Americans at home and abroad.

All of these are critically important challenges - and all will require the intellect, insights, and innovative spirit that America's "best and brightest" can provide. We of the current generation will be looking to you and your colleagues to find ways to successfully resolve these - and many other - compelling needs. So I will close by suggesting to you: Don't just fill in the job application, or go after the biggest salary, or check off a series of boxes on a "career path." Success will come in good time.

Start with a dream. Maybe a dream that is personal and small, but worth doing. Then dream a bigger dream. Keep dreaming until your dreams seem impossible to achieve.

Then you'll know you're on the right track. Then you'll know you're ready to conjure up a dream big enough to define your future and perhaps your generation's future.

I look forward to following your progress. I salute you, and I wish you godspeed in all your endeavors. You have my congratulations - and my very best wishes.