{"id":6810,"date":"2023-12-18T11:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/?p=6810"},"modified":"2024-07-25T11:06:28","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T15:06:28","slug":"momentous-small-steps-to-giant-leaps-purdue-celebrates-3500-winter-2023-graduates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/newsroom\/2023\/Q4\/momentous-small-steps-to-giant-leaps-purdue-celebrates-3500-winter-2023-graduates","title":{"rendered":"Momentous small steps to giant leaps: Purdue celebrates 3,500 winter 2023 graduates"},"content":{"rendered":"

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. —<\/p> \n

Years of persistence and thousands of small steps together culminated this weekend for nearly 3,500 Boilermakers as part of Purdue University\u2019s Winter 2023 Commencement ceremonies. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Nearly 2,000 undergraduate students and 1,500 graduate students were conferred Purdue degrees.\u00a0Gen. David Thompson, a Purdue alumnus who serves as vice chief of space operations for the U.S. Space Force, delivered the commencement address during the three ceremonies\u00a0Sunday (Dec. 17) at\u00a0Elliott Hall of Music.<\/p>\n\n\n

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U.S. Space Force Gen. David Thompson, a Purdue University alum who serves as vice chief of space operations for the Space Force, delivers the address during Sunday\u2019s commencement ceremonies. (Purdue University photo\/John Underwood)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In his role with the Space Force, Thompson is responsible for assisting Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, the chief of space operations, in organizing, training and equipping space forces in the United States and overseas. A four-star general, Thompson also oversees the integration of space policy and guidance and the coordination of space-related activities for the Space Force and Department of the Air Force. He received his master\u2019s degree in aeronautics and astronautics from Purdue in 1989 after his graduation from the U.S. Air Force Academy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Space Force organizes, trains, equips and maintains mission-ready space forces that provide missile warning, space domain awareness, positioning, navigation and timing, communications, and space electronic warfare for North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Strategic Command, U.S. Space Command and other combatant commands.
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A career space officer with assignments in operations, acquisition, research and development, and academia, Thompson was commissioned in 1985 as a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate. He has commanded operational space units at the squadron, group and wing levels. He also is an Olmsted Scholar, graduate of the Senior Acquisition Course and Level III-certified program manager. Prior to his current assignment as vice chief of space operations, Thompson was vice commander of the Space Force.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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