Wet conditions and low visibility didn’t stop thousands of family members from attending Thursday’s Air Force Academy graduation, but the signature Thunderbirds flyover was canceled due to the weather.

Parents, families and friends began filling the stadium shortly before 7 a.m. to cheer for the 909 Air Force Academy cadets expected to graduate as part of the class of 2025. 

The National Weather Service was calling for rain Thursday, and the morning started off with overcast skies and temperatures in the 40s, with showers expected between 9 a.m. and noon.

Two years ago, the airshow beat a hail storm that sent cadets, families and friends scampering for cover right after the ceremony. 

The graduating cadets of the Air Force Academy walking into the Falcon Stadium for the Thursday morning ceremony pic.twitter.com/WavH20gY8M

— Nick Smith (@_nsmith_35) May 29, 2025

Air Force Academy makes graduation adjustment due to possible bad weather

Air Force Secretary Troy Meink is scheduled to deliver the commencement speech this year, as part of the regular rotation that also includes the president, vice president and secretary of defense on a four-year cycle. 

More about the weather

Light rain started to fall around 8:20 a.m. at the stadium. Low visibility reported.

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Tyme Collins’ family made the trip from Maryland to watch him become the first member of their family to graduate from a service academy. After graduation, he will work in cybersecurity for the Air Force. Sports fans may recognize his name as well: He played football for the Falcons through his four years as a cadet.

“I’m extremely proud of my son, I love him so much and I can’t stop crying from being overwhelmed,” Debborah Collins, Tyme’s mother, said. “He showed a great amount of resilience dealing with COVID but then also moving from high school athletics to a division one school with the curriculum here.”

Tyme’s older brother Taj Reed, his father Reuben Collins, an Army veteran, his younger sister, Janiyah Collins and his friend and Kappa Alpha Psi brother Alex Westberry all attended the graduation ceremony. Debborah came with a bag containing a portrait of Tyme, which she very proudly showed off.

Navy Master Chief roots for his Air Force son

Navy Master Chief Petty Officer Edward Smith traded 100+ degree San Antonio weather for a sub 50 degree, rainy and hazy morning in Colorado Springs. His son, Wesley Smith, is graduating from the U.S. Air Force Academy Thursday and hopes to be a pilot and astronaut.

Despite the differing branches, Edward said he has always been fully supportive of helping his son achieve his goal.

“The first thing I felt this morning was pride,” Edward said. “(Wesley) made his decision to be an astronaut in fifth grade, so we sat down and did the math: The Naval Academy has the most astronauts, followed by USAFA and then Purdue… We realized he’d have a better chance of being a pilot in the Air Force and that drove his decision.”

Wesley applied to all three main service academies and got into all three. But he wants to fly F-35s, the most advanced fighter jet in the world, and has dreams to be a test pilot in the near future.

“He’s following in the steps of former astronauts,” his dad said.

Fortunately, his future station is Del Rio, Texas, close enough to home that he can visit as he progresses through a roughly two-year training regimen.

Wesly is now a second generation military member, with his dad being the first. Edward was joined at the graduation by his second son Preston Smith, his brother Steve Smith and their cousin Jen Szabo.

Stay with Gazette.com for livestream coverage of the commencement.

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