Brig. Gen. Middleton tells graduates to get a little better every day
Staff report
Brig. General Jacob Middleton, commander of U.S. Space Forces in Africa and Europe, told Augusta University spring 2026 graduates to never stop growing in his keynote address in Olmstead Hall at the Marriott Convention Center on Friday, May 8.
President Russell T. Keen presides over the undergraduate graduation ceremony at the Marriott Convention Center. (photo by Paula Toole/Augusta University)
“Hopefully, I’m better today than I was yesterday and better tomorrow than I am today,” said the 6-foot-7 Middleton, a native of Gainesville, Fla., who played forward for Clint Bryant’s Jaguar basketball team in the the late 1980s and early 1990s before graduating with a degree in psychology.
Middleton spoke highly of his time at AU.
“When I graduated from Augusta University in 1991, I felt like I had the foundational skills to do anything I wanted to do and be anything I wanted to be,” he said. “Not that learning had stopped, or work had stopped, but I think what that university does is it prepares you for life, regardless of your chosen discipline, better than any other university, in my opinion.”
In addition to his AU degree in psychology, Middleton also has master’s degrees in organizational management, public administration, military strategy and national security strategy.
AU had three commencements, two undergraduate ceremonies on May 8 and its graduate ceremony on May 7.
Emmanuel Faminu, who received his degree in computer science, was the undergraduate speaker on Friday morning and Alex Gonzalo (business administration) on Friday afternoon. The graduate student speaker was Mahogany Davis, who received her master’s in counselor education. Christine Crawford, a business executive and podcast (“Mistakes over Failures”) host from Aiken, S.C., was the keynote speaker for the graduate ceremony.
President Russell T. Keen presided in each session.
“Graduation is more than just a ceremony; it signifies years of dedication, a celebration of your accomplishments, and a transition into the next phase of your life,” Keen told the graduating students. “Your achievements highlight the transformative power of education in changing lives and overcoming obstacles. As you embark on this new chapter as an alumnus of Augusta University, I encourage you to keep in touch with your alma mater and always carry with you the experiences that made your time here meaningful and unique.”
The AU Registrar’s Office, led by Heather Metress, ran the ceremonies.
Brig. General Jacob Middleton, commander of U.S. Space Forces in Africa and Europe, gives the keynote address at Augusta University’s Spring 2026 Commencement at the Marriott Convention Center. Middleton graduated with a degree in psychology in 1991. At the top of the page, one of the many creative signs on top of a graduation cap. (photos by Paula Toole/Augusta University)
Graduating senior Nasrudin Mohamed with Augustus at the Spring 2026 Commencement ceremony at the Marriott Convention Center. Mohamed, an all-conference cross-country and track athlete, earned at B.S. in cybersecurity. (photo by Paula Toole/Augusta University)
