Scott Poteet named UNH's 2025 commencement speaker

The University of New Hampshire has chosen astronaut Scott Poteet to be the speaker for this year's commencement ceremony. Poteet, who is a retired Air Force fighter pilot and a former member of the Thunderbirds, grew up in Durham and is an alumnus of UNH. Last fall, he served as the mission pilot for the SpaceX Polaris Dawn Mission, which achieved a significant milestone by reaching the highest orbit from Earth since the 1970s. During this mission, the crew also completed the first civilian spacewalk with a new SpaceX-designed spacesuit. Along with his speaking role, Poteet will receive an honorary degree. Other recipients of honorary degrees include New Hampshire Governor Kelly Ayotte, former state Senator Lou D'Allesandro, real estate developer Steve Duprey, and attorney Bradley J. Olsen.