The U.S. Coast Guard Academy held its 143rd commencement ceremony on Wednesday.

Hundreds of guests gathered at Cadet Memorial Field to watch the class of 220 cadets graduate to become junior officers.

The keynote speaker was U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas for the second year in a row.

The Coast Guard is part of the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime.

Secretary Mayorkas spoke about the strong bonds the graduates should hold toward each other and about the academy in general.

"The Coast Guard is not just an organization; it is a family. Representing, with honor, the institution you will now help lead. What you do and how you do it, on-duty and off, will reflect on others, the institution and family itself," he said.

This was the first commencement for Rear Adm. Michael Johnson, who was sworn in as the school's 43rd superintendent last year.

This year's graduating class included 13 Connecticut residents.