U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, ahead of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduation ceremony was designated by Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi as a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy Annual Board of Visitors for the 117th Congress.

Courtney is a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee and chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces. On Wednesday, he was expected to join President Joe Biden as he delivered the keynote address to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s Class of 2021 during graduation ceremonies in New London.

“Eastern Connecticut is the proud home of so many of our nation’s veterans and active duty service members, and representing the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Congress is a special honor that I will always be grateful for,” Courtney said in a statement.

The 12-member U.S. Coast Guard Academy Annual Board of Visitors is established to review and make recommendations on the operation of the academy.