Commandant's Column

A Direct and Unbroken Chain

Just over 10 years ago, I retired from the Army Reserve at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. It was the conclusion of 36 years of service as a reserve component soldier. In parallel with my journey from private to brigadier general, I completed my civilian education, established a career as a university professor, and helped to raise three wonderful children. My retirement, I thought, would mean the end of my time in uniform. I was right, for a time.  

In early 2020, I moved to Virginia Tech to serve as head of the Department of Biological Systems Engineering. I knew that Virginia Tech was a senior military college with an active, visible, and highly regarded Corps of Cadets. Leadership development had always been a passion of mine, and my experience gave me a general sense of how this might be occurring on the Upper Quad. But with very few opportunities for direct engagement, I admired the Corps from a distance.  

That changed when I was asked to help identify the Corps’ next commandant, a service role I happily accepted.  As the work of the search committee progressed, I developed even greater appreciation and respect for who the Corps is, and what the Corps means to Virginia Tech – the history of success, the high standards, the interconnectedness with the larger Virginia Tech community, the committed dedication and professionalism of the Corps and ROTC staffs, and above all, the superlative character and accomplishments of cadets and Corps alumni.  When the committee’s work was complete, I felt proud of our work in identifying the commandant who would build on Maj. Gen. Fullhart’s amazing accomplishments to elevate the Corps to even greater heights of achievement.  I wished the Corps well with confidence its continuing success, which I imagined I would see – again – from a distance.   

Events would soon reinforce the lesson that life sometimes has other plans for us. Soon after the commandant search committee had concluded their work, and during my therapeutic annual motorcycle ride, I was asked whether I would consider serving as interim commandant. While service as interim commandant wasn’t something that was “on my bingo card,” there was only one possible answer: “When do I start?”  The answer was, “Basically, now.”   

Today, I am now almost six months into one of the most unexpected and rewarding journeys of my professional career. It’s been my privilege to engage with parents, to watch young people transition from high school student to cadet, to work shoulder-to-shoulder with staff who demonstrate unparallelled dedication, to be a part of the energy in Lane Stadium during football games, to witness the enduring commitment of Corps alumni, and countless other rewarding experiences.  I often tell people, and truthfully, that I’m having the time of my life. But all my most rewarding experiences involve our cadets, from individual engagements to regimental pass in review ceremonies. And I’ve never been prouder of any group than when our cadets decided to forego Caldwell March to instead help their neighbors in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. I can’t imagine a clearer statement of who they are, and what Ut Prosim means to them.  

My non-standard background and pathway often raise questions that I enjoy answering. The best is perhaps, “How have your impressions of the Corps evolved during your time as interim commandant?”  The short answer is, “Dramatically and positively.”  There is a direct and unbroken chain, forged from values and reinforced by tradition, that connects today’s cadets to the first, William Addison Caldwell. While the Corps has evolved in parallel with the needs and aspirations of our nation, it remains faithful to its heritage. Today, as ever, our cadets are animated by authentic patriotism and a spirit of service. They continue to stand out among their peers as not only among our most talented, but also among our very best. Related to this, it is clear that everyone who participates in the work of the Corps, to include the many highly engaged alumni, consider their work as a calling rather than a job. Everyone – past and present cadets as well as the commandant’s staff – recognizes that they are a part of something larger and stronger, and everyone is fully invested in the unique nature of the Corps mission. In all these ways and many more, the Corps is special.  

Exciting times lie in the future. In the next issue of Corps Review, you will again be introduced to Maj. Gen. William H. Seely III as he begins a tenure as commandant that promises even more successes for the Corps. I feel I have come to know him well over the past year, and I consider him not only a respected colleague, but also a friend. It is evident to all that Maj. Gen. Seely is an adaptive innovator and strategic thought leader who has succeeded at the highest levels of uniformed service. But it is also true that he is already engaged on behalf of the Corps, enthusiastic about the Corps’ prospects, and eager to apply his phenomenal talents in service to the Corps. He is the right leader, at the right time, for the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets.  

I am grateful for this unexpected but transformative opportunity to be a part of the Corps. Regardless of where I go and what I do, the Corps will have one more devoted friend, advocate, and champion in me.

Brig. Gen. Dwayne R. Edwards, 

U.S. Army Reserve (retired)

Interim Commandant of Cadets