Commandant's Column

The First Year: Making the Corps’ Impact Visible 

When I first stepped onto Upper Quad as commandant last year, what struck me most was not the uniforms, the formations, or even the history etched in the Hokie Stone around me — it was the people. I was blessed with the privilege of leading Marines in some of the most complex environments imaginable during my time in the Marine Corps. But what excited me most about coming to Virginia Tech was not a change in mission — it was a change in where that mission begins.

At Virginia Tech, we do not meet leaders at the midpoint of their journey. We build them from the start.  

The Corps of Cadets is a special place because it brings together character, competence, and commitment in a way that is both deliberate and lived every single day. It is one of the most tangible expressions of Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) on this campus. For me, this role is about impact and giving back. I am forever grateful for the opportunities I was given in uniform, and this is my chance to pay it forward by investing in young people who will go on to serve in ways we cannot yet fully imagine.

What has made this first year especially meaningful is seeing how deeply connected the Corps is — to the university, to the Commonwealth, to the Nation, and to you, our alumni. Your presence is still here in the traditions we uphold, in the standards we enforce, and in the pride our cadets carry every day. To be part of a team that serves all the military services, the university, the Commonwealth, and the nation — alongside extraordinary, gifted cadets, faculty, staff, and alumni — is both humbling and energizing.

What Has Remained Constant

People often ask what has changed for me in the transition from active duty to the commandant’s role. In truth, the most important thing has not changed at all. I still believe, as strongly as ever, that leadership is about serving something larger than yourself and helping others become the best versions of themselves.

In the Marine Corps, that meant leading Marines in combat, in crisis, and peacetime. Here, it means developing cadets who will lead in the military, in business, industry, public service, and in their communities. The scope may be different, but the purpose is the same.

Not long ago, a cadet reminded me that leadership is not a title — it is truth in action. Leadership is a verb. That simple statement captures everything we are doing here. Our purpose is to ensure that your cadets are ready, not just physically and academically, but morally, ethically, mentally, and spiritually so they can make hard decisions in complex environments.

I want every cadet who walks across the stage at graduation to know they are prepared to lead, trusted to serve, and committed to giving back. They need to believe, with confidence, that they are ready for a life of service. I want every one of them to be the hero of their own success story.

The Way Ahead

As we close this academic year and graduate the Class of 2026, my intent remains clear: your Corps will not simply be seen as a strong program. It will be recognized as a model for the kind of integrated, outcomes-driven, purpose-built academic and leadership institution the university is becoming.

That is how we achieve our end state — to be the premier senior military college in the nation. This first year has confirmed what alumni have always known: the Corps is not defined by a time period or a class year. It is a living institution, carried forward by each generation. Your legacy is visible every day on Upper Quad — in the cadets who wear the uniform, in the leaders they are becoming, and in the service they will render.

And the best part? We are just getting started.

Ut Prosim.

Maj. Gen. William H. Seely III

U.S. Marine Corps (retired)

Commandant of Cadets