The 鈥淥n Winning鈥� symposium, proposed by Superintendent Lt. Gen. David Furness 鈥�87 and facilitated by the Center of Leadership and Ethics, provided a forum for the participants to delve into ways to instill and sustain a winning culture without compromising the characteristics and traits that make 麻豆传媒入口unique. Specifically, the symposium emphasized the three core values of academics, military leadership, and athletics, symbolized by VMI鈥檚 Three-Legged Stool.

Guest speakers included a mix of exemplary military leaders and athletic coaches.聽Retired Marine Corps Gen. Robert Neller, the 37^th聽Commandant of the Marine Corps, spoke on organizational leadership.

Retired Navy Rear Adm. Jamie Sands, who served as commander of the Naval Special Warfare Command, spoke about optimizing high performance teams. Former 麻豆传媒入口head soccer coach, Ben Freakley, Ed.D., CMPC, founder of Ready. Set. Resilient., a coaching business that uses best practices to help individuals and teams optimize performance, shared his thoughts on winning at 麻豆传媒入口and the psychology of coaching. Ivin Japser, football coach at the U.S. Naval Academy, discussed the winning culture there.聽

Retired Marine Corps Maj. Mike Ettore, author and founder of Fidelis Leadership Group, an executive coaching and leadership development firm, talked about servant leadership, trust and standards. Leonard Hamilton, who retired in 2025 as the winningest basketball coach in Florida State history, provided insights on establishing a winning culture.

The keynote speaker was Urban Meyer, analyst on FOX Sport鈥檚 鈥淏ig Noon Kickoff鈥� and former head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars who was聽inducted into the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 2025. Meyer also headed up the Florida Gators football team when they won national titles in 2006 and 2008, and oversaw an Ohio State third-string quarterback defeat Oregon in his last college national title. He closed the symposium with his insights on talent acquisition and culture, highlighting relentless effort, competitive excellence, and brotherhood.

In addition to hearing expert speakers, participants divided into working groups to brainstorm and discuss topics such as collectively defining success of athletics; identifying the non-negotiable behaviors demanded of a 麻豆传媒入口athlete; retaining and graduating athletes; and increasing athlete acceptance, compliance, and involvement in Corps life.  

Jamaal Walton 鈥�07, director of intercollegiate at VMI, stated the symposium was an opportunity for Institute leaders to place their sole focus on winning in athletics.

鈥淚t allowed each individual the voice and space to listen, learn, and contribute to enhancing the athletics leg of the stool. All three legs are equally important, but the attention paid during the symposium has allowed the Institute to take the necessary steps to not just compete but to win! It was a 鈥榳hole damn team鈥� effort!鈥�

Men鈥檚 head basketball coach, Andrew Wilson, agreed with Walton. 鈥淚t was great having the opportunity to learn from two legendary hall of fame coaches, Leonard Hamilton and Urban Meyer. All of the speakers were great, but getting to hear from two of the best in the history of the college sports industry and gain insight into what made them successful was very special.鈥�  

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The expanding initiative provides a variety of forums for engagement and discussion by using light parliamentary-style Braver Angels debates and A Braver Campus Dialogue (ABCD) workshops to foster a culture of civil discourse and constructive community conversations on important and sometimes controversial topics. These activities encourage listening and public speaking skills and give students more opportunities for rigorous examination of topics through open dialogue. All of these skills align with the mission of 麻豆传媒入口to develop leaders and citizen-soldiers.

鈥淕ood leaders welcome a variety of viewpoints to help them with decision making,鈥� noted Col. David Gray, executive director of the CLE. 鈥淭hese viewpoints help stress-test and strengthen decisions and strategies. Good leaders are also good listeners and engage effectively with their teams.鈥�

Led by three faculty fellows, Col. Valentina Dimitrova-Grajzl, professor of economics, Col. Sara Whipple, professor of psychology, and Lt. Col. Kim Connolly, assistant director for programs and conferences at the CLE, CDI began the 2025-26 academic year with the support of the Jackson-Hope Fund via a five-year grant to advance VMI鈥檚 emphasis on citizenship and leadership through normalizing and internalizing civil discourse at VMI. Four cadet fellows, Katy Layman 鈥�26, Zach Denton 鈥�27, Josiah Farrell 鈥�28, and Zach Richardson 鈥�28, helped develop, organize, and promote the events to cadets and recruit opening speakers. In addition, four cadet ambassadors helped publicize events.

Activities this past year included the introduction of the solutions-based ABCD workshop to both聽 local intercollegiate partners, Washington & Lee, Southern Virginia University (SVU), and Mountain Gateway Community College, and the local community. CDI hosted a workshop in September titled, 鈥淗ow Can We Improve Our Local Economy?鈥� that drew 150 participants and introduced local business owners, economic development officials, and concerned citizens to this civil discourse tool. It also facilitated a meaningful intergenerational exchange of ideas and viewpoints.

In December, 麻豆传媒入口hosted a public square debate, a collaborative effort between the VA250 Commission, the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the Virginia Department of Education, the College Debates and Discourse Alliance, the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, and Braver Angels.  It was part of the commission鈥檚 Education Steering Committee鈥檚 programs for K-12 and college students to make history come alive, spark a civics renaissance, and celebrate democracy. Select students who participated in the debate will be invited to participate in a debate at the State Capitol in October.

A February debate at 麻豆传媒入口focused on honor, integrity, and compliance. Additionally, throughout the academic year cadets traveled to related events at the University of Virginia and SVU.

“This year has been great for CDI, as we have continued to expand the program and connect with even more people,鈥� said Farrell. 鈥淭he opportunity to engage with students from other colleges at the Democracy360 conference at University of Virginia in a civil discourse setting was a great way to expand my views on issues like voter ID and identity politics. Making connections and conversing with students from other backgrounds has allowed me to take a step back and evaluate my own opinions and ideals.”

The initiative鈥檚 efforts to fold civil discourse into the everyday culture of 麻豆传媒入口took another step forward when VMI鈥檚 committee on academic technology collaborated with CDI to host an ABCD workshop on AI, creativity, and critical thinking. This was attended by a cross-disciplinary group of staff and faculty and included two cadet representatives from the Honor Court.

Smaller monthly 鈥淔ood for Thought鈥� conversations covered a variety of topics in an informal setting during the lunch period, allowing for more engagement between cadets, faculty, and staff. In addition, a half-day workshop titled, 鈥淐ultivating聽Curious聽Individuals, Teams, and Organizations,鈥� was offered in March by Dr. Todd Kashdan, author and founder of the Well-Being Lab at George Mason University.

Looking at the next academic year, the initiative has expanded to formally include interdisciplinary faculty and staff partners who have supported and participated in programs over the years. They will receive training to become debate moderators and to incorporate debates and ABCD workshops into the curriculum and other programming.

Cadet ambassador Bianca Marlang 鈥�27 reflected on the impact the program has had on her this past year. 鈥淚 have learned to keep my bearing amidst hearing views that are the complete opposite from mine鈥� I have since learned to listen for genuine understanding and not listen to respond. It seems small, but I’m very proud of it.鈥� 

A complete listing of all CDI activities from this past academic year can be found on the Center for Leadership and Ethics鈥櫬爓ebsite.

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The OFUP offers overseas travel and cultural immersion opportunities to service academy cadets, midshipmen, and ROTC students attending or associated with selected Title 10 senior military colleges. These trips are conducted in non-English speaking countries with exposure to national perspectives and a focus on the role of U.S. policy in those regions.

Arndt reported that to prepare for the trip, cadets hosted a reception for a French military delegation and French exchange students on post; developed their travel itinerary; participated in a reading seminar focused on the French culture, the American Revolution, WWI, WWII, the Cold War, and the period since; researched personal stories of 麻豆传媒入口alumni who died during the Battle of Normandy; and attended safety briefings. 鈥淯pon arriving in France, our first base of operation was the town of Bayeux in Normandy where the cadets learned the history of the Battle of Normandy by visiting the iconic church in Sainte-M猫re-脡glise, one of the first towns liberated on D-Day, June 6, 1944, and Pointe du Hoc, where U.S. Army Rangers heroically scaled 100-foot cliffs under enemy fire,鈥� he shared.

For Gray, who teaches courses on U.S. military history, a key event for the group was visiting the Normandy American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer, overlooking Omaha Beach.

鈥淲e spent several hours, allowing for cadets to find the graves of the fallen 麻豆传媒入口alumni they had earlier researched, and report their acts of heroism,鈥� said Gray.

The second base of operation was the city of Paris where cadets participated in a wide range of activities. Johnson related highlights of their time in the capital city.

鈥淲e took a gastronomic walking tour of the neighborhood of Saint-Germain-des-Pr茅s where cadets learned about the production and cultural importance of food for France. We saw major sites like Notre-Dame, the Eiffel Tower, and the Champs-脡lys茅es. We also visited Mont Saint-Michel and the Palace of Versailles and its gardens.鈥�

Particularly informative for the cadets was dining with Olmsted Scholar, U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Sean Margot, who is currently studying at Sorbonne University, as well as U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Skye Martin and U.S. Army Maj. Calista Stoop, both of whom are currently studying at the French War College, 脡cole de Guerre in Paris. While conversing over dinner, cadets learned about the Olmsted Scholar Program, and were inspired by the opportunities available to them as they embark on their military careers in May.

For Samantha Waters 鈥�26, a history major who will commission into the Navy, the trip is one she will never forget. She was amazed by how the people of France remember and respect the German WWII soldiers buried at La Cambe German War Cemetery in Normandy.

鈥淭hey were the enemy, but the French recognize that the average age of those soldiers was 20. They had mothers and fathers who waited for them to return. I think this prepared me more for the military. I鈥檒l be faced with making difficult decisions, and risking human life should never be taken lightly.鈥�

James Bangura 鈥�26, who is majoring in computer science and will commission into the Army, had the unique opportunity of celebrating Eid al-Fitr, an Islamic observance kept worldwide, at the Grand Mosque of Paris.

鈥淎s a Muslim cadet, this was a significant moment for me. It allowed me to practice my faith while abroad and experience how Islam is observed in a different cultural setting, further reinforcing the importance of religious and cultural understanding.鈥�

Both cadets agreed the trip directly contributes to their preparation for military service by reinforcing what they have already learned about American and world history, the importance of working with partner forces; understanding different cultures, social norms and communication styles; and navigating throughout a foreign country.

麻豆传媒入口Superintendent Lt. Gen. David Furness 鈥�87 recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Olmsted Foundation, establishing the nation鈥檚 first Olmsted Intern Program for cadet overseas travel. According to Col. Jeff Kendrick, director of OGE, the MOU expanded and rebranded the undergraduate program that 麻豆传媒入口has been running for several years.

鈥溌槎勾饺肟趇s honored to continue the tradition of exposing future military leaders to national perspectives and the role of U.S. policy in those regions that are visited each year. The highly selective program is reserved for top performing cadets, and selection is solely merit-based. Six to eight cadets will be chosen to participate in the program each year, and will receive full funding for one to three weeks of travel. While the new program shares many of the same objectives as the previous one, there is now more of an emphasis on cadet leadership and preparation for possible participation in the Olmsted Scholar Program for junior officers,鈥� he said.

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Superintendent Lt. Gen. David Furness 鈥�87 formally welcomed the participants.

鈥淭his conference is organized to allow leaders to exchange ideas, regulators to converse with those they regulate, and nonprofits to collaborate with businesses and governmental agencies. No person or group has all the right answers or can solve every issue that we are presented with today. Everyone has a vested interest, however, in a great and thriving environment where it affects every citizen of the commonwealth. This conference is for every one of you, the environmental professionals who work to protect and preserve Virginia鈥檚 environment. The wealth of knowledge and experience for many attendees makes this a wonderful training ground for those who are new to this profession. This serves as a great opportunity to hear about the goals and challenges of our commonwealth鈥檚 environmental sector. 麻豆传媒入口is proud of our engineering and science programs. We encourage you to learn more about our highly ranked and accredited STEM programs, visit our departments and hire our cadets to serve in your organizations. I鈥檓 confident 麻豆传媒入口graduates will continue to be leaders and problem solvers ready to join your ranks and become productive contributors to the environment of the commonwealth,鈥� he said.

Opening remarks were offered by David Bulova, secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, who brought greetings from Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who was unable to attend.

He stated, 鈥淲e as Virginians are truly blessed. From the Chesapeake Bay to the Piedmont to the Shenandoah, and the great Southwest, the natural beauty that is the commonwealth is truly unsurpassed. These natural resources sustain us. They support millions of jobs, and they give us a special sense of place that is Virginia. It鈥檚 a privilege to serve as the secretary of Natural and Historic Resources, as together we protect, conserve and restore these resources for future generations. Protecting our environment depends on fostering a new generation of leaders who will take up that charge. For all of the young professionals and students who are here with us today, thank you, and for those who have been around here for a while, please take up the time to lift up the next generation of leaders. Our planet is depending on it.鈥�

A panel discussion featuring the directors of the conference鈥檚 five state government co-host agencies was moderated by Tanya Denckla Cobb, director of the University of Virginia鈥檚 Institute for Engagement & Negotiation. Held in Gillis Theater, the panel included Ryan Brown, executive director of the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR); Terry Lasher, state forester and director of the Department of Forestry; Joe Grist, acting commissioner of the Virginia Marine Resources Commission; Mike Rolband, director of the Department of Environmental Quality; and Nikki Rovner, director of the Department of Conservation and Recreation. They talked of budget cuts, grants, and values that guide them including transparency, collaboration, common sense, the Golden Rule, making good decisions, strong leadership traits, being transformative, and innovation. They also conversed on the use of artificial intelligence (AI), supporting and sustaining the forestry industry, mediating conflicts, and managing public lands and parks.

Breakout educational sessions were offered by experts from all over the commonwealth including Maj. Peter Neofotis, lecturer in VMI鈥檚 biology department. Topics of the sessions included achieving the Chesapeake Bay Agreement commitments, water quality, flood resilience, food waste, invasive plants and landscape restoration, freshwater conservation, silt, algae and ecosystems, soil health, the wetlands, solar energy, pollutants, wildlife corridors, urban agriculture, challenges for data centers, a guided flora walk, and more.  

The plenary speaker was Alejandra Parra-Orlandoni, chief operations officer of Pasteur Labs. Her talk titled, 鈥淣either Savior nor Villain: A Practitioner鈥檚 Guide to AI and the Environment,鈥� examined getting better use from AI as a tool. 鈥淲hen you ask an AI system a question, you often get back a really confident, agreeable answer. This is called sycophantic AI, and it validates your perspective. The way you frame the question steers the answer toward agreement,鈥� which she conceded in not always a good thing. She encouraged her audience to be more specific in the questions they put to AI, and to understand the actual problem before they seek a solution. 鈥淭hree questions you must ask and answer before even thinking about using AI: What specific decision are you trying to make better, easier, faster? What data do you actually have, and is it clean, consistent, accessible, reliable? What does failure look like, and who鈥檚 accountable for it? Answering these three questions with integrity takes work, and many AI projects that fail do so because these questions weren鈥檛 asked and answered upfront.鈥� She gave an example of a question that didn’t work for her colleague in water management. 鈥淭he question posed was, 鈥楬ow can AI improve water management?鈥� That led to a lot of wasted money and time. My colleague shifted the framing of the question to one that did help, 鈥榃e know water is being lost, but customers can鈥檛 pinpoint where, and physical investigations are expensive and disruptive. Can we find a better way to identify where losses are actually occurring?鈥� The specific question forced that company to look at what data they already had, and it made clear patterns existing in their data. AI technology could finally identify not just that the water was being lost, but where, in what quantities and exactly from which buildings, without any excavation, or guesswork.鈥�

She concluded by telling her audience, 鈥淎I is not an oracle. Used without discipline, it鈥檚 really a very convincing mirror for your own assumptions, and that鈥檚 a very risky prospect. But when used well, AI doesn鈥檛 replace your judgment, it amplifies the reach at a scale that鈥檚 finally going to match the complexity of the problems that this field is up against.鈥�

A momentous part of the symposium is the presentation of the Erchul Environmental Leadership Award, named for the late 麻豆传媒入口professor Capt. Ronald A. Erchul, Ph.D., founder of the Environment Virginia Symposium. The award recognizes a Virginian who has made significant individual efforts to improve the environment. Members of Virginia鈥檚 environmental community nominate candidates who are judged based on their vision, expertise, commitment, integrity, communication skills, accomplishments, and diplomacy. This year鈥檚 winner was Becky Gwynn, executive deputy director of DWR.

Denckla Cobb, who received the award last year, introduced Gwynn. 鈥淔or nearly 40 years with DWR, Becky has established a reputation for conservation leadership, professional diligence and innovation, and personal integrity. Her leadership has helped shape the department鈥檚 vision and mission. Her career highlights include development of Virginia鈥檚 first wildlife action plan, initiating the commonwealth鈥檚 first wildlife viewing plan, creation of the Virginia birding and wildlife trail, coordinating land acquisition efforts that have safeguarded and restored habitat for threatened species, as well as providing public access to recreational opportunities for all Virginians. Her leadership enabled Virginia鈥檚 largest conservation easement in the coalfields, securing 65,000 acres of recreational access and habitat for Virginia鈥檚 only elk herd. Becky was also responsible for a $44.5 million EPA grant, the largest in the agency鈥檚 history to protect and restore coastal wetlands and forests for carbon capture and storage,鈥� said Denckla Cobb.

After accepting the award with gratitude, Gwynn shared that she loves her job and the agency for which she works. 鈥淎cross the country, state fish and wildlife agencies serve as trustees for the fish and wildlife populations as a public trust resource. I take that responsibility really seriously. It motivates me to get up and go to work every day. When I have opportunities like holding the first nestlings of red cockaded woodpeckers that were born on the Big Woods Wildlife Management Area, that鈥檚 a lifetime experience I will never have again. The work done by state fish and wildlife agencies is something that we do because we鈥檙e passionate about the work. Many in my profession enjoy in their off time, the same things they do during their day job, so we have become a large family. We spend our time together, and the birds don鈥檛 wait until the sun comes up, so we have to be out before they are. The wildlife that鈥檚 out at night doesn鈥檛 really care that it鈥檚 after dark and we might have to be out late. So, we spend a lot of time together. It鈥檚 an enriching experience. I鈥檓 privileged to work with so many dedicated, committed professionals.鈥�

Each year, 麻豆传媒入口donates $1,500 to a nonprofit environmental organization of the recipient鈥檚 choice in their honor. Gwynn requested the donation go to the Virginia Herpetological Society.

Other awards presented at the symposium are the Governor鈥檚 Environmental Excellence Awards, which recognize successful and innovative efforts that improve Virginia鈥檚 environment. This year鈥檚 gold medal winners were: The Conservation Fund for their work preserving James Monroe鈥檚 Oak Hill Farm in Loudoun County; Four Mile Run Conservancy for Water Access for All at Four Mile Run, the region鈥檚 first ADA-compliant kayak and canoe launch; Lancaster County for Windmill Point County Maritime Recreational Campus, a project that transformed a severely eroded shoreline into a premier public recreational campus; Piedmont Housing Alliance for Kindlewood Community Redevelopment, a transformative resident-led project converting a 12-acre Section 8 community into a climate-resilient, net-zero-ready affordable housing development; Prince William County Public Schools for their Energy, Sustainability, and Environmental Program, contributing to healthier learning environments and long-term cost savings; Rappahannock Tribe Inv. for Rappahannock Tribe Return to the River Restoration Initiative, which successfully reclaimed 964 acres of ancestral homelands along the Rappahannock River at Fones Cliffs; and Rockfish Valley Foundation for ENLIT (Environmental Literacy), an innovative, interactive, and accessible outdoor learning system that connects visitors to the regions natural and cultural resources.

Silver medal winners were: Fairfax County Park Authority for Spring Hill Rec Center energy upgrades; InBio for Environmental Sustainability Program; and Prince William Soil and Water Conservation District for Water Quality Program.

Bronze medal awards were: Sewing Lab LLC for Circular Fashion Education & Textile Waste Reduction Program.

Receiving honorable mention were: Fairfax County Public Library Department of Procurement and Material Management for Library Book Reuse & Recycling Project; and Tree Fredericksburg for canopy restoration in the City of Fredericksburg.

Next year鈥檚 Environment Virginia Symposium is scheduled for March 23-25 at VMI.

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Written and performed by retired U.S. Army Green Beret Lt. Col. Scott Mann, the gripping one-man, one-act stage production uses storytelling to explore the human cost, moral courage, and leadership displayed during the final days of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. Adapted from Mann鈥檚 New York Times bestselling book, 鈥淥peration Pineapple Express,鈥� the play offers an emotional, firsthand look into the volunteer-led efforts that helped evacuate nearly 1,000 at-risk Afghan interpreters, commandos, and their families.  

Some scenes of the show contain strong language, intense emotional themes, and trauma-related material, which may not be suitable for children.   

Tickets will be available at the door, payable by cash or check only. Price of general admission is $10, and $5 for veterans and senior citizens. 麻豆传媒入口cadets, faculty, and staff are admitted free with 麻豆传媒入口ID. Reservations are not required. Immediately following the performance, the production team will hold a discussion with the audience. 

A teaser video of the play may be viewed . 

For additional information about this event, related resources, or other upcoming programs hosted by the CLE, visit vmi.edu/cle. 

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Carpenter, the youngest living recipient of the Medal of Honor (MOH), participated in a moderated interview at 麻豆传媒入口 March 9 in Cameron Hall before the entire Corps of Cadets, faculty and staff, and members of the community. His appearance was part of the 麻豆传媒入口Center for Leadership and Ethics’ (CLE) Courageous Leadership Speaker series and H.B. Johnson, Class of 1926, Distinguished Lecture series. Col. David Gray, executive director of the CLE, served as moderator. The CLE鈥檚 leadership theme this academic year is 鈥淎merican Values,鈥� and explores honor, integrity, service, and character as the nation prepares to commemorate its 250^th anniversary. 

The MOH is the U.S. armed forces鈥� highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, guardians, and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. President Barack Obama presented the MOH to Carpenter in 2014 for the heroic act of throwing himself on a grenade to save his best friend and fellow Marine, Nick Eufrazio.

In 2010, the two were manning a rooftop security post in Marjah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, during a chaotic battle. A grenade was thrown on the roof by enemy forces, and instinctively, Carpenter covered the grenade with his body to protect Eufrazio. Carpenter鈥檚 Kevlar body armor took the brunt of the explosion, which blew a hole through the roof. Marines and medics immediately came to his aid, and were able to medevac him to a hospital within 40 minutes. He was resuscitated multiple times, his heart stopped twice, and he remained unconscious for five weeks.

Incredibly, Carpenter stirred back into consciousness with optimism. 鈥淚 woke up thinking that I would never wake up again. I could never not be thankful or hopeful, because no matter how banged up I was, I experienced the alternative. It wasn鈥檛 a deep sleep, it was nothing. Clearly, I didn鈥檛 fully commit,鈥� he quipped to the delight of his audience. Indeed, not only did Carpenter not commit to death, but he has fully embraced life, and accepted his path and purpose of sharing his message of hope to others.

The grenade blast left Carpenter with deep scars all over his body and took out his right eye. He stayed in the hospital three years and endured 50 surgeries. The pain and adversity most people would use as an excuse to give up on life, Carpenter sees as tools toward growth. He told his audience, 鈥淲ithout adversity and sometimes extreme adversity, you can never reach your ongoing full potential. You can never be perfect, but adversity is the path to becoming the best version of yourself. Growth and comfort cannot coexist. Through those most difficult times, I learned the greatest and most powerful, optimistic lessons.鈥漈o the cadets, who daily live a Spartan life and don鈥檛 always appreciate the significance of their discomfort he said, 鈥淓mbrace the adversity. Understand that the most difficult lessons, the most difficult past, the hardships, struggles, and those roads less taken, will teach you more about yourself and the world, and in turn, allow you to help and lead those around you, much more than you ever would have had you taken the easy or the already paved road. You can have the right people around you. You can have people that push you. You can have professors that care, that try to teach you day in and day out, but ultimately, it is up to you to accept what you鈥檙e being taught and apply it today and every day for the rest of your life.鈥�

Of the medal itself, which he graciously allowed to be circulated among the cadets, the soft-spoken Carpenter shared he has a love-hate relationship with it.

鈥淚鈥檓 honored and deeply humbled to be a recipient, to be recognized by our great nation, but it鈥檚 difficult to wear. The weight of it is immeasurable. It is a medal and a recognition for us all. It鈥檚 not an individual award. It seems like it, but it never has been and it never will be. It represents all Americans. It represents those that never made it home.鈥�  

Following a standing ovation, Carpenter lingered to sign copies of his book, 鈥淵ou Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For.鈥� Hundreds stood in line to purchase the manuscript and to meet the author.

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The event is part of the 麻豆传媒入口Center for Leadership and Ethics鈥� (CLE) H.B. Johnson, Class of 1926 Distinguished Lecture Series, and Courageous Leadership Speaker series. His visit supports the CLE鈥檚 2025鈥�26 leadership theme, 鈥淎merican Values,鈥� which explores honor, integrity, service, and character as the nation prepares to commemorate its 250^th anniversary. The event is free and open to the public. The Cameron Hall聽clear bag policy will be in effect.

The MOH is the U.S. armed forces鈥� highest military decoration and is awarded to recognize American soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen, guardians, and coast guardsmen who have distinguished themselves by acts of valor. President Barack Obama presented the MOH to Carpenter in 2014, for the heroic act of throwing himself on a grenade to save a fellow Marine in Marjah, Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in 2010. He is the youngest living recipient of the MOH.

Carpenter lost his right eye, has had over 40 surgeries, flatlined twice, and learned resilience through small victories. He is author of 鈥淵ou Are Worth It: Building a Life Worth Fighting For.鈥� Copies of the book may be purchased in advance at the 麻豆传媒入口Bookstore, and will be available to purchase at the event for $20 with cash or credit card. A book signing will follow the interview.

For more information, contact Lt. Col. Kim Connolly at connollykv@vmi.edu.

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麻豆传媒入口founded this cybersecurity event in 2017 at the suggestion of Bryce Bucklin 鈥�17, a computer science major, who suggested the Commonwealth of Virginia create a statewide cybersecurity competition. United States Sen. Mark Warner served as honorary chairman.

Participating were 150 students with nearly 30 of their faculty advisors representing 19 colleges in Virginia: Danville Community College, ECPI University, George Mason University, Germanna Community College, James Madison University, Laurel Ridge Community College, Liberty University, Marymount University, Northern Virginia Community College, Old Dominion University, Radford University, Regent University, Tidewater Community College, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Virginia State University, Virginia Tech, VMI, and making their inaugural appearance, William & Mary.

Activities included a job fair, free professional headshots, a Tech Duels team debate competition, and a faculty/industry round table discussion hosted by representatives from CCI.

Col. David Gray, executive director of the CLE, served as master of ceremonies for the event. Brig. Gen. Robert W. Moreschi, dean of the faculty and deputy superintendent for academics, welcomed the participants to VMI. 鈥淵ou are here by invitation, which indicates that you are elite students in cybersecurity. Your career starts here with networking and honing your skills. The country needs you, the commonwealth needs you, and businesses need you. Make friends and enjoy your time here.鈥� He then introduced the keynote speaker, Patrick McShea, executive director for cyber mission operations for CACI International Inc.Patrick McShea imparts the importance of soft skills during his keynote speech in Gillis Theater

McShea spoke on the importance of soft skills, such as teamwork, leadership, adaptability, problem-solving, communication, and creativity.

鈥淲hy do soft skills matter in a technical world? Employers want well-rounded people. I would take someone with a great attitude and the aptitude to grow into a role, over the smartest person in the room if I feel that the smartest person in the room is going to be a problem. Technical skills are a foundation, but they aren鈥檛 the only thing.鈥�

McShea also stressed the importance of a well written and succinct resum茅, and being true to oneself in discovering life鈥檚 calling. He ended by reminding the students that 鈥淟ifelong learning is not an option.鈥�

A highlight of the two days for the student participants was the VCC capture-the-flag competition, in which teams tackled problems in scenarios designed to model real-world computer security challenges across a range of categories including cryptography, network traffic analysis, and reverse engineering. George Mason University was the high scorer in the four-year college division. The University of Virginia finished second, and William & Mary came in third. For the community college division: Germanna Community College was the winner, followed by Danville Community College in second, and Tidewater Community College in third. 麻豆传媒入口cadet competitors were Caroline Marini 鈥�26, Sarah Fitzsimmons 鈥�27, Isaac Gwin 鈥�27, Santiago Rocha 鈥�27, and John Stotler 鈥�27. Their coach was Jacob Klein, software engineer in the Cyber Defense Laboratory. Klein stated the cadets did very well despite most of them being new to the competition.

鈥淚t was intimidating and nerve-racking, however they buckled down and put up a respectable score. They look forward to future opportunities to compete.鈥�

Lt. Col. Kim Connolly, assistant director of programs and conference for the CLE, stated the collaborative event develops Virginia鈥檚 cybersecurity workforce. 鈥淚ts unique design provides a well-rounded experience for the students, helping them develop both their technical and soft skills before they enter the workforce.鈥�

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Mann shared his powerful testimony to cadets in several classes. He talked of being inspired, at the tender age of 14, to become a special operations officer, and described the true mission of the Green Berets, and the services he provided in Afghanistan. He shared his struggles in adjusting to civilian life, and in Col. Polly Atwell鈥檚 Artistic Responses to Social and Political Issues class in the Department of English, Rhetoric, and Humanistic Studies, he communicated how he learned to become a storyteller, a skill which led to his healing.

鈥淚 had a really crappy transition from the military. I went from being this high performing Green Beret to a dude padding around his house in a bathrobe and not having showered in two weeks.鈥� It got so bad for Mann, that he considered ending his own life. Through a friend, he learned of a workshop in California taught by former Houston Oiler, Bo Eason, who helped people overcome struggles by sharing their stories. Mann flew from his home in Florida across the country to California to hear Eason. 鈥淭he guy was telling a story about his final moments in the NFL, the moment he blew out his knee during a game. As they were carrying him off the field, he knew his football career was over. He thought he would end up in prison because the only thing he knew how to do was hit people hard. He wanted to learn how to take that TNT inside him and put it toward something productive. He took acting classes, and wrote plays, and actually performed one off-Broadway. The whole time I was listening to him, I was thinking, 鈥榯hat鈥檚 me.鈥� When he was done speaking, I went up to him and told him my story, and he agreed to work with me.鈥�

Eason worked with Mann for two years in helping him in the ancient art of storytelling. It was Mann鈥檚 goal to share the stories of what he had done in Special Forces, and, more importantly, what his team had done.

Mann鈥檚 talent to weave a story blossomed and he authored the New York Times best seller, 鈥淥peration Pineapple Express,鈥� which addresses the human cost, moral courage, and extraordinary leadership demonstrated during the final days of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021. It is a firsthand account of a covert, volunteer rescue effort led by U.S. special operations veterans and partners who refused to leave Afghan allies behind. Working from kitchens, basements, and living rooms throughout the U.S., the group coordinated across time zones and bureaucratic barriers to help evacuate nearly 1,000 at-risk Afghan interpreters, commandos, and their families. Mann later wrote, 鈥�11 Days: The Story of Operation Pineapple Express,鈥� a one-man, one-act play adapted from his book, which he performed Feb. 11 in Gillis Theater to an enthralled audience. Directed by Jason Cannon, the production centers on themes of courage, healing, honor, and leadership under extreme pressure. 鈥�11 Days鈥� is Mann鈥檚 second play. His first, 鈥淟ast Out 鈥� Elegy of a Green Beret,鈥� has toured throughout the country

Mann is chief executive officer of Rooftop Leadership, a professional training and coaching company specializing in human connection skills, and the founder of The Heroes Journey, a 501(c)(3) committed to helping U.S. and Afghan veterans tell their stories and transition to civilian life. He will return to post April 6-7 to complete his term as LIR, and will be the featured speaker at the Superintendent鈥檚 Leadership Dinner. Faculty interested in having Mann visit their classes in April should contact Col. Patrick Looney, deputy director of the CLE.

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Col. David Gray, executive director of VMI鈥檚 Center for Leadership and Ethics, served as master of ceremonies for the evening. Welcoming guests to the event was Lt. Col. Jochen Arndt, associate professor in the Department of History and deputy director of the John A. Adams 鈥�71 Center for Military History and Strategic Analysis (Adams Center). Arndt stated the strategic analysis portion of the Adams Center ties in with the importance of the U.S.-Japan military alliance. 鈥淭his event took over four months of planning, and we are very happy, proud, and honored to welcome all our guests here tonight.鈥�

Guest speakers included retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Larry Nicholson, former commanding general of III Marine Expeditionary Force in Japan who now serves as a distinguished senior fellow for Sasakawa USA and sits on boards of several veteran-related nonprofits; retired Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Adm. Ryo Sakai, a former surface warfare officer and JMSDF chief of staff; and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Col. Satoshi Masaka, a career infantry officer who currently serves as military attach茅 for the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C. Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, director of JUMP and president and chairman of Sasakawa USA, served as moderator.

Topics of discussion included the strong alliance between Japan and the United States and the hard work involved to build trust after WWII; other partners and ally countries in the Pacific like Australia, The Philippines, and South Korea; the security and safety of Japan; emerging security threats in the Indo-Pacific; long-term sustainable deployment in the Indo-Pacific; the safety and security of Taiwan; artificial intelligence; undersea military operations; what the future holds for 麻豆传媒入口cadets; and the importance of building strong and mutually beneficial relationships with peers from different nations.

Past JUMP events have been held at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, the U.S. Air Force Academy, Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton, the Marine Corps University, and Naval Station Norfolk, but this is the first time the event has been held at VMI. Over 50 cadets attended the dinner and panel discussion including J. Paul Sporleder 鈥�27, the cadet in charge of the Adams Center, a history major with a military history concentration, who plans to commission in the U.S. Army as an infantry officer. He stated the event was a wonderful experience. 鈥淚 got to spend time showing the JUMP delegation around post, discussing international affairs, and learning from their experiences and different perspectives about the situation in East Asia.

For Daniel Korniluk 鈥�27, an international studies major who plans to commission into the U.S. Marine Corps, the event provided insight on alliance strategies.

鈥淭he perspectives from Lt. Gen. Nicholson and Col. Masaka were inspiring in how to approach real-world problems and fostering productive thinking on how relationships are utilized in times of threats from other countries.鈥�

Additional information on JUMP may be found on their .

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