Cadets and midshipmen from eleven universities and service academies to participate in Military Leadership Conference
Virginia Tech's Corps of Cadets will host an on-campus Military Leadership Conference from Thursday, Feb. 9 through Saturday, Feb. 11, with student and faculty representatives from eleven service academies and university military programs participating.
Cadets and midshipmen from eleven universities and service academies to participate in Virginia Tech Military Leadership Conference
The conference will focus on topics of current interest to all military programs, including definition of core values that guide cadet and midshipman decisions, conduct, and goal-setting; why high school seniors choose to attend senior military colleges and service academies; and the consumption of alcoholic beverages in military programs and service academies. Similar issues confront both military programs and institutions of higher education in general across the nation, and are receiving increased attention from the media, governing bodies, and the public in general.
Along with the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, representatives from the following institutions are scheduled to participate in the conference: The Citadel, North Georgia College and State University, Texas A&M, United States Air Force Academy, United States Coast Guard Academy, United States Merchant Marine Academy, United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, the Virginia Institute of Leadership at Mary Baldwin College, and Virginia Military Institute.
A highlight of the three-day conference will be a keynote speech by Gus Lee, author of five best-selling books and a nationally recognized ethicist and leadership consultant who serves as legal counsel to the Connelly Investigation/U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee's worldwide ethics investigation. Lee, who has appeared on "CBS This Morning," CNN, "Sonya Live," NPR, Voice of America, and PBS, is currently writing a practical guide for organizations interested in promoting consistent integrity-driven operations, hiring, and promotional policies. He will address the conference in a closed session on Thursday, Feb. 9, from 3:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. in the Virginia Tech Graduate Life Center Auditorium (former Donaldson Brown Hotel).
A retreat ceremony, with participants in duty uniform, is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Friday at the Upper Quad, weather permitting.
Following a 5 p.m. formal dinner at Owens Banquet Hall on Saturday, Feb. 11, the visiting cadets and midshipmen will be guests of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets at their annual Military Ball—a formal dress-uniform event to be held at 7 p.m. in the Commonwealth Ballroom at Squires Student Center. The event will culminate at 11 p.m. with a "Silver Taps" ceremony and fireworks display at the Drillfield.
