Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus named University of Virginia game Hokie Hero
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Capt. George Flynn, U.S. Marine Corps, who earned a degree in business information technology from the Pamplin College of Business, and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2001 has been selected as the Hokie Hero for the Virginia Tech versus University of Virginia game.
The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Hokie Hero program started in 2006 by IMG College and sponsored by the University Bookstore, honors Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumni who are currently deployed. Recipients of this honor are highlighted by Bill Roth and Mike Burnop during the radio broadcast of Virginia Tech football games, on the Corps of Cadets website, on the Corps of Cadets alumni website, and in the Corps Review magazine.
Flynn is currently stationed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, as the commanding officer of Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, U.S. Marine Corps. His company is conducting counter-insurgency operations in the District of Musa Qala. Flynn is from Woodbridge, Va., and this is his fourth combat deployment. He is a Class of 2001 graduate of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and was the Hotel Company Commander during his senior year. He says he would like to send his love to his wife Nicole and their two little girls Gianna and Tessa.
In the fall 2011 issue of Virginia Tech Magazine, Flynn wrote an essay on the Service pylon. He took Bud Foster’s lunch pail concept and brought it to the Marine Corps. His company carries the lunch pail everywhere they go and it carries pictures of loved ones and statements of what is important to them. It’s kind of like “putting their hearts into the lunch pail,” said one of the Marines.
Below are the previous Hokie Heroes from the 2011-12 season.
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus 2nd Lt. Mark Walczyk, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in political science and a minor in English from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2010,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumna 2nd Lt. Tavia (Cawley) Carlson, U.S. Air Force, who earned a degree in civil engineering from the College of Engineering and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2009,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Lt.Col. Tom Whitlock, U.S. Air Force, who earned a degree in geography from the College of Natural Resources and Environment and a degree in history from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in 1995,
- Capt. Dan Forney, U.S. Navy, Professor of Naval Science and Commander of the Naval ROTC unit at Virginia Tech,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Maj. Ed Skelly, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in industrial and systems engineering from the College of Engineering and a minor in economics from the College of Science in 1995,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus 1st Lt. Nate Kane, U.S. Air Force, who earned a degree in marketing management from the Pamplin College of Business and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Maj. Josh Snyder, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in history from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in 1998,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumna 2nd Lt. Ashleigh Toguchi, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in political science from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2010,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Capt. Patrick Lowther, U.S. Air Force, who earned a degree in political science and a minor in philosophy from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences as well as a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2005,
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Capt. Danny Kane, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in interdisciplinary studies from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, a minor in mathematics from the College of Science, and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2002 and
- Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Capt. Amir Abu-Akeel, U.S. Army, who earned a degree in aerospace engineering from the College of Engineering, and a minor in leadership studies from the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets Rice Center for Leader Development in 2006