Corps of Cadets alumnus Lt. Col. David Clay Jr. named Old Dominion game Hokie Hero

Katie Mallory

14 Sep 2024

Four service members smile at the camera while holding a Virginia Tech flag. They are in camouflage uniforms standing in front of a yellow sign for Camp Lemonnier. — (From left) Pennsylvania Army Nationl Guard 1st. Lt. Cayden Livingston ’22, Lt. Col. David Clay Jr. ’02, Cmdr. Brendan Bunn ‘07, and 1st. Lt. Justin Ziegmont ’21. Photo courtesy of David Clay Jr.

Pennsylvania Army National Guard Lt. Col. David Clay Jr., a 2002 Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus who earned his degree in political science from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, was selected as the Hokie Hero for Saturday’s football game against Old Dominion.

The Hokie Hero program honors corps alumni who are deployed. Recipients are highlighted by Bill Roth and Mike Burnop during their radio broadcast of Hokie football games, on the Corps of Cadets website, and in the Corps Review alumni magazine.

Clay is deployed to Djibouti, serving as the command judge advocate for Task Force Patton within Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, which is focused on enhancing partner nation capacity, promoting regional stability, dissuading conflict, and protecting U.S. and partner interests.

During his time in the corps, Clay was a member of Kilo Company, Tactical Applications Company, the Student Alumni Associates, and Phi Kappa Tau.