Meet the Corps of Cadets leaders for the spring semester
Each semester, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets selects new cadet leaders to maximize the opportunities for students to lead during the academic year. These leaders make up the cadet chain of command and are responsible for the planning and operations of the corps every day.
With about 1,300 cadets in the corps, running the regiment is no small task. The spring semester leadership was chosen at the end of the fall semester, and these cadets will complete their command during the Change of Command Pass in Review on the Drillfield on May 3.
The spring semester regimental commander is Cadet Thomas Feely of Media, Pennsylvania. A construction engineering and management major in the College of Engineering and member of the corps’ Citizen-Leader Track, Feely is the highest-ranking cadet at Virginia Tech. He also serves the community as the communications officer and EMT with Virginia Tech Rescue and as an intern for the university building official with Virginia Tech's Division of Facilities. He’s also a scholar in the Defense Civilian Training Corps program, which is housed in the Hume Center for National Security and Technology. As a leader in many facets for Virginia Tech, his purpose has been to empower his subordinates and encourage their growth.
“I am committed to providing the utmost care and focused servant leadership within my capability as regimental commander to create an environment that empowers each cadet to optimize professional growth and opportunity. Success to me will be looking back and recognizing that everyone I have the pleasure of working with will have pushed themselves and created products that raised the bar in their respective role to inspire the next cohort to strive for more,” said Feely.
The regimental executive officer is Connor Christian of Fredericksburg, Virginia. A member of Army ROTC, he is majoring in public health in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine. As the second-highest ranking cadet in the regiment, Christian’s is responsible for training, safety, and management of the regimental staff. He leans heavily on Virginia Tech’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), in his approach to leadership.
“I apply the university motto by working to improve those around me to the best of my ability. Ut Prosim is at the core of everything I try to do. Raising others up to improve the organization as a whole is my main priority, and by doing so improving the community. Being there for those around me and helping those in need goes beyond local ideas and conversations; it is an active decision to act and to assist those in need everywhere,” said Christian.
Battalion leadership
The cadet regiment is divided into four battalions, each with a battalion commander who is responsible for the training and operations of roughly 300 cadets.
The 1st Battalion commander is Cadet Aiden Estrella of Cornelius, North Carolina. A senior in Army ROTC, Estrella is majoring in political science in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. Looking back on his time in the corps, Estrella’s advice to those starting a new experience is to embrace adversity and failure.
“Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself and make mistakes. Mistakes don’t define you or your abilities. How you grow after them is what defines you. To be successful, you need to be humble enough if a mistake is made to learn from it while also surrounding yourself with people who are going to challenge you to grow every day,” said Estrella.
The 2nd Battalion commander is Cadet Syerra Sylvester of Norfolk. A member of Army ROTC, Sylvester is majoring in criminology in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, and she has learned to seek the counsel and experiences of those around her to inform her decision-making strategy.
“One of the most important lessons I have learned is the value of incorporating different perspectives in decision-making. As the battalion commander, I initially believed that I had to make all the decisions on my own. However, I came to realize that I have an entire staff, as well as company-level leaders, who provide valuable input and support. Leveraging their expertise has not only improved the quality of decisions but also fostered a more collaborative and effective leadership environment,” said Sylvester.
The 3rd Battalion commander is Cadet Branden Gambone of Clifton, Virginia. A political science major in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, he is also a member of Army ROTC who has focused his semester on creating a collaborative unit under his command.
“My goal is to strengthen the battalion by creating a culture of dignity, respect, and support for every cadet. I want everyone to feel valued and have the chance to use their strengths to contribute to the team. Ultimately, I hope to positively impact those around me, supporting their growth and success while fostering a more cohesive and united battalion,” said Gambone.
The 4th Battalion commander is Cadet Carson Barrette of Shelby Township, Michigan. A Marine-option midshipman in Naval ROTC, he is majoring in packaging systems and design in the College of Natural Resources and Environment. For him, the corps has provided an opportunity to shift from implementing guidance to providing direction to a larger unit.
“In the lower-level positions, guidance comes down the pipe, and then you execute it with your people. At a higher level, such as battalion commander, it is a change of pace because people are looking to me for guidance. I've learned to step back and not manage people but provide guidance and give people the autonomy to lead their units,” said Barrette.
Citizen-Leader Track leadership
VPI Battalion is the home of the Corps’ Citizen-Leader Track, which was established in 2000 to equip cadets for professional careers in business, government, nonprofits, and more. Year to year, more than 80 percent of Citizen-Leader Track cadets have employment or graduate school offers in hand before completing graduation ceremonies their senior year.
ThevVPI Battalion commander is Cadet Sidney Fredericks of Reston, Virginia. Fredericks is majoring in computer science in the College of Engineering and is a Defense Civilian Training Corps scholar.
Charged with leading over 240 cadets, Fredericks reflects that the true strength in an organization doesn’t come from being in a leadership position, but from its people.
“There is so much to learn when working with people whether on a team or in a large group setting. I would say one of the best things that I have learned as a leader is that I do not need to be the strongest, smartest, or even loudest person in the room. My strength is in the team I surround myself with and caring for those around me, so they want to give back to this organization,” said Fredericks.