Meet the Corps of Cadets leaders for the fall 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.
The cadet chain of command is responsible for the planning and operations of the corps every day. With about 1,400 cadets in the corps, running the regiment is no small task. The fall semester cadet leaders were chosen at the end of the spring semester, and they will complete their command when the regiment returns from winter break.
The regimental commander is Cadet Adilynn Walker from Menifee, California. An economics major in the College of Science and a member of the Naval ROTC, Walker is the highest-ranking cadet and was inspired by her fellow cadets to interview for the regimental commander position. Her goal as regimental commander is to leave the corps stronger than she found it and ensure future cadets have the same opportunities she did - to lead, develop, and find community.
“Throughout my time in the corps, the cadets have become more than just peers, they are my closest friends, trusted mentors, and the individuals who have challenged and supported me to grow both as a person and as a leader. I sought this position to give back to the organization that has given me so much," she said.
The regimental executive officer is Cadet Allison Coleman from Triangle, Virginia. A Marine-option midshipman in Naval ROTC, she is majoring in philosophy, politics, and economics in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences. As the second-highest ranking cadet, she looks to the Sacrifice Pylon for inspiration while completing her executive officer duties that revolve around training, safety, and management of the regimental staff.
“The Sacrifice Pylon is the most impactful for me as a leader because it is a reminder that everything must be earned. It reaffirms the commitment of those who gave their lives for this country and reminds me that I must be ready to give my all in preparing and protecting those around me,” said Coleman.
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 350 cadets.
The 1st Battalion commander is Cadet Jack Tedesco from Westfield, New Jersey. A senior in Naval ROTC, Tedesco is majoring in electrical engineering in the College of Engineering.
For Tedesco, leading is about balance — a lesson he learned as a battalion commander and a skill he seeks to continually refine.
“The most significant lesson that I have learned is finding the balance between accomplishing the mission and taking care of your people. It seems straightforward to prioritize one over the other, but it often leads to results that neglect other parts of the decision. As leaders, we should not strive for only the mission because then we forsake those who have been entrusted to us to lead. Finding that balance is a key part of leadership,” said Tedesco.
The 2nd Battalion commander is Cadet Brad Hambrick from Winchester, Virginia. A member of Air Force ROTC, Hambrick is majoring in geosciences in the College of Science and his service mindset inspired him to seek leadership positions within the corps.
“The Service Pylon resonates the most with me. I was taught at a young age to serve my neighbor, and it has stuck with me since. It's that service mentality that is the foundation of individuals and great organizations I wish to emulate, and I want to take all the lessons that I can from this organization to prepare me for my next steps in life,” said Hambrick.
The 3rd Battalion commander is Cadet Morgan Sobota from Derry, Pennsylvania. A wildlife conservation major in the College of Natural Resources and Environment, he is a member of Air Force ROTC. Sobota’s guiding principle for his battalion has been to serve and uplift his subordinates.
“Being a commander has been rewarding and has taught me that to truly grow as a team, people must be the priority. I look to provide members of my battalion with the ways and means to grow as leaders through experience and hard work and to form a unit that seeks to bring out the best in each other,” said Sobota.
The 4th Battalion commander is Cadet Tyler Wade from Aldie, Virginia. A midshipman in Naval ROTC, he is majoring in industrial and systems engineering in the College of Engineering. Being a battalion commander has provided Wade an opportunity to depend on and empower others.
“In my past roles, leadership was a very active process where I was hands on and completing any given task myself. But in this role, it would be impossible to be successful doing everything on my own. I have really learned how to rely on my team and inspire those I work with to create a final product that’s even better than I would’ve created myself,” said Wade.
Citizen-Leader Track leadership
VPI Battalion is the home of the Corps’ Citizen-Leader Track, which was established in 2000 with a goal to equip cadets for professional careers in business, government, nonprofits, and more. Year to year, more than 85 percent of Citizen-Leader Track cadets have employment or graduate school offers in hand before completing graduation ceremonies their senior year.
The VPI Battalion commander is Cadet Samantha Leftwich from Williamsburg, Virginia. Leftwich is majoring in meteorology in the College of Natural Resources and Environment. Charged with leading over 260 cadets, Leftwich leans on the university motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), to guide her decisions as a student and cadet.
“I apply Ut Prosim by leading through action, not words. I hold myself to the same standards I expect from others. My subordinates depend on me to strive for greatness in every step, and it is my goal every day to do that, knowing that a leader’s ultimate duty is ensuring the unit’s safety and success,” said Leftwich.
