Class of 2026: Cadet Gavin Worthington turns commitment into leadership
Name: Gavin Worthington
College: College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences
Major: Criminology
Plans after graduation: Commission into the U.S. Army as a logistics officer
Favorite course and professor: BIT 2164 Foundations of Contemporary Security Environments with Aaron Brantley. “His class includes a real-world simulation of a natural disaster and challenges the entire class to think how a nation would handle the issue by assigning direct roles in the scenario."
Favorite memory: Seeing his Corps of Cadets company succeed and continuing the legacy of leaders before him. “I truly owe all of the success I had this year to everyone in India Company and to those who laid the foundation for all of us to build upon.”
Finding the 'why'
When Worthington arrived at Virginia Tech, he didn’t have a detailed plan for his future. What he did have was a willingness to take on a challenge and to give it everything he had.
“I didn’t really know what I wanted to do at college,” Worthington said. “My mom asked, ‘What about this corps thing?’ … and truthfully, I thought if I can’t figure it out, the military will.”
That mindset — stepping forward, committing fully, and learning along the way — shaped Worthington’s four years in the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets. As he prepares to commission into the U.S. Army, he credits the corps with redefining leadership as service, responsibility, and a commitment to leaving others better than he found them.
A path grounded in commitment
Worthington, from Goochland, Virginia, applied to five colleges before choosing Virginia Tech and joining the Corps of Cadets. He quickly learned what being fully commitment required. It didn’t take long for him to realize that effort. Putting himself out there led to good results.
“If something’s worth doing, do it,” he said, echoing advice from his mother. “Give 100 percent, not 50.”
That philosophy guided his time in the corps — shaping how he approached responsibility, service, and care for the people he led. This spring, Worthington received the Lacy O. Brumback Award as the regiment’s top commander. He will commission as a logistics officer and attend the Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Lee before reporting to his first unit.
Learning leadership early
After a strong first year, Worthington made a deliberate choice to become more involved, joining Color Guard as a sophomore — a decision he describes as a turning point.
“What drew me was the people,” he said. “They set that example of what leadership can look like when it’s not about you. It’s about other people.”
Through Color Guard, Worthington said he began to understand leadership as selflessness: showing up consistently, doing the work, and prioritizing the mission and the people over personal recognition.
Leadership as a mindset
As Worthington took on increasing responsibility, including roles as 3rd Battalion sergeant major, India Company commander, and now 3rd Battalion commander, his understanding of leadership continued to evolve.
“One of my previous cadet leaders, Jerome Smith, said something that stuck with me throughout my corps experience: Leadership isn’t a position; it’s a mindset,” he said. “You don’t have to be a commander to demonstrate leadership.”
For Worthington, leadership often showed up in small, everyday actions that reinforced trust and accountability.
“Leadership can start at the smallest level,” he said.
Service means sacrifice
As battalion commander, Worthington focused less on short-term results and more on what he could leave behind. That meant investing time in projects future cadets would inherit — tangible reminders meant to outlast his time in command, including a new battalion trophy and centennial patches for the unit. It also meant being present, often late into the night, for cadets who needed guidance or support.
“I would much rather have that hour and a half conversation with somebody versus getting that extra hour and a half of sleep,” he said.
To Worthington, that tradeoff defines leadership.
“When you are in a leadership position, it is a privilege to be in that position,” he said, “even when you have to make personal sacrifices to ensure their success.”
Col. Bob Shelton, 3rd Battalion deputy commandant, said Worthington’s leadership left a lasting mark on the unit.
“Cadet Worthington led the way for 3rd Battalion this year,” Shelton said. “He’s been a driven leader and stellar example for all cadets in the regiment across his time in the corps. His focused and dedicated leadership has brought the battalion to new levels of excellence and in a position for even greater future accomplishments.”
Making people feel heard
One of Worthington’s priorities as a leader was ensuring cadets felt seen and valued — even in an organization as large as the corps.
“I take a lot of pride in remembering past conversations and using them to check in on my cadets,” he said. “Because I think that makes people feel heard.”
As a sergeant major, he made it a personal mission to speak with cadets across all classes, often following up weeks later.
“You see 300 faces a day,” he said. “You don’t think someone’s going to remember a conversation from last month but remembering matters, especially to them and to the relationship you build with them.”
Growth through challenge
Looking back, Worthington said his most challenging roles were also the ones that most clearly defined his responsibility to others.
“The sergeant major billet taught me how to hold people to standard,” he said. “And get out of that comfort zone.”
As a commander, he learned the importance of presence and accessibility.
“When someone gets a command position and then isn’t there, people are lost,” he said. “So, I took very proactive measures to be there for them.”
Often, that meant leaving his door open.
“I wanted people to feel like they could come by at any time because my door was to stay open and ready for them,” he said.
If Worthington could offer one piece of advice to incoming cadets, it would be simple. “Don’t quit before you start,” he said. “Put your name in the hat.”
He said the corps is the place to learn — and to make mistakes.
“This is the time to do those things,” he said. “You only can gain experience from seeking positions in the corps.”
Leaving it better
As Worthington prepares to graduate and commission, he says he is comfortable stepping away because he knows the people coming behind him are ready.
“I’m happy with that,” he said about turning over his command. “Because I wanted to leave this place better than when I came in.”
His “why,” he said, has evolved over time — from family, to service, to the people he is responsible for leading.
“My 'why' is a question: how can I leave this place better?” Worthington said. “How can I make better leaders?”
