Corps to welcome back four alumni as part of Gunfighter Panel

4 Feb 2015

The Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets is once again bringing back Corps of Cadets graduates who have recently deployed to speak to the regiment.

The 2015 spring Gunfighter Panel, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 12 in the Burruss Hall auditorium, will be the 23rd consecutive semester for the event. It is open to the public and does not require a ticket.

The Gunfighter Panel is part of the Leaders in Action lecture series hosted each term by the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets and the Maj. Gen. W. Thomas Rice Center for Leader Development. The panelists will share their combat deployment experiences, their lessons learned and leadership challenges, while also talking about how the corps experience prepared them for life after college.

The Gunfighter Panel series started in 2004, shortly after the United States entered combat in Iraq. With the war came the increased potential for our cadets to be in combat shortly after graduation, and this series evolved to help prepare them for their future in an uncertain world. Each semester's panel allows the corps to teach future leaders and to honor those who are already serving the nation in harm’s way.

This semester, the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets will welcome back officers from the U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, and Virginia Army National Guard.

Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Lt. Col. Sean Henrickson, U.S. Marine Corps, who earned a degree in psychology from the College of Science and a degree in sociology from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences in 1996 is returning to campus from his assignment as Commander of the MAG-31 Headquarters Squadron in Beaufort, S.C. He has deployed numerous times to the Western Pacific as well as Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Henrickson currently flies the F/A-18D and C-12M aircraft.
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Maj. Devin Sperling, U.S. Air Force, 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 2004. He currently serves as a HH-60G instructor pilot at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico. Sperling has deployed as a combat search and rescue pilot twice to both Iraq and Afghanistan and as part of Operation Unified Protector. During his senior year as a cadet Sperling served as the lead cadet EMT.
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Capt. Matt Newman, U.S. Marine Corps, who earned a degree in history 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 2006. Newman deployed to Iraq in 2008 as a platoon commander and to Afghanistan in 2010 as a company executive officer both with the 1st Light Armored Recon Battalion. He is currently a student at Expeditionary Warfare School in Quantico, Va. During his time as a cadet Newman was a member of Scabbard and Blade, Raider Company, and Tactical Applications Company.
Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets alumnus Capt. Allie Oberoi, Virginia Army National Guard, who earned a degree in sociology 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. While on active duty Oberoi served as a Military Police Officer and led a platoon while deployed to Afghanistan. After earning her master’s degree in human resources in 2014 she transitioned to the National Guard and began work for Pepsi Beverage Company. She recently joined the Corps of Cadets staff as the assistant recruiting officer. As a cadet Oberoi was a member of the regimental band, the Highty-Tighties, and served as the Band Company Commander and Third Battalion Executive Officer her senior year.

The Burruss Hall auditorium is located at 800 Drillfield Drive. Free parking is available in Perry Street Lots and the Perry Street Parking Garage near Prices Fork Road with a visitor’s pass. A visitor’s pass may be obtained Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and Sunday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Visitor Center, located at 925 Prices Fork Road next to the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. A visitor’s pass may also be obtained from the Virginia Tech Police Station, located at 330 Sterrett Drive, outside of the Visitor Center hours.

Find more parking information online or call 540-231-3200.