Major General William Seely III Assumes Role of Commandant of Cadets

Interim Commandant of Cadets retired U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Dwayne Edwards relinquished command of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets to U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Gen. William Seely III during morning formation on Upper Quad on Tuesday. Edwards has been serving as the interim commandant since early July when retired U. S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Randal Fullhart concluded his 13-year tenure as commandant of cadets.

As the commandant, Seely will serve as the highest-ranking military officer at the university and will provide strategic guidance, direction, and supervision to ensure the overall success and effectiveness of the corps.

“Virginia Tech is excited to officially welcome Maj. Gen. Seely III to campus as his arrival marks an exciting new chapter for our cadet community and I look forward to the positive impact he will have on the broader Virginia Tech community,” said Frances Keene, vice president for Student Affairs. "His vision for the Corps, which centers around leadership development, academic excellence, and community engagement, aligns perfectly with our mission at Virginia Tech. I am confident that his guidance and dedication to excellence will be invaluable as we continue to uphold the traditions and values of the Corps of Cadets.”

“Maj. Gen. Seely is the ideal leader for the corps in this pivotal time. I know he will find the role of commandant as rewarding and meaningful as I did, and his considerable depth of experience will no doubt make a lasting impact within the corps and university community,” said Edwards.

A formal change of command ceremony will take place during the annual Change of Command pass in review on the Drillfield on May 3 at 10 a.m. The event is open to the public.