Breaking Barriers: A New Era at VMI with Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins
In a historic move, a man of Black heritage steps into the leadership role at VMI amidst an ongoing investigation into racism.
Named as the interim superintendent, Retired Army Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, a proud graduate of the Virginia Military Institute from the class of 1985, assumes the helm.
In a groundbreaking announcement, VMI officials disclosed on Friday that a Black individual has been entrusted with leading the institution for the very first time in its 181-year existence. Retired Army Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, a distinguished graduate of VMI in 1985, will hold the position of interim superintendent until the Board of Visitors selects a permanent successor to oversee the prestigious military college, the oldest of its kind in the nation. He takes over the reins from the former superintendent, retired Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III, who stepped down following revelations of systemic racism within the institution as reported by Black cadets in The Washington Post.
Governor Ralph Northam (D) has initiated an independent inquiry into what he and other officials have described as “an evident and appalling culture of structural racism” at VMI, a recipient of $19 million in state funding during fiscal year 2020.
“We view this investigation as an opportunity to address numerous misconceptions and gain deeper insight into the diverse experiences of all cadets,” stated Wins, a 57-year-old two-star general, in an email sent to VMI alumni on Friday evening. “Furthermore, it offers us a chance to underscore the significance of VMI’s distinctive approach to education, one that molds leaders of national importance. We are steadfast in our commitment to providing a rigorous yet fair experience for all individuals.”
“I assure you,” he pledged towards the conclusion of the message, “that we will enact necessary changes while preserving essential aspects of our institution.”
Wins, recognized for his achievements both on and off the basketball court during his time at VMI, stands among the top five scorers in the school’s history, according to the announcement of his appointment. Following his graduation with a degree in economics, he embarked on a 34-year career in the Army, serving in various capacities including roles at Army headquarters and the Pentagon. Additionally, he holds two master’s degrees, one in management from the Florida Institute of Technology and another in national security and strategic studies from the National War College.
Alumni advocating for the removal of Confederate symbols and traditions at VMI have applauded the selection of Maj. Gen. Wins.
“The appointment of Maj. Gen. Wins signifies a significant step forward,” remarked Michael Purdy, a 1999 VMI graduate and a legal professional at Google who spearheaded efforts to dismantle a statue of Confederate Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson on campus earlier this year. “It sends a clear message to the state and the nation that VMI continues to produce exceptional leaders and is prepared to embrace positive change. Given his stellar reputation, we hold optimism that General Wins will lead the institute with clarity of vision.”
Established in 1839, VMI, whose cadets fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War, has had 14 superintendents, all of whom were White. The institution resisted integration until 1968 when it admitted its first five Black students. (It wasn’t until a 1996 Supreme Court ruling that it relented in its opposition to female admission.) Presently, approximately 8 percent of the institution’s 1,700 students are African American.
In interviews with The Post, several Black cadets and recent graduates recounted instances of enduring a hostile environment at VMI.
One Black student recounted being subjected to a professor’s reminiscence about her father’s involvement in the Ku Klux Klan during a business class last year. In another incident in 2018, a White sophomore reportedly threatened a Black freshman during “Hell Week” with lynching and violence. Additionally, Black students have been targets of racial slurs and jokes on an anonymous social media platform known as Jodel.
Last month, VMI’s board voted to relocate the statue of Jackson, a former faculty member at the institution and a Confederate general, from its prominent position in front of the student barracks. The decision marked a reversal of the institution’s long-standing resistance to removing the statue of Jackson, a slaveholder celebrated at VMI as a military strategist.
Efforts to remove the statue have drawn ire from some VMI alumni. Jeremy Sanders, a 2015 graduate and Army captain, launched a petition on Change.org, garnering over 7,700 signatures, warning against what he perceives as an assault on the institution’s values that have produced cadets “honorable to their country and state.”
Until recently, students were required to salute the Jackson statue, and they are still mandated to memorize the names of VMI cadets who fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War.
The college’s main administrative building bears the name of VMI’s inaugural superintendent, Francis H. Smith, a slaveholder who advocated for the resettlement of Blacks in Africa. A statue of Smith also stands in front of the building, and the institution’s dining hall is likewise named after a slaveholder.
E. Sean Lanier, a Black graduate of VMI from the class of 1994, and founder of a nonprofit educational organization where Wins serves as an advisory board member, expressed enthusiasm for Wins’ appointment as interim superintendent.
Lanier, whom Governor Northam announced on Friday would join VMI’s board as its fourth Black member, commended Wins for his distinguished military, academic, and athletic background, suggesting that his life story could serve as inspiration for cadets.
“He epitomizes excellence across the board,” Lanier remarked. “I am thrilled. In times of uncertainty, the character and integrity of individuals like Maj. Gen. Wins provide assurance of VMI’s resilience in the years to come.”
The institution anticipates selecting a permanent superintendent by the next summer.