Chief of Staff

The chief serves as a key advisor and strategic partner to the superintendent and Institute executives, facilitates and coordinates decision-making on major policy and initiatives, oversees implementation of the strategic plan, and ensures all departments are in alignment with organizational goals.

Former commanding officer of the Naval ROTC unit at Virginia Military Institute, Col. Homiak began his tenure as chief of staff on Jan. 20, 2025.

As a VMI cadet, Homiak double majored in international studies and German, and was a member of the swim team. He earned the Lemuel MacKennie Long Jarman Award, and the First Jackson-Hope Medal, for highest attainment in scholarship. Upon graduation, he commissioned into the Marine Corps where he served for over 30 years.

Originally a ground intelligence officer, Homiak served as a scout sniper platoon commander before entering the reconnaissance and special operations community. He was the first ground intelligence officer to serve as a reconnaissance platoon commander in the 1st Marine Division and served at every level of command up to the regimental level. He was commanding officer of the Marine Raider Training Center at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Homiak was deployed multiple times including leading 3d Reconnaissance Battalion in combat in the upper Sangin River Valley of Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; serving as a reconnaissance battalion operations officer in Fallujah, Iraq, during Operation Phantom Fury/Al Fajr; and leading a U.S./U.K. special forces team that trained Yemen’s national counterterrorism force.

Homiak holds two Master of Arts degrees from the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia, and a third from the National War College in Washington, D.C. He holds a doctorate in war studies from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. Prior to his retirement in the summer of 2024, Homiak oversaw the 50th anniversary of the VMI NROTC unit.ntral Command area of responsibility.

Havird returned stateside to Clinton, Maryland, in 2013, where he supported personnel providing executive-class air transport for the office of the vice president, first lady, secretary of defense, secretary of state, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other executive branch cabinet members for three years.

He was then transferred to Layton, Utah, where he served as air logistics complex vice commander, overseeing an 8,500-person aircraft and missile major repair and overhaul facility. In addition, he managed maintenance operations in seven groups and 30 squadrons across the U.S. and overseas.

In 2018, he moved to Edwards, California, where he was maintenance group commander, responsible for 1,600 personnel supporting Air Force developmental aircraft and munitions test programs and the Air Force Test Pilot School. Two years later, he became detachment commander of The Pennsylvania State University Air Force ROTC unit, overseeing the recruiting, training, and commissioning of Air Force officers. Following his retirement from the Air Force in 2023, he accepted a position as academic adviser for the College of Health and Human Development at The Pennsylvania State University.

Havird holds two master’s degrees. One in military studies from the American Military University in Charles Town, West Virginia, and the second in national security and strategic studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.

“The lessons and mentorship I received as a cadet at VMI were foundational to a successful Air Force career. My goal as commandant is to inspire, challenge, and guide cadets in becoming the confident, decisive, and innovative leaders our nation will need to navigate future challenges. VMI was a foundational part of my journey, and I look forward to working hard so others can continue to have a similar experience.”