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This article is part of The Next Step series. While the four years at VMI are designed for cadets to push themselves academically, physically, and mentally to tackle the demands of life at a premiere military college, they also prepare cadets for life after graduation. Whether that life be one in the military or one in the private sector, VMI faculty and staff provide guidance to cadets along their journeys. One department specifically dedicated to that endeavor of post-Institute success is the Office of Career Services. In The Next Step series, we highlight cadets preparing to enter the workforce after graduation, as well as those still in the midst of their cadetship preparing for internships over the summer.
An internship at the U.S. Army War College was something Earl Filgo ’25 wouldn’t pass up. It was not a particular goal he had been striving for, but something he was required to do to complete his national security minor.
The international studies major from Jakarta, Indonesia, said he had applied to several other internships, but he was a little late to the game. He said thanks to the help of Col. Spencer D. Bakich, professor of international studies and the director of the National Security Program at VMI, he was able to gain an internship with the Army War College. He said without Bakich’s endorsement, he doesn’t believe he would have received the internship.
“Being a VMI cadet was what opened up the door and brought me through the finish line with regards to obtaining this internship,” he said. “This internship with the Army War College is very much relevant to my future military career in the Army and I hope that it would make me stand out for my preferred branch of military intelligence.”
In his position, he will develop scenarios that will help the Army assess senior leaders’ ability to think strategically.
Thanks to the opportunities and resources VMI has presented, Filgo has had great assistance to his personal and professional development.
“I would not be where I am now if I had not gone to VMI, a commissioning track with an Army ROTC scholarship, the Institute Honors Program, and the various connections through alumni and faculty,” he said.
In the next decade, he sees himself either retired from the Army, setting up a business in either the space or security sector, or continuing with his military career while being involved diplomatically as a military liaison in the U.S. State Department. All of which, he said, wouldn’t be possible without the inspiration he gained from his father.
“My dad inspired me,” he said. “For most of my middle and high school years, I did not know what path to embark on, I was directionless, so I decided to start on a similar path as he did.”
With movements like Black Lives Matter and events of January 6, 2021, Michael “Bane” London ’25 had one question — what makes American’s gather like this to get their message across and how far back does it go?
As part of the Summer Undergraduate Research Institute (SURI) program at Virginia Military Institute, London is focusing on the ways in which a citizen or a group of citizens are trying to push a political goal, aspiration, or way of thinking on to another group. His topic, “Mob Violence in America” is being advised by Lt. Col. Mark Boonshoft, associate professor in the Department of History.
“While this may seem to be a contemporary issue, in reality “mob” violence has been used throughout American history,” London said in his preliminary SURI research. “I will trace this history through six case studies: the Stamp Act Riots in 1765, The Whiskey Rebellion which lasted from 1791 to 1794, the Philadelphia Riots of 1844, the 1863 New York City Draft Riots, the Great Railroad Strike that occurred in 1877, and the resurgence of the Klu Klux Klan in the 1920s.”
His research will analyze when and why “mob” violence is used as a political strategy in the United States.
“Two perspectives will form the basis of my analysis, social and economic,” London said of his research. “The social perspective will investigate issues such as race, culture, and religion. An economic perspective instead analyzes issues like taxation and trade regulation. Overall, I am looking to answer why and how ‘mob’ violence is used as a political strategy in the United States, and what issues have acted as a catalyst for this type of violence.”
SURI is offered by the VMI Center for Undergraduate Research (VCUR) and provides cadets with a unique opportunity to delve into high-level research that relates to their degree path. It consists of cadet-led research under the direction of a faculty advisor.
London, a history major, is spending about 30 hours a week on research for his project this summer. His hope is to apply this research to a capstone come fall.
Growing up in rural South Carolina, London wasn’t a stranger to political change. He remembers as Confederate statues were torn down and how significant that was for his community and the country.
Participating in the SURI program enables him to work on his critical thinking skills, plus tackle a larger scale research paper with no other distractions as it would be during the normal school year.
“It’s really important and it gives cadets who pursue a serious project a marketed advantage over other students,” he said.
He even surprised himself that he could take an abstract topic and dive into a well-developed thesis.
“That sounds really kind of basic, but doing this really core academic research is something I hadn’t been exposed to,” he said. “Getting that under my belt, before graduate school, before the Army I think it’s a good thing.”
As for Boonshoft, London approached him to be his advisor on the project. He wasn’t even a previous professor of his. Boonshoft taught a class in the fall of 2022 on American political violence, which covered some of what London was researching, which led London to choose him as an advisor.
“I was pretty hands-on with the proposal stage because he had this interesting idea,” Boonshoft said. “We did a lot of work to build a bibliography so that way he could hit the ground running.”
Boonshoft said the SURI program is something that is truly unique to VMI because of the way it’s structured, along with the financial support it receives.
“It effectively becomes a full-time job, which is not normal, it’s not common, and it does give you a leg up in whatever you want to do,” he said.
Overall, the program gives you some important life skills, Boonshoft said, like having a concept and actualizing it.
“Knowing how to start with a humongous idea and then figure out how to put guardrails around it so you can wrap your hands around it, that’s a transferable skill,” he said. “Cadets’ time is precious during the semesters and there are ways you can do this. This is a way to make sure that people want to do research but for various reasons it’s complicated to do during semester, can do it.”
This article is part of The Next Step series. While the four years at VMI are designed for cadets to push themselves academically, physically, and mentally to tackle the demands of life at a premiere military college, they also prepare cadets for life after graduation. Whether that life be one in the military or one in the private sector, VMI faculty and staff provide guidance to cadets along their journeys. One department specifically dedicated to that endeavor of post-Institute success is the Office of Career Services. In The Next Step series, we highlight cadets preparing to enter the workforce after graduation, as well as those still in the midst of their cadetship preparing for internships over the summer.
Gaining real world experience was a high priority while attending college for James ‘Alex’ Baber V ’25. The economics and business major from Richmond, Virginia, landed an internship at Tandem Investment Advisors, headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, for the summer.
He’s known about Tandem since his 3rd Class year and started his interview process last summer.
“After meeting the employees, I knew that Tandem was a great fit for me and would give me the ability to develop my technical skills,” he said.
This summer he will be working closely with the investment team, where he will be researching companies by analyzing their financial statements, then presenting his research to the team.
“Although it will be a lot of work, I am excited to do something that will have a real impact on others,” he said. “There definitely is a little bit of pressure that comes with that, however, I think that is the best way to develop.”
Last summer, Baber interned at Capital Wealth Planning, giving him great experience and pushing him to attain another internship for this summer.
“The people at Tandem are what drew me to choose them,” he said. “It is a very solid group of people, and they pride themselves on their work and their strategy. I knew that I wanted to work somewhere that I could be proud of, and Tandem is exactly that.”
Baber credits VMI for giving him opportunities, while instilling a sense of personal honor and responsibility. He said that when a company hires a VMI cadet, they know what they’re getting — an employee who can operate under pressure, who is trustworthy, accountable, and hardworking. All of these are qualities developed at VMI, Baber said, setting a cadet apart from other candidates.
“I also think this school teaches perseverance, not just as a rat. The day-to-day here isn’t always easy, however learning to overcome challenges will only benefit me,” he said. “I think that the small things like waking up early, having a clean appearance, and being on time are all things that cadets take with them after graduation. These are the qualities that differentiate VMI from other schools.”
He also said his namesake is an inspiration for his career path in economics and business.
“My grandfather, the third and my dad, the fourth both had a huge impact on me growing up. I learned about the importance of work ethic, honesty, and building relationships,” he said. “At the end of the day, they drive me to be a better version of myself, and to bring pride to our name.”
His goal, after graduating VMI and in the next 10 years, is to be a financial advisor with his own book of business.
“Growing up I had the opportunity to watch my father help others by advising them, and the impact that he had really stuck with me,” he said. “I always wanted to work in the financial industry, but as an advisor you really can forge relationships. I want to be able to help others and be proud of what I do every single day.”
This article is part of The Next Step series. While the four years at VMI are designed for cadets to push themselves academically, physically, and mentally to tackle the demands of life at a premiere military college, they also prepare cadets for life after graduation. Whether that life be one in the military or one in the private sector, VMI faculty and staff provide guidance to cadets along their journeys. One department specifically dedicated to that endeavor of post-Institute success is the Office of Career Services. In The Next Step series, we highlight cadets preparing to enter the workforce after graduation, as well as those still in the midst of their cadetship preparing for internships over the summer.
Even before attending Virginia Military Institute, Connor Cherry ’25 always knew he wanted to pursue an international studies degree, with his sights set on obtaining the highly competitive national security minor. After an internship with the Army Research Laboratory (ARL) last summer, his interest in the field was cemented.
The 1st Class cadet and international studies major from Mooresville, North Carolina, will be interning at the U.S. Army War College this summer.
“I have always wanted to pursue a career in military intelligence through the U.S. Army and possibly a federal career pathway with a three-letter agency afterword. I believe this internship gives me another avenue of approach in understanding the holistic goals of U.S. national security,” he said.
He also applied to the Hertog War Studies program led by ex-CIA director Gen. David Petraeus but did not receive the internship.
“Luckily the Army War College program fits with my needs for Army certified technology specialist training this summer,” he said.
For his internship, he will be at the Center for Strategic Leadership, which is the U.S. Army’s strategic wargaming center. The internship will focus on updating scenarios that impact U.S. interests in Africa, Iran, China, Russia, and the Arctic.
Specific responsibilities include working with regional experts to understand the security environment in these areas and to assess the implications for U.S. national security, assisting in updating existing geo-political scenarios used in the education of senior national security professionals, researching potential sources of conflict 12 years in the future, and develop recommendations for new scenarios.
Other tasks for Cherry this summer include research, writing, and publishing on topics related to the internship, and participating in wargames, conferences, seminars, and meetings. Interns associated with this program will also develop videos and other injections for the scenario and help with other wargaming projects as required.
“VMI gave me the opportunity to pursue my goals both militarily and regarding my goals with U.S. national security through the national security minor,” he said. “VMI’s strict rigor and discipline allowed me to lead the path of VMI cadets into the ARL Internship Program and working with their director and senior military college internship coordinator to allow other cadets the opportunity to expose themselves to the goals and processes of ARL and I hope to do the same with the Army War College.”
To obtain this year’s internship, Cherry worked with Col. Spencer D. Bakich, professor of international studies and the director of the National Security Program at VMI.
Cherry credits his parents for having a large role in the inspiration for his career and personal goals. He said both of his parents served as officers for the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department for 30 years, which motivated him to pursue a career in public service.
Looking forward, he hopes these internships will help bolster his resume to help him continue as an officer in the Army or hold a position in a federal agency.
“I believe I have the choice in my pathway and the ability to decide the right career path when the time comes,” he said. “The perception of VMI cadets and their personal values I believe had an impactful role in me obtaining this internship as Army officials value cadets who go through adversity and hardships with strict standards at VMI.”
Virginia Military Institute cadets preparing to be post emergency medical technicians (EMTs) underwent mass casualty incident (MCI) training recently. Donnie McBrayer, assistant EMT advisor at VMI, was assisted by instructors from Mountain Gateway Community College and volunteers from Lexington Fire Department to create a real-life simulation of a gas line explosion in which the cadets had to quickly assess the victims—both human and mannequin—to determine the seriousness of their injuries, transfer them to a staging area, then reassess them to decide if they should be transported to the hospital.
McBrayer stated that when the rats arrive in August, mini MCIs may occur. “The reason why we train the cadet EMTs this way is that when 400 rats go out on hikes on hot August days, 15 may become light-headed, faint, or sustain an injury. The EMTs who accompany them will have to assess the condition of each rat is in distress, and determine their next course of treatment,” he said.
Cadets completing the MCI training will receive certification from the state.
Virginia Military Institute requires structure and dedication. It also becomes a place where bonds are created that can last a lifetime. Maybe it’s a professor, a coach, or a fellow cadet. No one makes it through VMI alone. The Cadet Collective tells the stories of those relationships that help pave the way for success.
Everything started to fall into place the week before Matriculation, Benjamin Fong ’27 said. He had traveled across the country from California and was staying with his uncle in Maryland, unsure of how he’d get down to Virginia Military Institute.
His cross-country trip wasn’t straight from the West Coast to the East Coast. As part of his ROTC scholarship, he had to do a New Student Indoctrination (NSI) for the Naval ROTC, which was held in Chicago. He knew that he would be at VMI come August, but due to his financial restraints, he couldn’t make the move from California to Virginia.
The Navy flew him from California to Chicago. Step one was down. He just needed to figure out how to get closer to Virginia after NSI.
That brought him to Maryland with his uncle, who said he could drive him down to Lexington. But the VMI Parents Council had another solution.
“The Parents Council had actually been considering finding me a way to get down here, which I didn’t know at that time,” he said.
That’s where Robert and Dana Ruble came in. The Rubles were the 2023-24 co-presidents of the VMI Parents Council, which provides a link between parents, cadets, and staff at VMI. They offered to get him to Lexington and even went as far as to inform him their son, Sebastian Ruble ’24, was interested in being his dyke (1st Class mentor).
“All this kindness seemed foreign to me,” he said. “The Rubles throughout the year have been very kind to me, have always been there to talk when the Rat Line got tough, connected me with alumni and school resources when needed, and regularly checked in and made sure that I was thriving. Many times, I came to them in a tricky situation, whether financially or with family issues and they gave their full support and guidance.”
The Rubles assured Fong that there would be a family to help him walk through Matriculation Day. That’s how he met Kellett and Adrea Thomas.
The Thomases became his host family. Before Matriculation he stayed at their home, had dinner, and prepared for what was next. During the Matriculation Fair, the Thomas’ showed Fong which church they attend and invited him to join them on Sundays.
“On Matriculation Day, they introduced me to so many people who would later be revealed as important individuals. They answered all my questions and got me answers from those who knew them,” he said.
A host family generally “adopts” a rat and takes care of them through the Rat Line. That includes offering care packages, putting them in touch with alumni or other resources, being a sounding board during hard times, and more.
“I was shocked that such a family was willing to actively help out matriculants that they had never met,” he said. “As they hosted me for the night and acted as a surrogate family, I couldn’t help but feel indebted to them. Whenever I thanked them, they told me that they were glad to help and loved doing so, which I know they genuinely enjoyed.”
The Thomases helped him acquire books. When they found out he didn’t have a pillow the first week, they got him one. They explained the process of what it was like to go through the Rat Line and what to expect, since they’d seen it firsthand with their own children who’ve attended.
These relationships have proved to be an important factor in Fong’s time at VMI.
“If you had no resources coming here, it’d be hard to justify staying, especially from out of state. You’re in a foreign place, a unique place. You’re facing all this adversity,” he said. “Having these recurrent relationships kind of makes it seem like it’s a reward in the sense that you go through these things, but at the same time, you’ve been taken care of. No matter how hard it is, there will always be somewhere, someone to take care of you. That kind of relationship, whether it’s a host family, your dyke’s family, or even the Parents Council is very important.”
In addition to the Thomases, his dyke has been a major influence in his first year at VMI.
“Sebastian Ruble is the best dyke anyone could ask for. He mentors, answers questions, and jokes around with me,” he said. “I always like to brag about him because, to me, he stands on a pedestal. I greatly appreciate him and how much he has done for me.”
Finding VMI and all it offers was by chance. While looking at options for college, Fong sought out an ROTC scholarship. That meant selecting schools with ROTC options. He clicked Virginia Military Institute but had never heard of it.
“I picked Virginia as a state because I knew that it had a little bit of military ties to it. Then I saw the word military and Virginia Military Institute. And I didn’t even really look into the school. I just checked it off,” he said. “So, when I applied to VMI, I found out more about it. And I decided this was a happy coincidence. I’m glad I stumbled upon the school.”
It’s been a transformative year for Fong. Last year, he was struggling as to where he would end up after high school. He was living with friends, lacked the funds to do much, and was receiving a lot of denials. He knew he wanted to go into the military. The psychology major plans on commissioning into the U.S. Marine Corps after graduating.
Now, he’s more regimented. He wants to be a leader, mentor others, and pay forward what he’s been given. He’s also become humbled by the generosity he’s received.
“It’s made me appreciate reaching out. It was hard for me at first. For me, it’s very hard to receive help, because I have always been in the mindset of, I need to help myself. No one’s going to do it for me,” he said. “But here I am. People go out of their way to help me. I’ve been more comfortable with asking for help. I’ve learned to just appreciate their generosity, but also in the future when I’m able to give back or pass it forward, I will.”
Jackson Miller ’24 was drawn to a research topic as he approached his 1st Class year with strong philosophical and religious themes. The recent Virginia Military Institute graduate, who majored in English, has always had aspiration in the medical field, along with potential military service. He presented his research “Dostoyevsky and Star Wars: Understanding How Narratives Can Help Us Deepen Our Moral Awareness” during Honors Week in the spring semester.
“The question is, do the ends justify the means? Is it okay to do bad things for the greater good?” Miller explained. This central question, often debated in historical and military contexts, resonated deeply with him.
“I watched ‘Star Wars: Andor’ after finishing ‘Crime and Punishment’ and was struck by how both works addressed the same ethical questions but arrived at different conclusions,” he said.
This juxtaposition sparked his interest in exploring the narratives further.
During his thesis process, Miller was guided by Dr. Curry Kennedy, formerly of VMI, now teaching at Texas A&M, and later by Dr. Reshef Agam-Segal, associate professor of English, rhetoric, and humanistic studies.
Both advisors played essential roles in shaping his research.
“Dr. Kennedy initially helped me frame my project, while Dr. Agam-Segal provided further guidance and resources,” Miller noted.
His research journey was challenging.
“I pitched the idea to Dr. Kennedy, unsure if it would be accepted. Thankfully, he and the department supported it,” Miller said.
Weekly meetings and extensive reading on ethics, literature, and storytelling helped refine his thesis. Miller’s exploration went beyond literary analysis to personal growth.
“Working with knowledgeable professors and delving into new subjects like rhetoric and philosophy was humbling. It forced me to confront my own conclusions about ethical dilemmas,” he reflected.
His work was academically rigorous and deeply relevant to the lives of VMI students and future military officers.
“Especially for those who will be making critical decisions, understanding whether the ends justify the means is vital,” he emphasized.
The presentation stressed the importance of grappling with moral questions with real-world implications, particularly in military settings where officers must often weigh difficult choices — a likely scenario for some graduates of VMI.
Looking ahead, Miller intends to spend a gap year working at Johns Hopkins University’s research labs before pursuing medical school.
“I’m going to be working there as a research tech, continuing to expand my knowledge and skills,” he said.
“My goal is to combine my passion for medicine with my desire to serve, potentially joining the military as a medical officer,” he shared.
This article is part of The Next Step series. While the four years at VMI are designed for cadets to push themselves academically, physically, and mentally to tackle the demands of life at a premiere military college, they also prepare cadets for life after graduation. Whether that life be one in the military or one in the private sector, VMI faculty and staff provide guidance to cadets along their journeys. One department specifically dedicated to that endeavor of post-Institute success is the Office of Career Services. In The Next Step series, we highlight cadets preparing to enter the workforce after graduation, as well as those still in the midst of their cadetship preparing for internships over the summer.
Jonathan Tumwikirize ’24 wanted to gain firsthand experience in a military environment, while also getting his degree. It’s what drew him to Virginia Military Institute and allowed him to explore federal-civilian positions to pursue upon graduation.
The recent graduate from Ashburn, Virginia, majored in electrical and computer engineering and minored in mathematics, and he has accepted a position at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C5ISR) Center. DEVCOM is an information technologies and integrated systems center that develops technologies for the U.S. Army to use on platforms: from soldier to ground vehicle, and from air to space.
“DEVCOM’s reputable contributions to advancing defense capabilities aligned perfectly with my career aspirations,” he said. “Their cutting-edge technology was frequently a talking -point in my electrical and computer engineering classes.”
Tumwikirize said he applied to a handful of engineering positions but found that DEVCOM’s eagerness to find potential leaders was the most attractive thing about the position and work environment.
“They offered a dynamic and forward-thinking environment where employees can collaborate with top talents, take on complex challenges, and have a tangible impact on national security,” he said. “Besides their unmatched employee benefits and great location, they provide a similar environment to VMI: they are committed to nurturing the growth of their engineers.”
At DEVCOM, he will be an electrical engineer specializing in embedded software, where he will be contributing to the company’s countermine division by deriving technologies and strategies that contribute to directly saving lives and enhancing mission effectiveness.
He plans on pursuing a master’s in electrical and computer engineering at Virginia Tech.
“As technology continues to grow in complexity, the need for individuals with refined skills also expands; complex solutions require subject matter experts,” he said. “A master’s degree allows me the opportunity to gain specialized knowledge, demonstrate leadership potential, and cultivate my overall ability to support the nation’s critical technological objectives.”
VMI providing a strong path for success
Tumwikirize said that with VMI Career Services, there were several opportunities to engage with various employers on post. He said he had met with an operations specialist from DEVCOM through a career fair held at VMI, who then assisted him in his job searching, making the process seamless.
“I also wrote my first resume through career services, often sitting down and refining each statement to articulate my skillsets and potential,” he said.
The foundation he received by attending VMI has allowed him to prosper. Shortly after joining the Rat Line, his leadership journey began with the responsibilities of a corporal.
“Through various leadership positions, I have been able to experiment and develop leadership methodologies that are optimal for a variety of scenarios,” he said. “VMI has given me the opportunity to develop integrity, adaptability, resilience, empathy, and effective communication through their leadership course and positions in cadet government.”
The inspiration for his path stems from his parents, who contributed to the United States Agency for International Development expatriate work. From that, Tumwikirize was exposed to a plethora of international affairs and the need for innovation within the defense community.
“Exposed to the harsh reality of instability of five different countries, I often witnessed disastrous events commonly catalyzed by unsettling and armed extremists,” he said. “The unique exposure sparked my interest in contributing to global solutions within the defense community.”
It also played into why he chose the electrical and computer engineering track. When he was younger, he had an interest in computers, but found that tinkering with various operating systems was what he found to be challenging.
With the achievement of graduating from VMI, he said it exemplifies one’s resolute commitment to serve. It also served as an aid to him finding exemplary employment.
“Only individuals who have experienced a cadetship at VMI know the tenacity in everything required to graduate,” he said. “This immediate recognition from alumni was a drastic competitive advantage in my job search. Alumni are familiar with the characteristics required to be successful within such a rigorous environment, and they desire the same type of people within their network.”
His hope for the next decade is to become a seasoned engineer and leader.
“I aspire to guide teams that foster groundbreaking solutions and lead individuals that have an unyielding commitment to advancing defense solutions,” he said. “I aspire to achieve collective goals in my career such as navigating complex engineering challenges, completing my master’s degree, and a decade of resilient service to the nation.”
Devin Thomas ’24 presented insights into his honors thesis, “War Onset Power Transition Theory.” His findings included that wars are likely during phases of relative parity and both before and after power transitions.
The power transition theory appealed to Thomas due to its focus on power dynamics and systemic changes, which have significant implications for international relations at various levels. Thomas initially encountered power transition theory in a Theories on War and Peace class with Col. J. Patrick Rhamey, professor of international studies, during his 3rd Class year. Rhamey eventually became Thomas’ academic advisor for his senior thesis presentation for Virginia Military Institute’s Honors Week.
Thomas became intrigued by the question of when wars are most likely to occur within the context of power transition theory. He noticed a gap in his academic literature regarding the specific timing of war onset before or after power transitions.
“When I was doing my initial research, fall of my 2nd Class year, this is what I was looking at,” explained Thomas. “It’s like trying to find a question within power transition theory and the question became no one’s really tackled this question of when is war most likely under it.”
Thomas recognized the practical implications of understanding power transitions and war onset and saw the research topic as important for policymakers and those involved in foreign relations.
This relevance fueled Thomas’ interest in exploring the subject deeper. Drawing from his academic background, he integrated insights from various theories, including realism, liberalism, and constructivism, to develop a comprehensive framework.
Collaborating with Rhamey, Thomas identified two causal mechanisms for his research: perception and misperception in international politics, inspired by Robert Jervis’s work, and the concept of time horizons, drawn from David Edelstein’s research.
During the following semesters, Thomas engaged in extensive literature review, theoretical development, and methodological training, culminating in both quantitative analysis and qualitative case study work.
Thomas elected rigorous coursework like an International Studies Research Design class, which equipped him with the necessary skills for research design and execution leading up to his culminating presentation during his last year at VMI.
He collected various datasets pertinent to his research question, encompassing gross domestic product, state capacity, militarized interstate disputes, and United Nations General Assembly voting similarity. Employing a blend of quantitative analysis techniques and qualitative research methods, Thomas analyzed the data, using techniques such as interactive logic regression to scrutinize his hypothesis quantitatively.
“Beyond demonstrating research excellence in the scientific study of international politics, Cadet Thomas’ research also has clear policy implications that allow government to anticipate the timing of conflicts globally,” said Rhamey. “I directed Cadet Thomas to relevant research on his topic to help him develop his project into one that was both targeted to a specific research question and accomplishable within the limited time frame of Institute Honors.”
“The international studies department does a great job of wrapping it all in and allowing you the most time possible to work on your thesis,” said Thomas. “He was having me do a lot of research because the foundation of power transition theory, the two independent variables, are the reaching parity and the dissatisfaction of the rising challenger. But that doesn’t really get to the question of the timing and the why for the timing.”
Thomas said his research has helped him understand how the political world operates, mainly through the lens of power transition theory, which examines wars with systemic consequences.
“I think I’ve gained a much greater understanding for, in a pragmatic sense especially, how the political world works,” Thomas said.
Thomas said this experience has not only deepened his academic insights but also influenced his career trajectory, steering him to pursue military intelligence and strategic analysis roles after graduation, where he can apply his knowledge to current international issues.
VMI’s mechanical engineering degree program offers a nuclear engineering concentration, which includes specialized courses in nuclear technology. Cadets planning to enter the US Navy’s nuclear power program and cadets considering a career in nuclear technology find this concentration valuable.
In addition to course work, the concentration includes two field trips — a fall trip to Dominion Energy’s North Anna nuclear power station in Louisa County, Virginia, and a spring trip to Framatome, a nuclear industry supplier in Lynchburg, Virginia. Both trips provide enhanced perspective to cadets on the scale, equipment, and operations in the nuclear industry. Further, both Dominion and Framatome maintain strong relationships with VMI, and employ a considerable number of VMI alumni.
The recent trip to Framatome was led by mechanical engineering faculty member Paul Damerell and Maj. Jack Wilkins ‘16. Damerell, a 40-year nuclear industry veteran and retiring VMI Wachtmeister chair, has taught VMI’s Introduction to Nuclear Engineering course for six years. Wilkins will be covering the course going forward.
At the Lynchburg facility, Framatome develops equipment used for specialized maintenance of nuclear power plants, and supports the design of new reactors. Its factory floor includes mock-ups of several nuclear plant components used to test maintenance equipment designs, and train workers. During the recent field trip, cadets first heard a few brief presentations, and then had a walking tour of the shop floor, led by Curtis Van Cleve ’02.
“The size and scope of the facilities is impressive,” Shane Wise ’24 said.
Cadets were fully engaged as they saw the equipment, and asked numerous questions. Further, the tour included a stop at Framatome’s virtual reality (VR) lab, where cadets saw — and tried out — VR tools used to train workers.
“For someone going into the Nuclear Navy and planning on working in the nuclear industry after I get out, it was really interesting to hear about the industry,” Dillon Tidwell ’24 said.
Cadets departed the trip with a fresh perspective.
“The visit to Framatome was eye-opening and gave me confidence that I have chosen a field with longevity and many opportunities,” Justin Chow ’24 said.
