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James E. Mace
Brigadier General, USA (Ret.)
Commandant of Cadets,
The Citadel
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Eight years after he returned to his alma mater to lead The Citadel's military program, Brig. Gen. Emory Mace has announced that he will retire as commandant. Saying he has accomplished what he came here to do, Mace told The Citadel Board of Visitors on Saturday that he will step down from his post this summer.
The Citadel's president, Maj. Gen. John Grinalds, will appoint a search committee to select a new commandant next week.
"The military program at The Citadel is highly professional and rigorous thanks
to the strong leadership of Gen. Mace," Grinalds said. "The changes that he
has implemented in military training and leadership development have made The
Citadel the best military college in the country."
Mace was appointed commandant in 1997, several months
after The Citadel admitted its first class of women. As third in command at
the college, Mace oversaw military training during a dramatic period of
transition from an all-male to a coeducational Corps of Cadets.
In 1999, his daughter Nancy Mace became The Citadel's first female graduate from the Corps. Since that time 67 women have graduated from the cadet program and the current 2000-member Corps includes about 130 women.
When he arrived as commandant, Mace announced plans to strengthen and
improve military training that led to a number of changes including:
- improved security and discipline in the barracks,
- a decrease in freshmen withdrawals,
- enhanced leadership and human affairs training,
- stronger physical fitness requirements,
- an expansion of the community service program,
- and added requirements to the daily schedule including mandatory breakfast.
A member of the Class of 1963, Mace is one of The Citadel's most highly decorated
veterans.
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