Leaders in Philanthropy

Each fall, The Citadel Foundation hosts the Leaders in Philanthropy induction ceremony. The event celebrates the generosity of those donors whose lifelong support allows the college to pursue its vision of achieving excellence in the education of principled leaders.

Members of the college’s lifetime, legacy and loyalty giving societies gather on campus to be honored in front of their peers.

The Citadel’s lifetime giving societies honor those individuals who have expressed their profound commitment to the college through their leadership gifts totaling $100,000 or more by the close of the preceding calendar year. Donors who have included The Citadel in their estate plans become members of The Citadel Legacy Society.

Through the Order of the Tartan, we acknowledge those loyal donors who have given consecutively at any level for 25 years or more. Beginning at the five-year mark, donors are recognized for their consecutive giving with a tartan-patterned lapel pin, with additional recognition offered at 10, 15, and 20 years. Upon reaching the 25th year, these loyal donors receive their tartan sash and are officially inducted into the Order of the Tartan at the annual ceremony.

The Citadel Foundation proudly welcomes the new Leaders in Philanthropy listed here who have joined their peers in this annual tradition celebrating charity and service as virtues of the principled leader.

On behalf of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets and the entire campus community, we salute these individuals for their extraordinary generosity, vision and lifelong loyalty to The Citadel.

For more information about The Citadel Foundation’s lifetime giving societies or to view the roster of all current members, please visit: foundation.citadel.edu/lifetimegiving.

Class of 2024 New Inductees

∆ = Increased Giving Level

Lifetime Giving Societies

Founders’ Society – Bronze

$5,000,000 to $9,999,99

Just as the founders of The Citadel conceived of an institution that would “awaken greater ardor in the people, and a warmer interest in our rulers, to advance the cause of education,” members of the Founders’ Society demonstrate the vision and commitment that will ensure the long-term vitality of the college. The Founders’ Society is The Citadel’s most prestigious giving society.

Capt. and Mrs. John C. Velotta ∆

Society of 1842

$1,000,000 to $4,999,999

Since its founding in 1842, The Citadel has molded individuals into citizen-soldiers who put into action the guiding principles learned in the barracks, in the classroom and on the parade field as they serve their families, their communities, their professions and their country with distinction.

Mark Clark Society

$500,000 to $999,999

Gen. Mark W. Clark (1896-1984) became president of The Citadel after a career seldom equaled in the United States Army. During his tenure (1954-1965), The Citadel achieved international recognition, and the Corps of Cadets increased to the maximum capacity of the barracks. One of Clark’s most enduring accomplishments was founding of the Cadet Honor Code, whereby a cadet does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do.

Mr. and Mrs. H. Walter Anderson, ’61 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Hardaway, ’71 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Hill, Jr., ’88 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. William P. Jones, ’68 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Lawless, ’94 ∆
Col. John G. Mentavlos, USAFR, ’74, and Dr. Marian F. Mentavlos, CGC ’78
Mr. and Mrs. Phillip F. Ousley, ’95 ∆
Mr. Charles M. Anderegg, Jr., ’74
Mr. J. Eric Wooten, ’79, and Ms. Kathleen Cartland, CGC ’97 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. J. Christopher Clark, ’85 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Cook, Jr., ’84 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel B. Crosby, ’95 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry F. Friedner, ’60 ∆
Mr. F. Xavier Starkes, ’84
Mr. Heyward B. Sutherland, ’70 ∆
Mr. Christopher H. White, ’82
Mr. J. Eric Wooten, ’79, and Ms. Kathleen Cartland, CGC ’97 ∆

Star of the West Society

$250,000 to $499,999

Citadel graduates have served their country in every conflict since the Mexican War. Named for the historic Civil War action led by a detachment of Citadel cadets, the Star of the West Monument on Summerall Field commemorates all cadets and graduates who have died in defense of their country and recognizes the strong call to service demonstrated by Citadel men and women.

Dr. D. Virgil Alfaro III, USAF, ’84
Col. and Mrs. Robert J. H. Anderson, ’69 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Travis S. Archenhold, ’99
Col. Thomas H. Brett, USA, Ret., ’63 ∆
Mrs. Beverly Brumfield ∆
Mr. and Mrs. James J. Ethridge, Jr., ’81 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander F. Giles, III, ’83 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. John G. Harrison, IV, ’93
Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Hostetter, ’83
Mr. and Mrs. James A. King, II, ’71 ∆
Prof. and Mrs. Timothy J. Louwers
Mr. and Mrs. Matt F. Miller, ’71 ∆
Terence N. Moore, M.D., USAF, ’64 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. J. Derrick Murdock, ’97 ∆
Lt. Col. Llewellyn E. Piper, ’70, and
Mrs. Cynthia Piper, CGC ’71 ∆
Col. Robert T. Sandford, USA, ’84 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. R. Edward Turner IV, ’85 ∆

Summerall Society

$100,000 to $249,999

Gen. Charles Pelot Summerall (1867-1954) assumed the presidency of The Citadel in 1931 after retiring as chief of staff of the United States Army. During his 22-year tenure as president, the campus was greatly expanded to include many of the buildings that shape The Citadel footprint today, including Summerall Chapel, Capers Hall, LeTellier Hall and McAlister Field House.

Anonymous (1)
Mr. and Mrs. Brandon E. Boyles, ’89
Lt. Col. and Mrs. Jay M. Bradbury, ’66
Mr. and Mrs. Donald P. Bridenbaugh II, ’84
Dr. and Mrs. Ransom L. Bryan, Jr., ’74
Mr. and Mrs. Quinton M. Caldwell, Sr., ’66
Joyce Carusi
Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Cornwell, ’94
Col. Stephen Cotter, ’70, and Ms. Sharon Winningham
Mr. and Mrs. Jack R. Cunningham, ’77
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred W. D’Ambrosio, ’72
Col. and Mrs. F. Greg Delleney, Jr., ’74
Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Doobrow, ’65
Mr. and Mrs. Donald J. Doody, ’73
Mr. and Mrs. James E. Fayssoux, Jr., ’66
Mr. and Mrs. Wes Fuller
The Honorable C. Tolbert Goolsby, Jr., USA, ’59
Mr. J. Brian Grab, ’79
Mr. Tommy M. Griffin and Dr. Jackie Griffin
Ms. Katherine G. Harrison
Mr. and Mrs. Jack B. Healan, Jr., ’67
Mr. Mark W. Jordan, ’93
Mr. Lewis E. Lancaster III, ’98
Mr. S. William Lehew, III, ’78
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Maye, ’83
Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. McClure, Jr., ’74
Mr. and Mrs. James V. McMillan, III, ’69
Mr. and Mrs. Larry L. Melton, Jr., ’84
Mr. Brett S. Miller, ’07, and Mrs. Sarah L. Miller, CGC ’12
Mr. and Mrs. Rupert E. Moredock, ’75
Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Moseley, Jr., ’88
Mrs. Juanita Motley
Col. and Mrs. Russell V. Olson, Jr., ’69
Mr. and Mrs. David A. Peacock, ’84
Mr. Lannes C. Prothro IV, ’00
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C. Reiss, ’75
Mr. Victor M. Rivera, Jr., ’81
Lt. Col. Stephen V. Smith, USA, Ret., ’84
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas K. Sturgeon, ’88
Col. and Mrs. David G. Tarbox, ’71
Mr. and Mrs. J. Edward Terrell, ’84
Dr. and Mrs. Howard S. J. Walker III, ’71
Mr. and Mrs. Chester A. Wingate, Jr., ’74
Lt. Col. James C. W. Wright, USAF, ’66

Legacy Society

Planned Giving

The Citadel Legacy Society recognizes alumni and friends who support The Citadel with deferred gifts. Through their generosity and foresight, legacy donors help to secure the future of the institution through a variety of estate planning tools. The Citadel Legacy Society is open to individuals who have included The Citadel in their estate planning and who provide the college with documentation of their gift.

Mr. Charles M. Anderegg, Jr., ’74
Mr. and Mrs. Travis S. Archenhold, ’99
Lt. Col. and Mrs. Stephen E. Bishop, ’73
Col. Thomas H. Brett, USA, Ret., ’63
Mr. and Mrs. Donald P. Bridenbaugh II, ’84
Mr. Ryan A. Cass, ’15
Col. William M. Connor V, ’90, and Dr. Susan K. Connor
Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Cornwell, ’94
Mrs. Ana S. Costas
Mr. J. Brian Grab, ’79
Col. and Mrs. John S. Graham, ’77
Col. and Mrs. Myron C. Harrington, Jr., ’60
Mr. and Mrs. John G. Harrison, IV, ’93
Ms. Katherine G. Harrison
Mr. and Mrs. David K. Hudson, ’84
Col. and Mrs. Wayne P. Hudson, ’79
Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Lawless, ’94
Prof. and Mrs. Timothy J. Louwers
Col. John G. Mentavlos, USAFR, ’74, and Dr. Marian F. Mentavlos, CGC ’78
Mr. and Mrs. Rupert E. Moredock, ’75
Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Musso, ’10
Col. and Mrs. Henry M. Reed, II, ’60
Mr. and Mrs. William F. Ruoff III
Lt. Col. Stephen V. Smith, USA, Ret., ’84
Mr. F. Xavier Starkes, ’84
Mr. Heyward B. Sutherland, ’70
Capt. and Mrs. John C. Velotta
Mr. Christopher H. White, ’82
Maj. Gen. and Mrs. F. Eli Wishart, Jr., ’63
Lt. Col. James C. W. Wright, USAF, ’66

Order of the Tartan

Consecutive Giving

The Scottish tartan, a woolen cloth woven in a distinctive pattern of plaid, has long served as a symbol of loyalty and association with a particular region, family or clan. The Order of the Tartan recognizes and celebrates those loyal donors who have given consecutively to The Citadel each year for 25 years or more.

Col. and Mrs. Robert J. H. Anderson, ’69
Mr. and Mrs. Gary L. Canady, ’69
Lt. Col. and Mrs. Paul K. Cascio, ’69
Mr. and Mrs. J. Larry Clark, ’64
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph K. Coffey, ’92
Mr. and Mrs. Richard B. Colburn, Jr., ’89
Maj Gen and Mrs. B. Keith Coln, ’74
Mrs. Linda Crittenden
Mr. Victor M. Dillingham, ’59
Mr. and Mrs. Peter D. Dorn
Mr. and Mrs. R. Burrell Dosher, Sr., ’88
Lt. Col. and Mrs. John W. Falkenbury, ’78
Mr. and Mrs. Ronald D. Fish
Mr. and Mrs. Dexter R. Floyd, ’68
Mr. C. Thomas Fowler, ’55
Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan T. Hall, ’73
Dr. and Mrs. Kevin L. Harbol, ’81
Mr. Dan D. Hardy, Jr., ’69
Mr. and Mrs. Theodore A. Hargrove, III, ’71
Mr. William E. Jenkinson, IV, ’99, and Mrs. Meredith M. Jenkinson, CGC ’01
Mr. and Mrs. J. Andrew Keel, Jr., ’66
Lt. Col. Frederick J. Kennedy, USA, Ret., ’68
Mr. and Mrs. Alfred R. Kennickell, Jr., ’77
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Kohl, ’78
Dr. and Mrs. George S. Kotchmar, Jr., ’66
Dr. and Mrs. Charles A. Leath III, ’94
Col. Allison D. Love, SCM, CGC ’93, and Mr. Phillip E. Love, Jr.
Mr. William W. Marchant, Jr., USAR, ’56
Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. McArver, Jr.
Mr. and Mrs. James H. McDaniel, Sr., ’76
Ms. Shannon Mease
Mr. and Mrs. Robert D. Moseley, Jr., ’88
Col. Robert D. Offer, Jr., ’61, and Ms. Carole Rutland
Col. and Mrs. Russell V. Olson, Jr., ’69
Mr. and Mrs. Frank B. Peters, Jr., ’60
Lt. Col. and Mrs. Gilbert A. Pohl, ’76
Mr. and Mrs. Douglas E. Pounder, ’71
Mr. and Mrs. J. Scott Price, ’88
Lt. Col. and Mrs. David B. Reed, III, ’59
Mr. and Mrs. Scott R. Shotto, ’83
Cmdr. and Mrs. Edward K. Thompson II, ’76
Mr. and Mrs. Conrad J. Tuza, ’58
Mr. Thomas H. Warley, ’85, and Dr. Melinda A. Warley
Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell E. Westmoreland, ’63
Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Winsch, ’69
Capt. and Mrs. John O. Woods, Jr., ’64
Lt. Col. and Mrs. Robert B. Young, ’66
Col. and Mrs. Samuel R. Young, ’69

Summer Bridge Program supports incoming cadets

As part of The Citadel Success Institute (CSI), which began in July, the Summer Bridge Program kicked off for the second year in a row. Rising freshman cadets taking part in the program, especially first-generation college students and those with financial need, were eligible for full tuition coverage for CSI. These scholarships were made possible through a grant from the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education.

“Last year, I was one of many students who received a scholarship for the Summer Bridge Program at The Citadel Success Institute. From start to finish, I can confidently say that the Summer Bridge Program helped me prepare for my first year at The Citadel. It adjusted me to the academics of college life and helped me get a head start on my GPA for the year,” said Cadet Janeya Cox, a sophomore cadet and academic senior at The Citadel. “The staff was fantastic and helped me stay on track with my work despite having a tight schedule from the military side of CSI.”

Cox has returned to this year’s program to work as a full-time peer tutor and mentor.

Students in the Summer Bridge Program are automatically enrolled in EDUC 201, College Core Essentials, a three-credit general elective course focused on college readiness skills such as critical reading and research, academic writing, mathematics and public speaking. The benefits that students in EDUC 201 receive are a personalized summer learning experience, preparation for academic life at The Citadel, small group learning, peer tutoring and mentorship.

After evaluating the success of last year’s CSI Summer Bridge Program, several statistics stood out. More than 90% of students who completed the program matriculated to The Citadel and made significant growth in the areas of algebra, geometry, number and quantity, and statistics and probability. In an exit survey, students ranked the program 4.5 out of 5 for its effectiveness in terms of preparing them for college both academically and socially.

Hockey Club prepares for a season of growth and determination

The Citadel Hockey Club is poised for an exciting season with a surge of new interest and leadership. Backed by the guidance of Head Coach Joe McKenzie and Assistant Coach 1st Sgt. Garrett Jolly, USMC (Ret.), along with an experienced captain, the team is pushing beyond the typical expectations of a club sport. Whether it’s the rigorous practices, intensive travel schedule or the electric atmosphere at the Carolina Ice Palace, the Hockey Club continues to capture attention and support, promising a season full of potential.

Cadet Kyle Bomenblit, ’25, serves as captain, a role he’s had since his junior year. Bomenblit has been playing hockey since he was 7 years old and joined the Hockey Club as a freshman. One difference he noted in this season compared to previous years is the overall interest from newcomers.

“This is the first year we’ve had tryouts. I had to talk with Coach McKenzie and Assistant Coach 1st Sgt. Jolly about how to handle who we were keeping, who we weren’t, who would be on the practice squad, who’s going to travel, things like that,” said Bomenblit. “I’ve never had to do that or even had to have that talk, especially being at The Citadel. Because here, our team is mainly a group of cadets from different places who came to school for reasons other than playing ice hockey, but now there’s a lot of interest.”

While hockey at The Citadel is a club sport, the team goes beyond the normal duties of one. They travel like any other NCAA sport and hold practices every week.

“I would say that traveling is the biggest aspect of what sets us apart,” said Bomenblit. “Our fans love coming to the games. It’s one of the sports that everyone seems to love going to.”

The Citadel Foundation announces $300 million campaign

The Citadel Foundation is launching the public phase of the most ambitious fundraising effort the college has ever undertaken. The objective of the Our Mighty Citadel campaign is to raise $300 million in support of The Citadel’s strategic plan by the close of 2026. More than $226 million has been secured during the silent phase of the Our Mighty Citadel campaign, which began in 2020 to engage volunteers and secure leadership gifts before the public launch.

A gala event to announce the campaign was held in April beneath a tent on Sansom Field in Johnson Hagood Stadium. The event celebrated donors who have stepped forward to make transformational gifts totaling $226,596,553 during the campaign’s silent leadership phase, as well as the many volunteers who serve on the governing boards of the college and its affiliated organizations.

“Thanks to the generosity of those who have made leadership gifts, we have already achieved more than 75% of our goal, but there is much work left to do to ensure that The Citadel continues to educate intentional leaders who are well prepared to deal with today’s challenging global environment,” said Luke Kissam, ’86, campaign chair and vice-chairman of The Citadel Foundation’s Board of Directors. “I am confident we will meet and exceed our goal in support of the college’s strategic plan.”

Citadel cadet named Newman Civic Fellow

Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has named the 2024-2025 Newman Civic Fellows. The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program that recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities. This year’s fellows came from 38 states, Washington, D.C., and Mexico. Among them was Cadet Katya Govorova, a junior cadet who came to The Citadel from Ukraine in the fall of 2022.

Over the course of three semesters, Govorova documented 60 community service hours in her work with the Krause Center for Leadership and Ethics as an intern as well as her work with the center’s alternative break service trip. In addition, Govorova is a member of the women’s soccer team and a member of The Citadel Distinguished Scholar program.

“I am grateful to have had opportunities to serve others and give back to a country that has given me a second home,” said Govorova. “Being from Ukraine, I am passionate about making a difference in others’ lives. Our school provides resources to engage in community service. It is through these opportunities that I have been empowered to facilitate change.”

Alumnus honors former teacher with $2 million gift

A generous gift made by a grateful alumnus to name the Angela W. Williams Student Success Center on campus will ensure that cadets and students continue to have a space to support and guide their academic success.

The $2 million investment comes from Peter L. Lacy, ’92, and his wife, Jill, to establish the Lacy Fund for the Student Success Center. This gift provides financial resources to support and endow the operations of the Student Success Center, as well as unrestricted support for the college’s greatest needs through The Citadel Fund. The gift names the Student Success Center in honor of Angela W. Williams, former director of the Writing Center and the English teacher who provided guidance to Lacy lasting well beyond his time on campus.

In 1988, Williams encouraged Lacy, who was then a freshman cadet, to visit the Writing Center to strengthen his communication skills. He followed her suggestion and continued to use the center throughout his time on campus, and he attributes it—and Williams—with having a meaningful impact on his life and making The Citadel a special place.

“The Student Success Center serves as a vital tool for students; this gift creates new opportunities for the ever-changing technology and advances of resources,” said Lacy. “As the first director of what is now the Student Success Center, Angela Williams made a profound impact on my life as a cadet, which helped me be successful in life. I am pleased to honor Angela and provide a lasting resource for The Citadel.”

The Citadel is named overall #1 Regional University in the South

In September, for the first time, The Citadel was named the overall #1 Regional University in the South by U.S. News & World Report, surpassing more than 100 other public and private institutions in the region’s 12 states. Additionally, The Citadel was named the Best Public University in the South, a distinction the college has held for 14 years.

“For 14 years, we have been proud to maintain our spot as the Best Public University in the South, and now we are truly honored to be recognized, for the first time, as the Best Regional University in the South,” said retired U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Glenn M. Walters, USMC, ’79, president of The Citadel. “While our graduates’ record of success speaks for itself, we are grateful to be recognized consistently as a leader in education. I would also like to acknowledge our fantastic faculty and staff—led by our outstanding provost, Dr. Sally Selden—whose commitment to educating and developing principled leaders makes these results possible.”

Notable rankings received by The Citadel include:

#1 Best Regional University in the South

#1 Best Public University in the South

#1 Best College for Veterans
Regional Universities (South)

#5 Best Value
Regional Universities (South)

#6 Undergraduate Teaching
Regional Universities (South)

#18 Best Undergraduate Engineering
Nationwide (non-doctoral)

#147 Best Undergraduate Business
Nationwide

#193 Best Undergraduate Computer Science
Nationwide

This is the seventh consecutive year that The Citadel has also been named Best College for Veterans in the South. Veterans are eligible to attend any of the programs offered by The Citadel, including both the day and evening undergraduate programs as well as master’s programs.

Many of The Citadel’s most popular and valuable programs—such as business, engineering and computer science—also ranked highly on the national level. The Citadel School of Engineering, one of the first five engineering programs in the country, consistently ranks as one of the top 25 undergraduate programs nationally out of institutions offering up to a master’s degree and this year moved up to number 18.

Esprit de Corps

by Catherine Quarles

On a bright, sunny Friday afternoon in the first week of April, the Corps of Cadets gathered for a fierce competition—the annual octathlon. Every year, the 21 cadet companies compete against one another in eight events that challenge cadets to test their limits.

Established in the spring of 2022, the octathlon requires cadets to demonstrate speed, strength and teamwork. The first phase of the competition includes a relay race around the parade field, a tire flip relay, a medicine ball toss, an ammunition can relay, a log-lift relay and a sprint-drag-carry relay. While events like the log-lift relay require participants to do sit-ups, squats, a bench press and an overhead press, the sprint-drag-carry relay challenges teams of four students to pull a sled behind them in a forward sprint, drag the sled while running backward, sprint back while carrying two kettlebells, and then make a final dash to the finish line.

Unlike many of the other physical challenges required of the Corps, the octathlon offers a chance to compete as a team in a low-stress environment. “Everyone’s out there having a good time. You see people across companies and battalions socializing and working on team building—not just within their company, but between battalions and the entire Corps,” said Director of Physical Readiness Erin Leonard. “It builds teamwork, it builds character, and it builds inter-company unity. They’re all cheering each other on.”

The Corps-wide octathlon builds upon a meet for freshmen that takes place near the beginning of the fall semester and features many of the same events. The trophy for the winning company at the freshman meet is a shield, complemented by a gladius, or Roman sword, passed down to the winning company at the octathlon. These two events capitalize on the competitive nature of the Corps to bring the companies together. “The most discerning of all the indicators of leadership is cohesion. That’s what we call esprit de corps,” said Commandant of Cadets Col. Thomas J. Gordon, USMC, Ret., ’91. “Competition is one of the best ways to build that esprit de corps, to build that cohesion within the company. This is an opportunity for the commanders to come together, assess their units, build the teams for each of the events and put their best foot forward.”

Romeo Company Athletic Officer Austin Brown found that playing to his company’s talents paid off. “When we went out there, everybody was motivated and everybody was excited, and it quickly got competitive,” said Brown. “November Company kept beating us in every event, so we made a list of who would do best at what. It got us to the final round.”

The final two events of the octathlon are the most anticipated—a tug of war, followed by a 100-meter chariot race. When Brown stepped up for the tug of war, surrounded by his cheering company, he knew his hard work was worth it. Although Romeo Company lost to Echo, it was the highlight of the day for Brown. “Just being out there showed us how to work together as a team and be patient with each other.” Even when not on the winning team, Brown values the spirit of competition. “It helps you push your limits,” said Brown. “You can help other people push their limits, too.”

The chariot race, the octathlon’s crowning event, requires more than just athleticism. Each company enters the race with a small chariot big enough for a single person to ride in, pulled to the finish line by four cadets. Cadets are responsible for building their own chariots, which must comply with specific measurements and guidelines to ensure fairness. Many chariots are passed down from previous classes, keeping the spirit and rich traditions of the past alive. “The chariot race taps into the cadets’ creativity and ingenuity,” said Gordon. “We have some aspiring engineers and craftsmen here. You can see a lot of the company culture reflected in their chariots. Some of them are sleek, and they’re designed to be fast and to win. Others are built to display company pride.”

Whether throwing a medicine ball, flipping a tire end over end, or triumphantly pulling a chariot to the finish line, the Corps is ready to compete in any challenge, driven by the desire for excellence and esprit de corps.

The Ultimate Responsibility

by Catherine Quarles

When Regimental Commander Sam Wilson, ’25, watched his brother graduate from the U.S. Marine Corps Basic Recruit Training in San Diego, California, in March of 2019, he knew he needed to be a leader. “I saw all these Marines marching rank and file, and I thought, somebody’s going to have to lead them. That’s the ultimate responsibility that I want to take part in and share.”

At The Citadel, Wilson has had plenty of role models to show him the way. As a freshman, the history and English double major was inspired by First Battalion Commander Grant Speer, ’22. “He always led from the front,” said Wilson. “That’s what I want to do. My inspiration from the beginning was to model the way for others.”

For Wilson, leading the way means jumping at every chance to test himself. “My big thing, especially when it comes to school, is that you should seek out every opportunity. You should aspire to do as much as you can so that you’re better able to serve others.”

Wilson has certainly lived up to that creed. The Honors Program student has completed the Army’s Air Assault School, studied abroad at the Royal Military College of Canada and the Royal Military Academy of the Netherlands, and most recently, completed the U.S. Army Special Forces Combat Diver Qualification Course. Known as CDQC, the elite military training course is a grueling mental and physical test that prepares students in surface and sub-surface waterborne infiltration methods.

The course begins with four weeks of pre-dive training at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. There, Wilson and his fellow students, including Green Berets, Rangers, and Special Forces officers from the United States, Singapore and Mexico, trained on seven events, including a 50-meter underwater swim, drown proofing, underwater knot tying and swimming in a weighted vest.

Participants train on both open-circuit and closed-circuit scuba gear. “Open-circuit is regular scuba stuff—you breathe, and bubbles come to the surface,” said Wilson. “With closed-circuit, the air never leaves, it just gets recycled back through. There won’t be any bubbles, so nobody on the surface can detect you underwater.”

While closed-circuit equipment improves stealth, a lot can go wrong. “You have to learn how to build your rig and take on that responsibility,” said Wilson. He learned that part of such responsibility means owning your mistakes. “We were training with the Special Forces guys we idolize—as a cadet, you don’t want to make a mistake. When I dunked my rig and it didn’t look right, it just took that internal fortitude to speak up. If I had taken it in the water with a deficiency, the result would have been disastrous.” Being responsible for himself meant being responsible for his team. “If your rig goes down, it’s up to your dive buddy to save your life,” he said.

“We were training with the Special Forces guys we idolize …”

Wilson found that ensuring preparedness wasn’t the only part of training to act as a test of character. In one event, every student had to retrieve their fins and masks from the center of the pool at the same time. “There’s a primal response to grab what you need so you can come up and breathe,” said Wilson. “Are you someone who passes on gear to someone else, even when the consequence might be passing out underwater? That was really a gut check for what kind of person I want to be.”

Each exercise tested not only physical ability, but mental control. In a test known as one-man, each diver began submerged in the water wearing a blacked-out mask. When Wilson broke the surface of the pool, an instructor ripped the regulator and hoses out of his gear and tied them behind his back, forcing him blindly to trace back and fix his breathing apparatus. Each diver had three chances to successfully complete this event, and Wilson failed his first attempt. Sitting in the barracks that night with fellow Citadel Cadet Thomas Fitzpatrick, Wilson knew he could not fail again. “I knew I had to make it through, I had to make it work. There was no choice—I couldn’t fail.” When he went into the water the next day, he stayed calm, and it paid off. He finished the event with time to spare.

After weeks of grueling underwater drills, scuba training, and open water swims, Wilson and his fellow divers practiced mock combat dive operations in Key West, Florida. As Wilson emerged from the choppy waves, slowly taking in the cool night sky, a thunderstorm on the horizon, and the rifle in his hands, he knew all the hard work was worth it. “It was transformative,” said Wilson.

Overseas Intelligence

by Catherine Quarles

Samuel Goldenstein, ’24, has always searched for opportunities to serve. As the son of a stockbroker growing up in post-9/11 New York City, the intelligence and security studies major felt his calling in national defense. “My parents were afraid to let me take the subway every year on September 11 because they were scared of these attacks,” said Goldenstein. “I asked myself, ‘How can I fix this?’”

His interest in foreign policy and military intelligence led him to The Citadel. “The political science department is outstanding. The Citadel was effectively a no-brainer for me, even though it was so far from home,” said Goldenstein. “I think the opportunity to serve is the biggest opportunity that one can be given, and The Citadel allowed me to learn to be an asset to national security.”

“The Citadel allowed me to learn to be an asset to national security.”

As a cadet, Goldenstein’s interest in intelligence and security led him all over the world, beginning with a study abroad to Tallinn, Estonia, after his freshman year, where he studied Russian hybrid warfare and NATO/Baltic military and cyber operations. “I fell in love with the Baltics and their culture,” said Goldenstein. “I realized that the Baltic-Nordic region is the area of responsibility that I am most interested in.”

The following summer, he returned to Tallinn as a research analyst intern at the International Center for Defense and Security, where he researched and developed intelligence reports to assess the effectiveness of American and Western military aid to Ukraine. “I got used to being the only American in the room,” said Goldenstein. “I’m also usually the youngest one in these programs, so it requires a lot of proving yourself right off the bat. The Citadel is all about proving yourself, so it’s something I’m used to.

Goldenstein was more than up to the challenge. At the end of his two-month internship in Estonia, he flew to Cambridge University to participate in the International Security and Intelligence Programme hosted by the Cambridge Security Initiative and the Department of War Studies at King’s College London.

While there, Goldenstein conducted research on security issues through the lens of Anglo-American intelligence agencies. Moreover, Goldenstein had the opportunity to meet and work with leaders and practitioners in intelligence and security communities all over the world. “The opportunity to be overseas really plays hand-in-hand with my intelligence degree,” said Goldenstein. “Experience is the biggest thing. If you’re on a team that does analysis overseas or has a strategic concentration overseas, you need to have the background for it.”

Goldenstein made sure he did. In the spring of 2024, he returned to Estonia once more for a course entitled Cyber Defense Policy on National and International Levels at the Baltic Defence College in Tartu, where more than 18 nations were represented by professionals in the defense and security sector. “I got to brief an audience of 18 NATO and EU nations on a highly complex cyber policy,” said Goldenstein. “Rarely, especially at the undergraduate level, do you have the opportunity to go and work with so many different nations on such complex topics.”

Cyber policy wasn’t the only thing he had to step up for while overseas. After losing his class ring in a snowball fight, Goldenstein had to recruit the help of his colleagues—military intelligence and security professionals representing 10 nations who were also involved in the icy skirmish. “I’ve been telling my friends I led a multinational coalition on an operation to find my graduation ring,” said Goldenstein. And while their search was unsuccessful, Goldenstein remembers the effort fondly. Ultimately, his ring was returned months later by a good Samaritan.

Although far from The Citadel campus he called home, servant leadership remained at the heart of his Baltic experience. “The opportunity to work hand in hand with our Estonian, Latvian or Lithuanian counterparts in a real-world environment is an experience that you can’t be given within the United States,” said Goldenstein. “The biggest thing is to listen. You have to sit down with your allied nation and say, ‘Hello, we’re here to help. Let’s serve, let’s go.’”

In May, Goldenstein was awarded the Leidos Courage Award from the School of Humanities and Social Sciences for embodying the values of a principled leader within his field of study. The three-year graduate will soon be serving as an intelligence specialist with the Department of Defense in Virginia.