VMI Appoints Lt. Gen. David Furness '87 as 16th Superintendent

The Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors (BOV) has appointed retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David J. Furness '87 as the Institute's 16th Superintendent. A unanimous decision on Aug. 15 came after a comprehensive, transparent search process spanning six months, involving faculty, staff, cadet-athletes, alumni, and members of the VMI Foundation, alongside executive firm Buffkin/Baker. More than 800 candidates were considered, with six finalists interviewed and three selected for on-post meetings that included over 100 members from VMI's community. In the BOV's public announcement, Board President Col. (Ret.) Jamie Inman '86 praised Furness as "the right person to lead the Institute in this next chapter of its history," highlighting his impeccable military record, unwavering passion for the VMI experience, and proven capability in advancing complex organizational missions. Lt. Gen. Furness, a history graduate who served as First Captain and regimental commander, expressed deep gratitude, calling the appointment "the highest professional honor of my lifetime," and noted he and his wife Lynda are "thrilled to be heading back to Lexington to serve the VMI community." A detailed profile of Lt. Gen. Furness is provided in the August 16, 2025, edition of The Cadet. Challenges AheadLt. Gen. Furness now faces the delicate task of unifying the VMI family—cadets, faculty, staff, alumni, and administration—at a time when divisions have become increasingly visible. Lt. Gen. Furness steps into the role at a pivotal moment. His first mission will be to unify a VMI Family that has weathered significant debate over values, vision, and direction in recent years. Faculty representative "theme questions" during the Superintendent search prioritized topics such as "global experiences" and "diversity," raising questions about recruiting overseas faculty and legal and ethical considerations for diversity language in Institute policy. While they may have been well-intentioned to broaden perspective, these questions largely overlooked VMI's core tenet of the well-rounded citizen-soldier, balancing academic rigor, military discipline, and moral character. They failed to directly address the enduring value of leadership, honor, and duty. They also focus on the continued shift away from hiring VMI alumni for the Institute's faculty and staff at a time when those numbers are lower than ever before. At the same time, athletics themes centered largely on NCAA competition without adequately addressing a long-standing "cadet-athlete divide" that too often focused narrowly on team success, without acknowledging the broader responsibilities of the cadet-athlete, someone who must balance academic rigor, military training, and athletic commitment, yet still serve the Institute's mission holistically. The search also spotlighted alumni relations and private-sector fundraising as priorities, with questions on the Superintendent's role in engaging graduates, bridging "widely divergent views," and leveraging resources for major gifts. These are practical concerns, but framing alumni primarily as a fundraising resource risks reducing their contributions to a financial metric. Genuine alumni engagement demands more than solicitation. It requires listening, respecting differences, and creating space for graduates to support VMI through their own means while ensuring their voices are heard. A Superintendent who approaches engagement as a dialogue, rather than a one-way ask, can turn differing perspectives from a challenge into an institutional strength. In a community bound by the shared crucible of the Rat Line, those differences should enrich VMI's future, not divide it. As the search transitioned to Furness, it became clear what many cadets and alumni have long emphasized: the need for a superintendent who embodies and reinforces all three legs of the Institute's "stool": Academics, Corps & Military Excellence, and Athletics; doing so without sacrificing one pillar for the allure of external optics or political expediency, all while refocusing that "athletics" at VMI is not confined to NCAA teams, but the vital role club sports, intramurals and other activities have in the cadet experience. Bridging the DivideLt. Gen. Furness's background positions him well to bridge these divides. (Link to last article in The Cadet) Merit and Leadership: As a cadet, he earned academic stars each year, rose to First Captain, and received the prestigious Cincinnati Award. Operational Excellence: His 36-year Marine Corps career included global command roles—overseeing complex, multinational operations, managing billions in assets, and launching programs that significantly reduced suicide rates among Marines through peer-to-peer counseling. Strategic Vision: As Legislative Assistant to the Commandant, he shaped officer education and helped launch a Master's program with George Mason University; later, as Deputy Commandant at the Pentagon, he coordinated the global deployment of 200,000 Marines across 17 countries. Crucially, his leadership style —disciplined yet compassionate —aligns with VMI's traditions. Cadets of the Class of 1990 recall his professionalism and robust example-setting, which enriched cadet life both inside and outside the Rat Line. As Furness prepares to assume his role, he inherits a Corps and alumni base eager for unity and direction. With his experience and the Board's confidence, Lt. Gen. Furness assumes the superintendency at a crossroads where VMI's greatest strength, its unity, has been tested. Success will hinge on restoring that cohesion: reconciling academic and military priorities, aligning athletics with the broader mission, and, critically, re-engaging alumni not just as donors but as partners in shaping VMI's future. The Board's decision underscores its belief that only someone steeped in VMI's ideals and experienced in leadership at the highest levels can reconcile recent tensions and restore balance. Lt. Gen. David J. Furness '87 arrives at a crossroads for VMI, the crossroads of tradition and transition, introspection and forward motion. As Superintendent, he embodies the qualities of the citizen-soldier the Institute strives to cultivate. With his stewardship and the support of the Board of Visitors, VMI may well begin a new chapter, one defined by cohesion, clarity, and collective strength. The Institute's next chapter will require candor, courage, and the conviction that VMI's foundational ideals remain relevant in any era. In Lt. Gen. Furness, the Board believes it has found a leader who embodies those ideals and can unite a community that has never stopped caring deeply about the place where honor resides. Whether through zones of discourse or parade ground drills, Furness appears to be the leader best suited to unite the VMI family for the next generation. Editor's note: A copy of the first round themes and questions used by the search committee and provided to The Cadet is available as a link to the online version of this article at www.cadetnewspaper.com.