Virginia Military Institute’s First Black Superintendent Ousted in Controversial Vote

Retired Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, who made history as the Virginia Military Institute’s (VMI) first Black superintendent, will resign in June following a 10-6 vote by the Board of Visitors against extending his contract. The choice, reached during a private meeting, has ignited debate regarding diversity initiatives at the renowned military institution.

Wins, a 1985 VMI graduate, assumed leadership in 2021 after a state-commissioned report revealed institutional racism and sexism at the institution. During his time in office, VMI introduced diversity initiatives, such as removing a statue of Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson, appointing its first chief diversity officer, and initiating cultural awareness training.

Some alumni and students supported the changes, while others opposed them, describing the diversity programs as divisive. In 2023, the school's chief diversity officer stepped down, and VMI restructured its diversity office to comply with Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin's policies. That same year, Martin Brown, Youngkin’s diversity chief, visited the campus and proclaimed, "DEI is dead."

State Sen. Jennifer Carroll Foy, a Democratic VMI alumna, asserted that the board no longer desired a Black superintendent. At the same time, Republican Rep. Ben Cline charged her with attempting to coerce board members into extending Wins’ contract.

Carroll Foy described the decision as politically motivated, asserting that Wins was unjustly categorized as a "DEI hire." Board President John Adams conveyed appreciation for Wins’ leadership, though he refrained from providing details regarding the cause of his departure.

The vote underscores the persistent friction at VMI regarding race, tradition, and the trajectory of diversity initiatives at the country’s oldest state-supported military college.

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