VMI - Key Persons
Ben Salem Lock to Zimmerman's Lock
Again, this portion of the trail contains many interesting geologic folds and outcrops. A "BF 13" marker is located on the wide river floodplain, and just downstream of the marker is Zimmerman's Lock and Dam. Although only a small portion of the dam remains, the lock is in quite good shape. Zimmerman's Dam - like Reid's Dam - was used for hydroelectric power for many years after the canal era ended.
Capt. Michael J. Sebastino is VMI's associate dean for academic administration and planning. From 2003 to 2009, Sebastino was the Institute's grants, contracts, and intellectual property administrator. In this position, he established strong working relationships with state and federal agencies, the VMI Foundation, and faculty and staff across post. He supported the development of the undergraduate research initiative and played a key role in organizing the academic program's funding requests and in reporting to the Jackson-Hope Board of Overseers.
Job Titles:
- Deputy Commandant for Operations, Plans, and Training
Col. Kevin Faust graduated from Virginia Military Institute with a Bachelors of Arts Degree in International Studies. A member of the class of 1996, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Air Force.
After completion of the Air Force's Intelligence Course, Col. Faust was assigned to the 609 Air Intelligence Squadron (AIS). From April 1997 to April 1998, he served as the Deputy Chief of Air Defense Analysis. He continued to serve in the 609 AIS from April 1998 to April 2000 as the Chief of Human Intelligence (HUMINT) Collection Management. In April of 2000, Col. Faust was assigned to the Defense HUMINT Service (DHS), and served as a strategic debriefer for three years. Following this assignment, Col. Faust wrapped up his Air Force service with a one year assignment in Seoul, South Korea. He was assigned as a targeting officer with Special Operations Command Korea (SOCKOR).
Col. Faust is a graduate of the Air Force Intelligence School, the Intelligence Collections Managers Course, the Defense Strategic Debriefer's Course, and Squadron Officer's School. He received a Master's Degree in Education from the University of Massachusetts, Boston in 2004.
Returning to VMI in the fall of 2005, Col. Faust served as the Assistant Commandant for Personnel and Logistics for six years.
Previously, Bogart spent 38 years in the United States Army in both the Regular Army and National Guard. He started his career in Baumholder, Germany during the Cold War as a Rifle and Support Platoon Leader, then Company Executive Officer in the 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry. Upon completing his initial duty assignment, he was assigned to C Company, 1/20th SFG(A) as a Special Forces Detachment Commander and SF Company Executive Officer, later commanding B Company, 2/20th SFG(A). Bogart had several assignments in Washington, DC, where he was a Special Forces Staff officer on Army Staff, one of the original four officers who established Civil Support for the Department of Defense and co-founder of the InterAgency Board for Equipment Standardization and Interoperability. As the war commenced, he transferred into the Regular Army, and served as the CFLCC operations chief for the 2003 Liberation of Iraq, the lead strategist and then Special Forces chief of staff for CJSOTF-A, where he developed and managed the special operations supporting plan for the 2004 Afghan Presidential election. He was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division, where in 2006, as an assistant division chief of staff, he managed a Baghdad centric civic action supporting a population of 11 million Iraqis during the height of religious violence. After Baghdad, he was assigned as the deputy brigade commander for 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division where he partnered with Iraqi and Allied commands, tribal, Iraq, United States and British government officials to transition key provinces to Iraqi sovereignty in 2008 and 2009. Upon returning to the United States, he commanded 2nd Battalion, 393rd Infantry, an infantry training support battalion, preparing 7,600 Soldiers for combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, after which Colonel Bogart deployed to Afghanistan managing governance and development for the Special Operations Joint Task Force in 2012 and 2013. His follow-on assignment was at the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, where he served as the deputy strategist to the Commanding General developing the "Win in a Complex World" tag line guiding the Army's operating concept for the next 20 years. Afterwards, Colonel Bogart transferred to Special Operations Command, Africa and commanded a Special Operations Command and Control Element focused on Libya and North Africa. He returned to the United States and served as Military Faculty at the United States Naval War College, staffed the President of the United States as the Director of African Affairs on the National Security Council pioneering "Prosper Africa", and then deployed for a 21-month tour in Afghanistan as the Deputy Commander of the Train, Advise and Assist Command, North (NATO Resolute Support Mission) supporting the historic peace agreement between the United States and the Taliban. His last assignment on active duty was in the Pentagon as the USSOUTHCOM Chief of the Washington Field Office. A civil engineering major at VMI, Bogart held positions of increasing responsibility as a member of the cadre and served as executive officer of Company F his 1st Class year. He holds a Master of Arts in Diplomacy with a concentration in Terrorism from Norwich University and has proficiency in French, German, and Dari. He is a published author of two books and several articles on counterinsurgency and special operations. A veteran of 78 months in combat, he has earned two Defense Superior Service Medals, one with Combat Device, the Legion of Merit, five Bronze Star Medals, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, six Meritorious Service Medals, the Afghan Campaign Medal with 2 stars, Iraq Campaign Medal with 6 stars and other awards, Combat Infantrymen and Combat Action Badges as well as the Special Forces tab, Army Parachutist Badge, the Presidential Service and Army Staff Identification Badges, and German and Italian Parachute wings. A native of New York, he and his late wife, Susan, have three adult children, Sarah, Catherine, and Adrian T. Bogart IV. Close
Col. John A. Brodie has been the Institute's Director of Music since 1988. His duties include the direction of the Regimental Band, the VMI Commander's Jazz Ensemble, The Institute Brass, and he oversees the Pipe Band and the Glee Club. He directed the Glee Club from 2002-2012. The Regimental Band has participated in over 1000 parades and performances on and off-post during his tenure, and he has had the privilege of directing hundreds of Cadets the Band Company. Highlights of his career at the Institute include the band's appearances at the Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California, the Macy's Day and St Patrick's Day parades in New York City , the French Bicentennial in Paris, France, four Presidential Inaugural parades, New Orleans and Mobile Mardi Gras parades, and five Gubernatorial Inaugural parades in Richmond, Virginia. In 1997, the VMI Pipe Band was established under his command and now includes more than 45 Cadets, and it's own director. Various ensembles under his direction have performed throughout Europe, China, Japan, Russia, Brazil, and Puerto Rico. He is an honorary member of the class of 1992 and in 2005 he was chosen as the 25th honorary alumnus of the Institute by the VMI Alumni Association. Formerly, Col. Brodie was a member of "The Commandant's Own", the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps in Washington, DC. He also taught in Granada, Colorado where he produced a state champion marching band. He holds a bachelor of science degree from West Chester University, and masters and doctorate degrees from the Catholic University of America. Brodie is a native of Denver, Colorado. He is married and lives in Staunton, Virginia. Close
Job Titles:
- Government Relations Director
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent
- Administrative Assistant to VMI Superintendent / VMI Superintendent
Dallas was an Economics and Business major at VMI and received an MBA from Virginia Commonwealth University. Originally, he worked in the private industry before returning to VMI to work in the VMI Alumni Association, where he was responsible for new cadet recruiting, chapter promotions, and alumni placement. In 2006, he joined VMI in the business office as the Institute Planning Officer.
In that role, he was responsible for the Institute Strategic Plan, facilities master planning, emergency preparedness, and a series of other responsibilities before he was named the associate deputy superintendent for finance, administration, and support.
After his appointment as vice president and chief advancement officer at Southern Virginia University, he returned to VMI as the director of finance, administration, and support and began his duties on February 2017. He oversees a broad spectrum of offices including finance and budget, auxiliary services, facilities management, infirmary, counseling, and the VMI museum system.
He has also previously served on various community organizations including the Lexington/Rockbridge United Way, Lexington/Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce and the House Mountain Management Committee. Clark served as the chair of the Council of State Senior Business Officers from 2019-2020.
He graduated from both the College Business Managers Institute and the Next Generation Chief Business Officers courses from the University of Kentucky.
Clark and his wife are the parents of two daughters.
As Chief of Staff, Dr. J.M. "John" Young is responsible for coordinating the actions of the Institute's primary staff officers and ensuring integration of all organizational and post operations, events, and issues.
Young was most recently chief of staff and vice chair for administration/assistant professor in the Department of Preventative Medicine and Biostatistics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences' F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, U.S. Department of Defense.
Job Titles:
- Certified Family Practice Physician
- Institute Physician
- U.S. Department of State As a Regional Medical Officer
Dr. Melissa S. Krawiec (née Williams) is a board-certified Family Practice physician and Virginia native.
Dr. Krawiec earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Virginia Military Institute in 2001 and completed her medical degree at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in 2005.
She completed internship at WVU's Charleston Area Medical Center and family practice residency at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Maine.
Following several years in Family Practice and Urgent Care in the Portland, Maine area, Dr. Krawiec joined the U.S. Department of State as a Regional Medical Officer. She served two overseas tours in this capacity, in New Delhi, India and Warsaw, Poland, respectively.
Following over a decade of service in the U.S. State Department she is thrilled to join the VMI family and give back to the Institute in such a meaningful way.
Job Titles:
- Commandant Office Manager
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Chairman, Chessie Trail Committee, Rockbridge Area Conservation Council
Job Titles:
- Officer - in - Charge / Adjutant
MAJ Ellis obtained his undergrad in Political Science (2001) from Penn State and Master's in Leadership Science (2015) from the Citadel.
MAJ Ellis's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Army Parachutist Badge, the Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist Badge, and the German Parachutist Badge in Silver Grade.
In his free time Major Ellis enjoys time with his four children, writing historical fiction, and volunteering in outdoor-based therapeutic programs for injured veterans. He is an active member of Phantom Airborne Brigade, a round canopy tactical parachute team that helps combat-wounded, service disabled, and other veterans back into the skies to jump with their comrades.
Job Titles:
- Interim Chief Diversity Officer
Job Titles:
- Facilities Director, CPTF
Job Titles:
- Sponsored Programs Administrator
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant to the BOV
Administrative Assistant to the BOV
201 Smith Hall
540-464-7206
tyreemr@vmi.edu
Job Titles:
- Director of Auxiliary Services
Job Titles:
- Director of Finance and Budget
Job Titles:
- Licensed Professional Counselor
Scott Shipp Hall - The Scott Shipp Hall ribbon cutting on Saturday, Jan. 29, in collaboration with the Board of Visitors meetings, celebrated a five-year planning, design, and construction effort totaling $43 million. The project included a 28,000-square foot expansion and a complete renovation of the previously-existing 68,000-square foot space. Progress could be seen from just about every area of post over the years, including from the home-team seats in Foster Stadium. A beloved giant crane in place from fall 2019 until summer 2020 across from Crozet Hall practically became a part of the Corps through frequent social media posts from cadets.
The wrap-up of the most recent expansion and renovations of Scott Shipp Hall came at a time when materials were hard to come by or delayed due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Ironically, when the groundbreaking of the facility happened in the summer of 1918, material shortages were a problem for the workers then, as well, due to the impacts of World War I.
Job Titles:
- Facilities Manager, Cocke Hall
Job Titles:
- Member of the Advisory Committee