PETERSBURG, Va. -- Army Materiel Command Commander Gen. Dennis L. Via administered the oath of office to 13 second lieutenants from his alma mater, Virginia State University, during a commissioning ceremony May 14, 2016.
Via received his commission from Virginia State May 18, 1980, but his involvement with the university did not end there, said Lt. Col. David D. Johnson, VSU ROTC Professor of Military Science.
"Since his graduation, General Via has gone to heights only a select few have actually achieved. As impressive as his professional career is, so is his commitment to Army ROTC and to the Trojan nation," Johnson said.
Via, one of only three officers from a historically black college or university to earn the rank of 4-star general, said he was honored to lead the ceremony.
Prior to the Virginia State ceremony, Via also supported the South Carolina State University commissioning May 5, and the Tuskegee University commissioning May 6. All three are historically black universities.
"It's absolutely great to be back in Virginia Hall, and certainly to be here on this beautiful campus of Virginia State University, my home. It's great to be here on this stage where it all began for me, almost 36 years ago to the day," Via said.
Via told the new officers that they are part of a battalion that has commissioned more than 1,600 since its establishment nearly 70 years ago.
"Believe it or not, it's a very exciting time for me. Because today represents the passing of the baton, as I come to the close of my career and you begin the start of your career. I feel like this ceremony is even more special, but I hand off this baton to you," Via said.
Via also recognized the 100th anniversary of Army ROTC, which has commissioned more than half a million second lieutenants from about 300 active ROTC programs throughout the United States.
"The Army is the world's largest leadership academy," Via said. "It has taught you how to be successful, not only in your Army careers, but in life."
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