A Higher Calling: College Presidents Who Have Served Their Country
Service to this country takes many forms. For some, it begins in uniform. For others, it takes shape in classrooms, research laboratories, boardrooms and the communities that colleges and universities serve.
Across the country, several college and university presidents leverage military experience to enhance their approach to leading institutions, advancing student success, and preparing the next generation of leaders.
As we recognize veterans whose contributions to this country deserve our gratitude, we also recognize the work they continue to do in higher education. To these leaders, thank you for your service to this country and to the institutions, students and communities whose futures you help shape.
1. Herman J. Felton Jr., Wiley University U.S. Marine Corps veteran
Dr. Herman J. Felton Jr. has led Wiley University since 2018, bringing eight years of U.S. Marine Corps service and extensive experience in higher education administration to the presidency. A lawyer and scholar with a doctorate in educational administration, Felton is also the founder of the Higher Education Leadership Foundation, which develops leadership talent for the nation's HBCUs. During his tenure, Wiley has established a graduate school offering three graduate programs, modernized campus facilities and expanded its institutional identity, including its return to the Wiley University name. He has also championed the development of future HBCU leaders through his scholarship and professional work.
2. Timothy J. Collins, Walsh University U.S. Air Force, retired colonel
Dr. Timothy Collins spent 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, serving as a command pilot with more than 4,000 flight hours, including more than 260 combat hours. His assignments included Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and he earned numerous military honors, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Before joining Walsh University in 2019, Collins held leadership and academic positions at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory. At Walsh, he has overseen the Walsh 4.0 strategic plan, expanded academic offerings and partnerships, and helped secure the university's largest incoming undergraduate class in a decade in 2024. His current service also includes vice chairing the NCAA Division II Executive Board.
3. John Langell, Northeast Ohio Medical University U.S. Air Force, retired colonel
Dr. John Langell brings an unusual combination of military command, medical practice, research and academic leadership to Northeast Ohio Medical University. A physician and surgeon, he served in the U.S. Air Force, including as a commander responsible for military health care facilities. His professional experience also includes leading more than 500 health care providers and serving as a senior academic administrator at the University of Utah. Since becoming NEOMED's seventh president in 2019, Langell has established partnerships across Ohio, launched programs to develop health care leaders, opened a community health clinic and strengthened the university's financial position. His work connects medical education directly to the health needs of the communities the university serves.
4. Anthony L. Jenkins, Coppin State University U.S. Army veteran
Dr. Anthony L. Jenkins served in the U.S. Army as an air defense artillery specialist from 1988 to 1992 before beginning a career in higher education. A first-generation college graduate, he has held senior student affairs and enrollment leadership positions at institutions including the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and the University of Central Florida. Since becoming Coppin State University's eighth president in 2020, Jenkins has overseen record enrollment growth, expanded the academic portfolio and advanced major campus capital projects. The university has also reported record milestones in fundraising, student retention, graduation rates, corporate partnerships and endowment growth. He serves on the Federal Reserve Bank of Baltimore's board of directors and has become a prominent voice on higher education and social change.
5. Darrell K. Williams, Hampton University U.S. Army, retired lieutenant general
A 1983 Hampton graduate, retired Army Lt. Gen. Darrell K. Williams returned to his alma mater as its 13th president after a 37-year military career. He made history as the first Black director of the Defense Logistics Agency, overseeing a global workforce of more than 26,000 and a complex supply chain supporting U.S. military operations worldwide. Before returning to Hampton, he also held executive leadership positions with Leidos. Under his leadership, Hampton has reported substantial enrollment growth, including a 44% increase in undergraduate enrollment and a 46% increase overall. His return to the institution represents a full-circle journey from HBCU student to military leader to university president.
6. Nick Swayne, North Idaho College U.S. Army veteran
Dr. Nick Swayne's military career included command and leadership assignments from the company through division levels, with deployments to Iraq and Bosnia. He managed organizations with annual budgets exceeding $200 million and received numerous military honors, including the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. Before becoming North Idaho College's president in 2022, Swayne directed 4-VA, a consortium of nine Virginia universities focused on collaborative research and student success. He also founded the JMU X-Labs innovation ecosystem at James Madison University, which serves thousands of students through experiential and interdisciplinary learning. At North Idaho, he has helped reverse a 12-year enrollment decline, rebuild campus leadership and advance efforts to restore the college's accreditation standing.
7. Yolanda W. Page, Stillman College U.S. Army Reserve veteran
Dr. Yolanda W. Page served in the U.S. Army Reserve from 1988 to 1996 as a supply specialist with the 355th General Supply Company. She brought more than 30 years of higher education experience to Stillman College when she became its eighth president in 2023. Her career has included faculty and senior academic leadership positions, including service as a chief academic officer. At Stillman, Page has strengthened community partnerships, reengaged alumni and advanced cybersecurity education initiatives. Among her most significant accomplishments is securing approval for the college's first Master of Business Administration program, making Stillman a master's degree-granting institution for the first time in its 150-year history.
8. William G. Kelly, Christopher Newport University U.S. Coast Guard, retired rear admiral
Retired Coast Guard Rear Adm. William G. Kelly spent nearly four decades in military service, culminating in his appointment as superintendent of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, where he oversaw the education and development of future military leaders. He brought that experience to Christopher Newport University in 2023. At CNU, Kelly introduced the Strategic Compass, a university-wide planning process designed to establish institutional priorities. He has also restructured the university's Title IX Office, advanced environmental sustainability initiatives, expanded community college articulation agreements and overseen admissions strategies that produced a record increase in applications. His experience leading a federal service academy provides a distinctive perspective on developing principled, service-minded graduates.
9. John J. Broadmeadow, Norwich University U.S. Marine Corps, retired lieutenant general
A 1983 Norwich graduate, retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. John Broadmeadow returned to his alma mater as its 25th president after a distinguished 36-year military career. He served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, and commanded the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade before becoming deputy commander of U.S. Transportation Command. His final military assignment was director of the Marine Corps Staff at the Pentagon, where he helped lead the service's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and a major organizational change initiative. Since returning to Norwich, Broadmeadow has emphasized strengthening alumni relationships and reconnecting the university community to its founding mission of developing military and civilian leaders.
10. J.W. Crawford III, Texas Southern University U.S. Navy, retired vice admiral
Retired Navy Vice Adm. J.W. Crawford III built a career at the intersection of military leadership, national security and law. A member of the Navy's Judge Advocate General's Corps, he held senior legal and leadership assignments, including service as the Navy's 43rd Judge Advocate General. He was commissioned after earning his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later earned an LL.M. in ocean and coastal Law and national security. Since becoming Texas Southern University's 14th president in 2024, Crawford has spearheaded a comprehensive strategic planning initiative, secured the university's largest-ever operating budget and advanced major campus development projects, including a new Nabrit Science Center and the Catalyst for Urban Transformation.
11. Mark A. Brown, Tuskegee University U.S. Air Force, retired major general
Dr. Mark A. Brown made history in 2024 as the first Tuskegee alumnus selected to lead the university in its nearly 143-year history. A retired Air Force major general, Brown built a distinguished military career before returning to the institution where he earned his undergraduate degree in accounting in 1986. His executive experience includes leadership and professional development at the Harvard Kennedy School, the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business and the Broad Academy for Urban School Superintendents. As Tuskegee's 10th president, Brown has embarked on what he calls a Renaissance era, emphasizing institutional growth, academic excellence, research and the university's historic land-grant mission. His leadership represents a homecoming for an alumnus whose career has spanned military service, education and public leadership.
12. Jay B. Silveria, University of Arkansas System U.S. Air Force, retired lieutenant general
Retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria brings 35 years of military leadership to the University of Arkansas System. A command pilot with more than 3,900 flight hours, he commanded fighter wings and major operational units and served as deputy commander of air operations for U.S. Central Command. He also served as superintendent of the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he became nationally recognized for confronting racism and discrimination within the institution. Since taking the helm of the UA System in January 2025, Silveria has focused on greater collaboration and efficiency across its 22 campuses, divisions and units. In November 2026, Purdue University selected him as its next president, with his transition scheduled for February 1, 2027.
13. Christopher "Mike" Johnson, University of West Georgia U.S. Marine Corps veteran
A first-generation college graduate and U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Dr. Christopher "Mike" Johnson brings more than 30 years of experience in higher education and public service to the University of West Georgia. Before becoming its ninth president in August 2025, he served as chief of staff for the University of Houston and the University of Houston System, advising the president and system chancellor. His previous leadership experience includes positions at Purdue University, George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College. At West Georgia, Johnson has emphasized student success, institutional collaboration, and the university's role in regional economic development. His October 2026 investiture marked a formal milestone in the university's next chapter under his leadership.
14. David Furness, Virginia Military Institute U.S. Marine Corps, retired lieutenant general
Retired Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David Furness served 36 years in the military, commanding units ranging from infantry battalions to the 2nd Marine Division, a 17,000-person organization. His final assignment was deputy commandant for plans, policy and operations, where he helped coordinate the global deployment of approximately 200,000 active-duty and reserve Marines. A 1987 VMI graduate, Furness returned to the institute as its 16th superintendent in 2025. In his first year, VMI welcomed 532 new cadets, the largest entering class in its history. He has also prioritized improvements to campus technology, alumni engagement and the institute's academic, military leadership and athletic programs.
14. Kenneth F. “Frank” McKenzie Jr., The Citadel U.S. Marine Corps, retired four-star general
A 1979 graduate of The Citadel, Gen. Kenneth “Frank” McKenzie Jr. returned to his alma mater as its 21st president after more than 42 years in the U.S. Marine Corps. A career infantry officer, McKenzie commanded at every level, including Marine Forces Central Command and, ultimately, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), where he oversaw military operations across 21 countries and more than 40,000 personnel. He also served as director of the Joint Staff, coordinating strategic planning across the armed forces. Before returning to Charleston, he led the University of South Florida's Global and National Security Institute and Florida Center for Cybersecurity. His presidency marks a homecoming to the institution he credits with shaping his leadership and military career.
15. Jeffrey W. Talley, Belmont Abbey College U.S. Army, retired lieutenant general
Dr. Jeffrey W. Talley spent 34 years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve, rising to lieutenant general and serving as the 32nd chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general of the U.S. Army Reserve Command. In that role, he led an organization of more than 215,000 soldiers and civilian employees, with operations spanning more than 30 countries. His military honors include three Bronze Stars and the Army Corps of Engineers' Gold de Fleury Medal. Talley also built an accomplished academic and business career, holding faculty and leadership appointments at institutions including Notre Dame, Johns Hopkins and Harvard. Since becoming Belmont Abbey College's 21st president in January 2026, he has brought together his experience in education, executive management and service to advance the college's Catholic and Benedictine mission.
16. J. Michael Haynie, Syracuse University U.S. Air Force veteran
Dr. J. Michael Haynie served 14 years as an officer in the U.S. Air Force before joining Syracuse University as a faculty member in 2006. His military experience helped shape his academic and leadership work, particularly his commitment to supporting veterans and military-connected families. In 2011, he founded Syracuse's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families, the nation's first interdisciplinary academic institute dedicated to advancing the economic, policy and wellness interests of veterans and their families. He also championed the development of the National Veterans Resource Center. After serving in senior university leadership roles, including vice chancellor for strategic initiatives and executive dean of the Whitman School of Management, Haynie became Syracuse's 13th chancellor and president in May 2026.
17. John R. Ballard, Dakota State University U.S. Marine Corps veteran
Dr. John R. Ballard began his career as a Marine Corps infantry officer, commanding troops at the platoon, company, battalion and group levels in both active and reserve components. He served in peace operations in Haiti and commanded Marines, soldiers and sailors during the Iraq War. Following his military career, Ballard built an extensive academic career focused on international security, leadership development and national defense education. Before joining Dakota State University as its 24th president in June 2026, he led the National Intelligence University, where he advanced technology integration and partnerships and helped secure national laboratory designation. He also previously served as the first provost of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, helping restore accreditation and modernize its curriculum.
18. Shane Reeves, University of Wyoming U.S. Army, brigadier general
Brig. Gen. Shane Reeves brings military command, legal scholarship and academic leadership to the University of Wyoming. A career Army officer and judge advocate, he deployed to Iraq in support of combat operations, earning the Bronze Star for his service. He later taught and directed courses in military and constitutional law at the Army's Judge Advocate General's School before joining the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. There, he served as head of the Department of Law and dean of the Academic Board, overseeing academic programs and institutional development. A Wyoming native, Reeves returned home in July 2026 to become the university's 29th president, bringing experience in military education and leadership development to the state's flagship university.
19. Jose E. Coll, Western New Mexico University U.S. Marine Corps veteran
Dr. Jose E. Coll is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran whose academic career has focused in part on the experiences of military-connected students and the transition from military to civilian life. A scholar and higher education administrator, he has held leadership positions at Portland State University, Texas State University, the University of Southern California and Saint Leo University. Before his appointment as Western New Mexico University's 16th president, he served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Western Oregon University. Coll's work in military social work and student veteran research brings a distinctive perspective to WNMU, where he began his presidency in July 2026 with a focus on collaboration, educational access and institutional growth.
20. Lennor M. Johnson, MiraCosta College U.S. Marine Corps veteran
Dr. Lennor M. Johnson served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps before beginning a higher education career spanning more than 28 years. A first-generation college graduate, he has held positions ranging from professor and dean to vice president of student services and superintendent/president. His professional work has emphasized removing barriers to academic and career success for first-generation students, foster youth, veterans and other underserved populations. Before joining MiraCosta College in August 2026, Johnson led Imperial Valley College. He is the first African American to serve as MiraCosta's superintendent/president in the institution's 92-year history. His priorities include enrollment growth, fiscal health, curriculum alignment and expanding opportunities for the college's diverse student population.
21. Bishane Whitmore, Community College of Denver U.S. Air Force colonel
Dr. Bishane Whitmore brings more than two decades of U.S. Air Force leadership to the Community College of Denver. A senior officer and colonel, he most recently served as deputy commander of the 319th Reconnaissance Wing at Grand Forks Air Force Base, helping lead approximately 2,200 Airmen and overseeing a complex operation with a $70 million annual budget and billions of dollars in infrastructure. Whitmore is also a community college graduate, having earned three associate degrees before completing his bachelor's, master's and doctoral education. He began his presidency in October 2026, bringing a personal understanding of the community college pathway and a commitment to workforce development, educational access and student success.
