Gold Cord Committee Biographies
Barry Baird '92, Highty Tighties, B.A. in History, M.B.A. Finance University of DE; (1993 -2006) MBNA America, Product Implementation for Research & Development; (2006 - present) Bank of America, most recently Customer Experience Strategies. Serves on HT Alumni and VTCC Alumni Boards as a director. Credits VTCC for providing discipline and decision-making skills under pressure and feels continued improvement and expansion of the "Corps Only" segment is the key to the long-term success of the VTCC.
David Dempsey '76, C Co, Cadet LTC 1st Battalion Commander, Color Sergeant, Gregory Guard, German Club, Who's Who in America's Colleges and Universities, 1976. Managing Director, Jones Lang LaSalle Washington, D.C. (2006 - present) manage JLL's general contracting business in the Mid-Atlantic region. Spaulding & Slye, Washington, D.C. (1991-2006) principal, managed construction enterprise prior to merger with JLL. Scott-Long Construction, Fairfax, VA (1984-1990) and the Whiting-Turner Contracting Co, Baltimore MD and Ft Lauderdale, FL (1976-1984). As a 2nd generation Corps alum, the Corps has always been an important part of my life. My interest in the Corps has been reinvigorated by the quality of cadets I have met over the last few years and the relevance that I believe the Corps has in the University, the State and the nation especially in the times that we live.
Jeff Glesner '65, R Sq, Exec. Officer; (1966 to 1971) USNR, CEC, LT. OICC (Officer in Charge of Construction); OICC Dalat, Republic of Viet Nam, received Purple Heart (1968 - 1969); CINCLANT Seabee coordinator for Diego Garcia Naval Facilities (1969 - 1971); Whitman, Requardt and Associates LLP(1971 - 2005); Resident Engineer for Construction Management; Projects in NJ, DE, MD and VA. Retired September 12, 2005
Franklin M. "Mack" Halsey '62 MS '64, M C, Distinguished Military Graduate, recorder for the Honor Court. Owner/Principal of Old Dominion Capital, Commonwealth Ventures LLC and Commonwealth Properties LLC. I value the leadership and discipline learned from being a member of the Corps, which has served me through life.
Vince Hardwick '62, "O" Squadron Commander, B.S. in Business. Entered USAF as 2nd Lt after four years of preparation in the Corps. Enjoyed lots of promotions and success in Strategic Air Command due to VTCC training. Left A.F. and spent one year at the T.C Williams School of Law. Spent thirty-eight years in commercial real estate finance funding multi-million dollar real estate loans all over the U.S. Currently employed in HUD Division in Bethesda, MD for AmeriSphere. Past Master of Theodore Masonic Lodge in Georgetown, Washington, DC. He feels the U.S. would not have suffered from the likes of the Enron or World Com debacles had their officers been under the leadership of VTCC trained individuals living and practicing the VTCC honor code, "A cadet will not lie, cheat or steal nor tolerate those who do."
Vince Hardwick '62, "O" Squadron Commander, B.S. in Business. Entered USAF as 2nd Lt after four years of preparation in the Corps. Enjoyed lots of promotions and success in Strategic Air Command due to VTCC training. Left A.F. and spent one year at the T.C Williams School of Law. Spent thirty-eight years in commercial real estate finance funding multi-million dollar real estate loans all over the U.S. Currently employed in HUD Division in Bethesda, MD for AmeriSphere. Past Master of Theodore Masonic Lodge in Georgetown, Washington, DC. He feels the U.S. would not have suffered from the likes of the Enron or World Com debacles had their officers been under the leadership of VTCC trained individuals living and practicing the VTCC honor code, "A cadet will not lie, cheat or steal nor tolerate those who do."
F. Staley Hester, Jr., '64, F Co, Cadet 2nd Lt. Scholastic Officer, BS in Business, Major Accounting. Active duty in U.S. Army (1964-1966) assigned to John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center, Fort Bragg, including tour in Dominican Republic conflict in 1965, 3 years in Army Reserve. Various accounting and business ventures (1966-2001); retired President Sherwood Memorial Park, Inc., in 2001. Member Ut Prosim Society, Legacy Society, Life Member Golden Hokie Club, VTCC Scholarship donor, Member Roanoke Valley Regional Campaign Committee. ."I am a part of all that I have met" (Tennyson). Thank you, Virginia Tech.
Gary Lerch '72, O Sq; BSME '73, MSME '75. Retired LTC, USAR; 6 years active duty, stationed in Germany and Fort Riley, KS; 16 years in the Reserves. Served in cavalry, maintenance, and engineer units. Currently employed as a senior operations research analyst by the Defense Logistics Agency in Richmond, VA. Member Ut Prosim Society, Legacy Society, College of Engineering Committee of 100, and VTCC Alumni Board. My spouse Dawn is also a Tech graduate (BS Hort. '73, MS Hort. '75) and works for Tech as the Associate Director of Development for CALS.
Joe Love '63, M Co, Cadet 2nd Lt.; US Army: C.O.19th Signal Detachment, Qui Nhon, Rep. of Vietnam (1964 - 1966); Philip Morris International with last job being Director of Purchasing for the Latin America Region (1966 - 1998). Since retirement from Philip Morris in '98 has been involved with 2 small business start-ups. Without the discipline and leadership lessons learned in the Corps, I am convinced my life would have been significantly poorer.
J. Pearson '87, F Troop and K Co Executive officer; 1LT IN Virginia Army National Guard; General manger Wayland Ford; Vice president Shelton Ind.; Vice President TAP USA; President and CEO of Carry-On Trailer Inc. since 1996.
Bert Poole '77, A Co, Regimental Commander; CPT US Army JAGC (1980-1983); USAR (1983-1990), IMA Instructor, US Army JAGC School, Criminal Law Division, (1987-1990); Attorney and CEO of Huff, Poole & Mahoney, P.C. in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Greg Porter '62, D Sq; Co-founder and Principal of the investment management firm of Flippin, Bruce & Porter, Inc., Lynchburg, Virginia. VPI, now Virginia Tech, was a wonderful experience and being a member of the Corps in those early college years instilled in me a rich sense of tradition and pride which will forever be a significant part of my life.
G. Robert Quisenberry '62, O Sq, BA in Statistics; President of Quisenberry Warren, Ltd., a management consulting firm located in Richmond, VA specializing in conducting constituency opinion surveys and assisting management in creating strategies to address perceived strengths and weaknesses. Bob is Chair of the Dean of the College of Science's Advisory Roundtable and serves on the National Campaign Steering Committee, representing the Corps of Cadets.
Raymond Reed '57, Band Company, Student Director; two years Army Corps of Engineers; career with Du Pont Company manufacturing synthetic fibers. Member of Highty Tighty Alumni BOD and active with Habitat for Humanity.
Harold Schneikert '65, E Co, Chief Justice Cadet Honor Court; LTC (Retired) USAR; retired from E.I. DUPONT de Nemours & Co.; currently a registered representative with MML Investors Services. Hal serves on the VTCC Alumni Board and is a member of the Ut Prosim Society, ISE Academy of Distinguished Alumni, and the College of Engineering Committee of 100.
Reed Schweickert '63, E Co, 2nd Bat. Staff & Co. Commander; 2 yrs. active duty -motor pool commander, Ft. Polk, La; Sales Rep. for Herff Jones Co.; Pres. of The Reed Schweickert Co. for 40 years; retired and farming for wildlife on Gobbler Knob (farm) in Powhatan Co. The Corps taught me dedication, discipline, and gave me leadership training and skills.
Raleigh F. "Sandy" Seay, Jr., '66, H Co, Supply Sergeant, Guidon Bearer, Sash and Sabre Society; Lieutenant, Armor, 3Rd Infantry Division, Germany (1968-69); President of Seay Management Consultants since 1980; Adjunct Professor of Humanities at Rollins College and Valencia Community College, Winter Park and Orlando, Florida.
Sandy Siegrist, '85, E Co, Regimental XO: CPA, KPMG Peat Marwick. SVP, Bank of America. Microsoft Corporation since 1998. VTCC Alumni Board. Dedicated to increasing the visibility and benefits of the VTCC leadership program in the corporate environment
David T. Thomas, II '63, H Co, Commander; Color Corporal; Pershing Rifles; LT, US Army Ordnance Corps (1967 - 1969); Retired as Technical Director, US Army Research, Development, and Acquisition Information Systems Agency, after 32 years of federal service; employed as Regional Director for Universal Hi-Tech Development, Inc., Rockville, MD (2001 - 2005)
Thomas T. Thompson '56, M Co, Regimental Commander, Ag Econ, Pershing Rifles, German Club, ODK; US Army Ranger, 7th Div Arty Korea (1956- 1958); Army National Guard (1959-1993); Former Hampton School Board Chairman, Vice Chair Fort Monroe Federal Area Development Authority. Civilian employment: Harrison and Lear Inc., Coldwell Banker Professional, The Kicotan Company, all Real Estate Construction, Sales and Development entities.
Nicholas P. Valdrighi '57, Band Company, Drum Major, BSME; MBA 1965 UVa; retired Colonel USAF Reserve with 32 years active and reserve service, past VT Alumni Chapter President, Past Member VT Alumni Board, member of VTCC Alumni Board, Ut Prosim, and Legacy Societies. Currently employed as an Account Executive IBM Corporation. Believes that the Corps experience offers life long rewards in both a civilian and military life.
T.O. Williams, III '59, Band Company, Drum Major; German Club; AFROTC; Retired USAF Colonel & Command Pilot with 27 years service; Vietnam Special Ops service (1965-66, 1970-71); VT Alumni Association staff & Director of University Programs (1989-2003). Currently a fundraising consultant and Chairman of the Board, VTCC Alumni, Inc.
Ray Yount '68, H Company, Cadet LTC, 2nd Battalion Commander; Editor-in-Chief, Bugle, 1967 and 1968; retired Army Colonel with 26 years service; survived tour in Charlottesville as first Commander of the Army's National Ground Intelligence Center; currently Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of government contracting firm supporting Intelligence Community; credits Corps of Cadets with providing foundation for his success.
James E. Archer (Jim) ‘72|G and A Companies, Regimental Executive Officer. Retired as Major General, USAR, and CG, 95TH Division (IT) in 2008, after 36 years of Active and Reserve Service. Executive Vice-President and COO of his family’s business, Blue Ridge Beverage Company, Inc., headquartered in Salem, Virginia. Early in his career, was Supervisor of Packaging Systems Engineering for Corning Glass Works. He credits the VTCC with making a major contribution to his success and is convinced that today’s Corps is ‘Best in Class’ and a critical national resource.
