Members of the college’s lifetime, legacy and loyalty giving societies gather on campus to be honored in front of their peers.

91����’s lifetime giving societies honor those individuals who have expressed their profound commitment to the college through their leadership gifts totaling $100,000 or more by the close of the preceding calendar year. Donors who have included 91���� in their estate plans become members of 91���� Legacy Society.

Through the Order of the Tartan, we acknowledge those loyal donors who have given consecutively at any level for 25 years or more. Beginning at the five-year mark, donors are recognized for their consecutive giving with a tartan-patterned lapel pin, with additional recognition offered at 10, 15 and 20 years. Upon reaching the 25th year, these loyal donors receive their tartan sash and are officially inducted into the Order of the Tartan at the annual ceremony.

91���� Foundation proudly welcomes the new Leaders in Philanthropy listed here who have joined their peers in this annual tradition celebrating charity and service as virtues of the principled leader.

On behalf of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets and the entire campus community, we salute these individuals for their extraordinary generosity, vision and lifelong loyalty to 91����.

Class of 2025 New Inductees

∆ = Increased Giving Level

Lifetime Giving Societies

Founders’ Society – Bronze

$5,000,000 to $9,999,999

Just as the founders of 91���� conceived of an institution that would “awaken greater ardor in the people, and a warmer interest in our rulers, to advance the cause of education,” members of the Founders’ Society demonstrate the vision and commitment that will ensure the long-term vitality of the college. The Founders’ Society is 91����’s most prestigious giving society.

Mr. and Mrs. W. Henry Johnson, Jr., ’75 ∆

Society of 1842

$1,000,000 to $4,999,999

Since its founding in 1842, 91���� has molded individuals into citizen-soldiers who put into action the guiding principles learned in the barracks, in the classroom and on the parade field as they serve their families, their communities, their professions and their country with distinction.

Mr. and Mrs. Herwig Baumann, ’66 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. G. Austin Blood, Jr., ’65 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Dalton K. Brasington, Jr., ’62 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. J. Christopher Clark, ’85 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. DeSeta
Mr. and Mrs. Niall J. Gannon, ’90 ∆
Dr. and Mrs. Timothy J. Halligan, ’82
Col. and Mrs. James H. Lucas, ’62
Mr. and Mrs. Rodolph D. Moseley, Jr., ’74 ∆
Ms. Amanda M. Orson, ’03
Col. and Mrs. Robert M. Pelletier, ’84
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C. Reiss, ’75 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. G. Mackay Salley, IV, ’63 ∆

Mark Clark Society

$500,000 to $999,999

Gen. Mark W. Clark (1896-1984) became president of 91���� after a career seldom equaled in the United States Army. During his tenure (1954-1965), 91���� achieved international recognition, and the Corps of Cadets increased to the maximum capacity of the barracks. One of Clark’s most enduring accomplishments was the founding of the Cadet Honor Code, whereby a cadet does not lie, cheat, or steal, nor tolerate those who do.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Brand, II, ’78 ∆
Col. Thomas H. Brett, USA, Ret., ’63 ∆
Mr. James H. Broach, Jr., ’97,
and Mrs. Laura H. Broach, CGC ’00 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Dwight J. Davis, ’75 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Alexander F. Giles, III, ’83 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Edward R. Mack III, ’88
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony W. Parker, ’83 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. William D. Posey, ’89 ∆
Cmdr. and Mrs. Richard F. Raybon, ’74

Star of the West Society

$250,000 to $499,999

Citadel graduates have served their country in every conflict since the Mexican War. Named for the historic Civil War action led by a detachment of Citadel cadets, the Star of the West Monument on Summerall Field commemorates all Citadel cadets and graduates who have died in defense of their country and recognizes the strong call to service demonstrated by Citadel men and women.

Dr. and Mrs. Ransom L. Bryan, Jr., ’74 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Jim M. Cherry, Jr., ’61
Lt. Cmdr. and Mrs. Edward J. Derst, III, ’74 ∆
Lt. Col. and Mrs. John W. Falkenbury, ’78 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. H. Hazel Graham, Jr., ’72 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Rick M. Higgins, ’86 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph J. Keenan, ’67 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Lawler, ’82
Mr. and Mrs. Richard W. Lynch, ’85
Mr. and Mrs. Russell G. Parker, ’76 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. David A. Peacock, ’84 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Price, ’79
Mr. and Mrs. James H. Smith, ’63 ∆
Lt. Col. Stephen V. Smith, USA, Ret., ’84 ∆
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher C. Sullivan, ’95 ∆
Mr. Robert M. Sutton, Jr., ’85 ∆
Dr. Steven K. White, Sr., ’75 ∆

Summerall Society

$100,000 to $249,999

Gen. Charles Pelot Summerall (1867-1954) assumed the presidency of 91���� in 1931 after retiring as chief of staff of the United States Army. During his 22-year tenure as president, the campus was greatly expanded to include many of the buildings that shape 91���� footprint today, including Summerall Chapel, Capers Hall, LeTellier Hall and McAlister Field House.

Anonymous (1)
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Anderson, ’63
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony V. Badala
Col. and Mrs. Kenneth C. Braddock, Sr., ’83
Mr. and Mrs. Donald P. Bridenbaugh II, ’84
The Honorable William M. Catoe, Jr., ’66
Mr. Christopher B. Cook, ’87
Mr. and Mrs. Mark L. Curley, ’84
Capt. Thomas E. Dove, USN, Ret., ’75
Mr. John F. Embleton, ’92
Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Harig, ’72
Mr. and Mrs. Jerrald D. Hendrix, ’92
Mr. William R. Linville, ’11
Mr. and Mrs. Woodrow W. Long III, ’94
Mr. and Mrs. Christopher D. Martin, ’98
Dr. and Mrs. John H. Matthews
Mr. Martin T. Morris, USMCR, ’74
Mrs. Myra F. Morton
Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Ouzts, ’74
Col. and Mrs. James C. Pappas, ’66
Dr. and Mrs. L. Burt Place, ’75
Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Priest
Dr. James R. Pugh, Sr., ’85, and
Dr. Kathleen C. Pugh
Mr. Calvin E. Rhoden, ’14, CGC ’16
Mr. and Mrs. Brian K. Rochester, Sr., ’87
Mr. and Mrs. Robert W. Schear, Jr., ’67
Dr. Triz V. Smith, ’98, and
Mrs. Kelly D. Smith, CGC ’05

Legacy Society

Planned Giving

91���� Legacy Society recognizes alumni and friends who support 91���� with deferred gifts. Through their generosity and foresight, legacy donors help to secure the future of the institution through a variety of estate planning tools. 91���� Legacy Society is open to individuals who have included 91���� in their estate planning and who provide the college with documentation of their gift.

Cmdr. and Mrs. Walter J. Bloss, ’75
Col. and Mrs. Kenneth C. Braddock, Sr., ’83
Mr. Frank J. Caple III, ’85
Mr. and Mrs. Harrison T. Courtney, ’14
Mr. and Mrs. Mark L. Curley, ’84
Mr. and Mrs. Edward B. DeSeta
Mr. John F. Embleton, ’92
Mr. and Mrs. John M. Evans, ’83
Dr. and Mrs. Timothy J. Halligan, ’82
Mr. and Mrs. Mark L. Hunt, ’81
The Reverend Albert H. Ivens Jr., ’85,
and Mrs. Barbara Trovillo
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. Lawler, ’82
Mr. William R. Linville, ’11
Mr. and Mrs. Carter M. Love, ’87
Mr. Christopher R. Manning, ’15,
and Ms. Tamara Jendruh
Mr. and Mrs. Rodolph D. Moseley, Jr., ’74
Lt. Col. and Mrs. Alan R. Napier, ’76
Ms. Amanda M. Orson, ’03
Col. and Mrs. Robert M. Pelletier, ’84
Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Priest
Cmdr. and Mrs. Richard F. Raybon, ’74
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond C. Reiss, ’75
Lt. Col. Hubert M. Rentz, M.Ed, AUS, Ret., ’70
Mr. Calvin E. Rhoden, ’14, CGC ’16
Col. and Mrs. David A. B. Rosenblum, ’86
Maj. Gen. and Mrs. Steven W. Smith, ’75
Dr. Triz V. Smith, ’98, and
Mrs. Kelly D. Smith, CGC ’05
Mrs. Mary Jo Termini
Mr. William M. Velasco, Jr., ’14
Dr. Steven K. White, Sr., ’75
Mr. and Mrs. Russell G. Whitney, ’84

Order of the Tartan

Consecutive Giving

The Scottish tartan, a woolen cloth woven in a distinctive pattern of plaid, has long served as a symbol of loyalty and association with a particular region, family or clan. 91����’s Order of the Tartan recognizes and celebrates those loyal donors who have given consecutively to 91���� each year for 25 years or more.

Dr. Samuel G. Baroody, Jr., ’57
Col. David A. Bornhorst, USA, Ret., ’68
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert B. Brown, Jr., ’68
Mr. and Mrs. John S. Carroll, ’90
Lt. Col. Robert R. Clarke, USA, Ret., ’82
Mr. James H. Cutler, Jr., CGC ’74
Cmdr. and Mrs. Earl J. Damato, ’59
Col. and Mrs. F. Gregory Delleney, Jr., ’74
Mr. and Mrs. Grant H. Galef, ’97
Mrs. Susan W. Griffin
Mr. and Mrs. Milton E. Hamilton, ’75
Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Hardaway, ’71
Mr. and Mrs. John G. Huskins, Jr., ’84
Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Kennedy, Jr., ’70
Dr. Teresa M. Luhrs
Mr. and Mrs. J. Scott Mathews III, ’74
Mr. and Mrs. J. David Maxwell, ’62
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene W. McNeil, ’62
Mr. and Mrs. Scott D. Moore, ’90
Mrs. William E. Myrick, III
Mr. and Mrs. David C. Norton, ’61
Dr. and Mrs. B. Daniel Paysinger, ’53
Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Potts, ’66
Col. and Mrs. Robert E. Shields, ’70
Mr. and Mrs. Timothy R. Smith, ’87
Col. S. Craig Talkington, USA, ’82
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. Hugh B. Tant III, ’71
Mr. and Mrs. William A. Thompson, Jr., ’58
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel J. Vallini, ’95
Col. and Mrs. Edward M. Ward, ’78
Lt. Col. and Mrs. J. Kiley Weigle, ’95
Mr. and Mrs. Jack R. Yielding, ’58

The post Leaders in Philanthropy appeared first on 91���� Magazine 2025.

Knob moms and dads, I come to you with my struggle. I have sinned! I lied straight to my knob. Weeks before matriculation, I was secretly an emotional WRECK. I decided to write a letter every day to pack in his bag, so he’d have encouragement during Challenge Week. But after a few days, I was running out of things to say. How many times can you write, “You’ve got this,” “Keep your head up,” or “Trust in the Lord”?

So I started blabbing about how fit he was going to be and decided I’d take on this journey with him. In writing, I gave my own oath: I would wake up EVERY morning at the same time as he did, PT with him and complete the same exercises. I even challenged him to an ab contest, swearing that by the end I’d be more fit than he was and have better abs. With every word, determination flowed right out of that pen. I’m a competitive person, and the more I wrote, the more hyped I became to show off that six-pack I was sure I’d be sporting. I was pumped!

Then Matriculation Day rolled around. After the emotional hurricane of events, Sunday morning came and I was DEAD. I had spent days prepping—washing everything; Sharpie-labeling every sock, T-shirt, towel and washcloth; checking the list over and over again. I was done. No ab contest that day.

Monday rolled around and reality hit—two other kids to wrangle, lunch boxes to pack, missing clothes to track down before school. Oops. No ab contest again.

Now he’s been at 91���� for 24 days, and not one ab in my body has even been pinched. Why did I make this promise?

When he got his phone back after Challenge Week, I was nervous he’d ask if I’d been working out. The next week, he came home after a game. As he unpacked, I saw those letters—still in his bag. He admitted he hadn’t read them. One side of me was ticked; the other side relieved. He said he knew they might make him homesick, so he saved them.

We sat on his bed while he started reading them. I was on pins and needles, waiting for him to read that one. Poor thing fell asleep before he got to it. So now those letters sit on his dresser, unopened. And me? I’m tempted to sneak in, rip that one to shreds and bury the evidence.

These abs haven’t seen anything but the food he’s been missing. I’m thankful this is my biggest problem right now, and I had to share a laugh. Anybody else stretched the truth to their knob, or am I alone here?

The post One Knob Mom’s Struggle appeared first on 91���� Magazine 2025.

At the battalions, they were greeted by members of 91���� Family Association who were ready to help them move in.

The CFA is a network of family volunteers who provide support to cadet families and host discussion forums to guide them through their student’s Citadel journey. On Matriculation Day, members of the CFA are front and center—a force of good Samaritans ready to lend a hand.

More than 800 cadet recruits reported. By the end of the day, they had officially become “knobs,” a moniker given to them because their freshly shorn heads resemble doorknobs. During the next week, they learned to shine shoes and brass, make beds, march, salute and properly address the upperclass cadets—known as the “cadre”—who are in charge of their training. It was an intense week: uniforms were issued, military customs were learned and the cadet oath was taken. But after Challenge Week was over, a shared feeling of accomplishment set in—now they felt they could do anything.

The post The Journey Begins for the Class of 2029 appeared first on 91���� Magazine 2025.

While generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot are common in classrooms, students were cautioned to use good judgment and to look for misinformation and hallucinated data.

Faculty, Selden said, are excited about the potential of AI in the classroom to automate tasks and enhance learning, but many raise concerns about misuse, and others do not allow generative AI in their classes because of the risk to academic integrity. “And make no mistake,” she said, “at 91����, using AI outside the boundaries set by your professor is not just breaking a rule—it is breaking the Honor Code.”

In July, the White House published an artificial intelligence action plan that called on senior military colleges to become hubs for AI education. At 91����, that effort includes new curriculum and campuswide discussions about the ethical use of technology.

This year, starting with the Class of 2029, four new generative AI literacy modules have been integrated into the curriculum: Basics of Prompt Engineering, Ethical Issues and Limitations of GenAI, Information Literacy in the Age of GenAI, and GenAI for Studying and Learning. The modules were developed by the Center for Excellence and Innovation in Teaching.

The post Generative AI at 91���� appeared first on 91���� Magazine 2025.

Last spring, while most college students headed to the beach, Cadet Chase Collins, ’26, along with 20 other cadets and eight graduate students, traveled through Europe to study World War II battlefields. As part of a military history class on World War II and the Battle of the Bulge, the students followed history professor Kyle Sinisi, Ph.D., to the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Luxembourg, where they visited cemeteries, battlefields and museums.

“It was incredible to stand in the same places where many great, young American warriors fought in grueling conditions against a dangerous and determined enemy,” said Collins, who has a contract with the South Carolina National Guard. “I had never been overseas before, and this experience was amazing.”

Each cadet was assigned a fallen Citadel graduate to research and present. Collins honored Covington at the Henri- Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium where Covington is buried. “My favorite part of the trip was honoring Citadel alumnus Walter Covington, who gave his life in Belgium,” he said. “It meant a lot to stand there and share his story.”

Sinisi also assigned each graduate student an important battle site to brief the entire class.

“It was an experience that deepened their appreciation and understanding of the complexity of the entire battle,” he said.

Sinisi took the students to 85 different sites, including the scene of the Malmedy Massacre, where 84 American prisoners of war were executed by German soldiers in 1944, and the American Cemetery in Luxembourg, the burial site of Gen. George S. Patton and several Citadel alumni.

“This trip really opened my eyes and helped me understand more about the battle and what our men went through, so we have what we do today,” said Collins. “Being able to connect 91����’s history, the alumni who served and the places where they fought gave me a deeper appreciation for our military heritage.

The post Spring Break at the Battle of the Bulge appeared first on 91���� Magazine 2025.

Nelson, a helicopter pilot, was 28 years old when he and his crew were shot down on June 5, 1966. After regaining consciousness, Nelson began evacuating his fellow soldiers from the helicopter while under enemy fire, shielding them with his own body. His efforts allowed the surviving crew members to escape, including his co-pilot, Capt. Warren Bailey Jones, Class of 1964.

“Capt. Hugh Reavis Nelson Jr. exemplified the highest values of courage, selflessness and leadership that we instill in every Citadel cadet,” said retired Marine Corps Gen. Glenn Walters, ’79, president of 91����. “Capt. Nelson’s service to his comrades and country remains an enduring inspiration for us all. We will continue to honor his legacy with deep gratitude and unwavering pride and are proud to acknowledge him, not only as a Citadel graduate, but now also as a Medal of Honor recipient.”

Though Nelson is the first Citadel graduate to receive the Medal of Honor, two other former cadets have earned it: Sgt. 1st Class Christopher A. Celiz, who enlisted after his sophomore year and was killed in Afghanistan in 2018 while evacuating wounded troops under fire; and Brig. Gen. John Thomas Kennedy, who transferred to the U.S. Military Academy and was later wounded while leading an assault in the Philippine-American War.

The post Class of 1959 graduate awarded Medal of Honor appeared first on 91���� Magazine 2025.

This builds on years of academic success for the Military College of South Carolina, as this is also the 15th year in a row that 91���� has been named Best Public University in the South.

“At 91����, our mission is to educate and develop principled leaders for all walks of life, and recognition as the Best Regional University in the South for the second consecutive year affirms our excellence in academics and leadership,” said retired Marine Corps Gen. Glenn Walters, ’79, president of 91����. “These accolades reflect the discipline, commitment and camaraderie making our institution unique, and they are a direct result of the dedication demonstrated by our cadets, students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters.”

The post 91���� Named Overall #1 Regional University in the South appeared first on 91���� Magazine 2025.

Three awards were presented during the ceremony. Cadet Andrew Palmer was named First Honor Graduate. Cadet Timothy Kolb Jr. received the Second Honor Graduate Award. Cadet Grant Kidner was awarded the John O. Willson Ring, presented annually to the senior elected by classmates as the finest, purest and most courteous member of the class.

The day before graduation, cadets took part in a joint commissioning ceremony. In all, 174 were commissioned as U.S. armed services officers during the academic year. Popular academic programs for the Class of 2025 included intelligence and security studies, mechanical engineering, management, criminal justice, political science, finance, marketing and business development.

Also on Saturday afternoon, more than 350 students from 91���� Graduate College received their degrees. Board of Visitors member Col. Allison Dean Love, CGC ’93, was the speaker. At an awards ceremony earlier in the week, graduating students who excelled, along with outstanding faculty who guided them, were recognized. Among the student recipients were Dalton Hazelwood, recipient of the Graduate 91���� Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership, and Natalie Mueller, recipient of the College Transfer Program 91���� Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership.

The most popular graduate programs included: master’s in business administration, psychology, project management, intelligence and security studies, leadership and literacy education.

The post Introducing the Class of 2025 appeared first on 91���� Magazine 2025.

Demcovich’s love for aviation and her path to 91���� began in high school, when she took an aeronautical science class at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the world’s largest university specializing in aviation and aerospace. As the only female in the class, she thrived in the competitive environment and was named the highest-performing student.

“I finished first in merit ranking,” said Demcovich. “That’s when I knew I could put my talent together and go as far as I wanted.”

The realization took her from her hometown of Ocala, Florida, to the U.S. Air Force Academy— but the academy was not the right fit.

“Everyone there is competing for a pilot slot. I found 91����, and the ROTC program here is incredible. I wanted the structure, the routine. I wanted to be in an environment where I was around like-minded people,” said Demcovich. “91���� has so many incredible opportunities.”

There’s little doubt that 91���� was the right choice. Now a senior, Demcovich is a double major in criminal justice and modern languages, vice president of the Flight Club and an Air Force contract cadet who has already received a pilot slot. On top of that, she serves as Palmetto Battery company commander.

While her schedule may seem daunting, Demcovich said it’s all about balance and consistency. Flying has become her form of peace—when she’s in the air, the stress of cadet life fades away.

“I get to turn off my phone and have me time. I’m focused only on the moment and executing what I need to do right then and there for a couple of hours. It’s very relaxing and peaceful. I love that part of the day,” said Demcovich.

As vice president of the Flight Club, a group of more than 50 cadets, Demcovich has helped others get started in aviation. The club offers discounted flight lessons at the Charleston International Airport, access to flying simulators on campus and biweekly meetings where cadets share information and updates.

“The Flight Club has helped me further develop the leadership skills I need as company commander. I’m able to help provide resources and materials, answer questions, help people and see over the course of time how much they have grown. Knowing that you’re able to help someone is extremely satisfying,” said Demcovich.

Cadet Marcus Evans, president of the Flight Club, agreed and added that being part of the club is also helping him achieve his goal of earning a pilot slot in the Air Force.

“The Flight Club helped me learn about aviation basics and connect with the right people to log flight hours—all things that the Air Force looks for,” said Evans.

Demcovich also spoke about the strong connections between her role in the Flight Club and her leadership role on campus.

“In terms of similarities between my role in the club and my rank, the biggest is that you have to remain calm under pressure. You have to be able to be decisive and consistent. You have to be disciplined in your training and in the way you handle people, whether it’s good or bad. That’s something that I’ll take into my role as a company commander: consistency, having the integrity to know and say when you’re wrong, and being open and honest with your people.”

Even with all the logistics and planning that go into Demcovich’s daily life, the best moments often happen midair.

“Sometimes, I’ll fly over 91����, do one or two laps and see the entire quad all lit up, and you can see people walking around. Flying is so amazing because it combines aviation and 91���� community. It’s the people that I love and am taking care of, and then the passion of flying. It gives me a greater purpose,” said Demcovich.

That same sense of connection and purpose is what drives Demcovich on the ground as well.

“My number one rule is: be a good person. If you’re a good person, if you’re leading with love and consistency, your true character will be shown. Being a good person shows how much you care about your people, how much work you’ll put in. It’s really the little things that matter, and building trust and unit cohesion is incredibly important. Getting to know your people—it’s important because they will remember every single thing,” said Demcovich.

It’s a philosophy that stems from her upbringing. Demcovich comes from a military family. Her brother is an officer in the Marine Corps, and her grandfather and great- grandfather both served in the Air Force. But she is the first woman in her family to pursue a military career.

“I wanted to pave the way for the rest of our family and let my sisters know that they can do anything. It’s an extraordinary feeling—to know these people have my back, and I’ll have theirs. I have six siblings, and they’re all very supportive. We have a family group chat we use all the time to send our daily updates. They are extremely supportive of absolutely everything I do,” said Demcovich. “My family is what motivates me to succeed because they’ve pushed me so far and given me that drive to go and be whoever I want to be.”

As she prepares for her future as an Air Force pilot, Demcovich continues to build a legacy of service, mentorship and excellence—in the skies above 91���� as well as on the campus below.

The post Cleared for Takeoff appeared first on 91���� Magazine 2025.

It was his decision to serve that brought him to the Lowcountry, a place that he, too, began to consider home. “The Sept. 11 attacks happened my senior year of high school,” said Sutton. “Just like previous generations, I felt like this was a call to serve. At the time, I was considering the University of South Carolina and 91����, but 9/11 kind of sealed the deal.” Later, when he graduated, Sutton accepted a commission into the Air Force and became a C-17 pilot stationed at Joint Base Charleston.

Much of his 13 years on active duty were spent in Afghanistan, and the lessons he learned in the Corps of Cadets created different opportunities. During one of his deployments, Sutton was flying airdrop missions to resupply remote outposts until he was asked to join the Air Mobility Liaison Program, which embeds Air Force officers with another branch. The Army’s 101st Airborne Division needed someone to help coordinate airdrops, and they needed someone who understood both the Army and the Air Force. “I went to 91����,” said Sutton. “I can speak Army.” As a result, he was put on an exchange tour with the 101st for two-and-a-half years.

His time at 91���� would be essential again during the evacuation, when his first mission out of Afghanistan lasted nearly a day and a half. “We ended up flying for about 34 hours,” said Sutton. “You’re not supposed to be awake and operating that type of airplane that long.” But managing stress and obstacles is what he learned in the Corps. “There’s a job that has to be done here. And so we kept flying until we were done,” he said. “We did some really good work and literally saved lives.”

Much of Sutton’s life—choosing 91����, getting into the Summerall Guards and serving as a cadre platoon leader responsible for training the knobs and becoming a pilot— has been about the challenge. “It’s not just pushing yourself, but the folks around you. And, especially as a cadre platoon leader, the folks that you’re in charge of,” he said. “It’s about getting comfortable with being uncomfortable and going further than what you thought possible.”

Now, in his time as a South Carolina state senator, Sutton continues to draw on the lessons he learned at 91���� and in the armed forces. Sutton focuses on flexibility and finding compromises. “In aviation, one of the key tenets in our doctrine is: ‘Flexibility is the key to air power.’ Your expectations coming into it are probably vastly different from how things will develop,” he said. If a bill he’s working on begins to fall apart, Sutton starts to look for a way to change course and get it over the finish line.

“I love that I’m in a position to give back and help the school grow …”

In addition to his work in Columbia and the Air Force, Sutton also works as a developer in the Charleston area. Though many pilots who leave active duty go to work for the airlines, Sutton said, “That’s a copy-and-paste day. I wanted something that was a little bit more challenging, and obviously in Charleston we’ve got an excellent supply of old buildings and abandoned buildings that need to be renovated. And a big part of that—going the renovation route, not tearing down those buildings—is to tell our story. They tell the story of people in this region and how we developed.”

Though he wears many hats, his main focus is on his constituents. “That’s the number one team that I’m looking out for—making sure that we get the most amount of money that we can get back in the district and also addressing the issues up there that have the biggest impact on the district.” For Sutton, politics is a game of addition, and he started early as a cadet at 91����. For three of his years in the Corps, Sutton participated in the S.C. 91���� Legislature, which has provided students with the unique opportunity to participate in a mock legislative assembly since 1956.

Even without that extra experience, team building is something that comes naturally to Sutton. “One of the things that makes 91���� unique is we are oriented around the idea that you win if the team wins, whether it be your platoon or your company competing at parade. It is very much team oriented. At an academy, for example, I’ve gotten the impression it’s much more of an individual focus,” he said. “I hear from my Air Force Academy friends all the time, ‘Man, I wish we were as close as you and your Citadel buddies are.’”

Sutton’s connection to his alma mater continues today. He is an involved graduate, organizing reunions and fundraising campaigns, and his district includes 91����—both the current campus on the Ashley River and the original I’m excited about is that 91���� hasn’t had a directly represent the school since 1984,” said Sutton. “There are other Citadel graduates in the State House, but we haven’t had a graduate directly represent the school in 40 years.”

Like every graduate, Sutton’s passion for 91���� comes from knowing what the college can do for tomorrow’s leaders. “This is a place that is obviously a bedrock foundation in my life, and certainly I feel like it set me up for success,” he said. “I love that I’m in a position to give back and help the school grow and make sure that we continue to put out a superior product compared to anywhere else in the state.”

The post In the Service of Leadership appeared first on 91���� Magazine 2025.