New Commandant - Marine Lieutenant General Bierman

4,804 Views | 25 Replies | Last: 2 mo ago by Trinity Ag
GI Joe
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1:45p, 2/26/25
S
A message from
President Mark A. Welsh III

Members of the Aggie Family,
I'm pleased to share that Lieutenant General James W. Bierman Jr. has agreed to serve as the 47th Commandant of the Corps of Cadets. LtGen Bierman will join Texas A&M University on Aug. 1, upon his retirement from active duty.
LtGen Bierman currently serves as Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policies and Operations for the U.S. Marine Corps, where he is responsible for the development and execution of service plans and policies related to the operations, structure, deployment and employment of the Marine Corps.
He has 37 years of expertise in operations, problem-solving, recruiting, training and education, strategic communications, resourcing and budget execution. He also has more than 20 total years of command experience, including infantry battalion combat commands in both Afghanistan and Iraq.
He earned his B.A. in History from the Virginia Military Institute and his M.A. in National Security Studies from the College of Naval Warfare. He also is a graduate of The Basic School, Infantry Officer Course, Intelligence Officers Course, Amphibious Warfare School, Command and Staff College, School of Advanced Warfighting and the College of Naval Warfare.
He's an exemplary combat-proven leader and a decorated Marine Infantry Officer. His commitment to service and leadership aligns perfectly with the mission and Core Values of Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets. I'm confident he will be a stellar role model for young Aggies, embodying character, competence and dedication to living a respected and respectful life. He is the right person to lead our "Keepers of the Spirit" as we head into the next 150 years of this great university.
LtGen Bierman's selection comes after a national search that attracted numerous exceptional candidates. I would like to thank the search advisory committee, chaired by Dr. Susan Ballabina, for its hard work and tremendous contributions to this process.
Please join me in welcoming LtGen Bierman to Aggieland!
Thank you for everything you do … Gig 'em!
r/mark
General (Ret.) Mark A. Welsh III, President
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ShotOver
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3:39p, 2/26/25
AG
I'm here for the "Old army's dead"…. The hand wringing, the "he doesn't "get" us"…. Etc, etc, etc. Should be interesting.
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DCC80
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4:00p, 2/26/25
AG
"He doesn't get us": A fish pretty much gets it after a week of FOW.
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oldord
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6:35p, 2/26/25
AG
I honestly don't know where the bucks stops with this decision. If President Welsh hired him, I don't have a tremendous amount of faith that he's not going to be more of the same like general Ramirez.
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sharpdressedman
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10:00p, 2/27/25
With General DEI Welsh III making the decision, I will wait for the new commandant to prove he is not on a mission to make the corps woke.
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OldArmyCT
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4:40a, 2/28/25
AG
Supposedly this is the first non-Ag commandant since 1951. Which means the Corps today was formed by Aggie commandants. Welsh may not have the degree but he has the pedigree and he certainly had good reason to search outside the box. Welsh didn't fire the last guy for being too slow to implement any woke agenda, he got fired for being an unthinking agent of dumb changes. The chances of a Marine trying to make the Corps of Cadets more woke seem pretty slim to me. Time will tell but I think we'll like this guy.
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Tango.Mike
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In reply to OldArmyCT • 5:59a, 2/28/25
OldArmyCT said:
The chances of a Marine trying to make the Corps of Cadets more woke seem pretty slim to me.


Honest question- why? He was chosen by and worked under the same leadership as every other GO of the last 20 years. The Pentagon is all political appointees, Drawing the conclusion that the new 3-star GO is similar to the guy who hired him isn't much of a stretch
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WBBQ74
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9:10a, 2/28/25
AG
Marines are a little different. Not bad, just different. Good people are where you find them. My personal interactions with VMI guys back in the day was a small sample, not holding that one way or another.

Should be an interesting fall semester.
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Hincemm
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9:19a, 2/28/25
AG
seems a little obtuse to be automatically dismissive of any GO for basically the past 20 years.

i'd be remiss to confront a 3 star rifleman from vmi on his wokeness or dei stances.
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CT'97
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1:38p, 2/28/25
AG
If you think Gen. Welsh and Gen. Ramirez are bad for Texas A&M and the Corps of Cadets you should just divest interest from both the University and the Corps.
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OldArmyCT
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2:58p, 2/28/25
AG
My brother, a VMI grad, says he was fired for DEI reasons. The link below is from Facebook so you may end up there if you click it.

The Virginia Military Institute has long been a bastion of honor, leadership, and tradition. Founded to mold leaders of integrity and moral courage, it now finds itself caught in a storm of political agendas, ideological skirmishes, and administrative indecision. At the heart of this maelstrom, lies a singular, essential question: Is VMI still upholding its core mission, or has it become another pawn in the relentless game of political power plays? This is not merely an internal crisisit's a pivotal moment that could reshape the very ethos of one of America's most storied institutions. READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT: https://cadetnewspaper.com/news/906/vmi-at-a-crossroads-why-integrity-must-trump-politics-in-the-institutes-future/
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Hincemm
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In reply to OldArmyCT • 5:49p, 2/28/25
AG
OldArmyCT said:
My brother, a VMI grad, says he was fired for DEI reasons. The link below is from Facebook so you may end up there if you click it.

The Virginia Military Institute has long been a bastion of honor, leadership, and tradition. Founded to mold leaders of integrity and moral courage, it now finds itself caught in a storm of political agendas, ideological skirmishes, and administrative indecision. At the heart of this maelstrom, lies a singular, essential question: Is VMI still upholding its core mission, or has it become another pawn in the relentless game of political power plays? This is not merely an internal crisisit's a pivotal moment that could reshape the very ethos of one of America's most storied institutions. READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT: https://cadetnewspaper.com/news/906/vmi-at-a-crossroads-why-integrity-must-trump-politics-in-the-institutes-future/
dumb question alert. who is "he?"
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OldArmyCT
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In reply to Hincemm • 11:08a, 3/1/25
AG
Hincemm said:
OldArmyCT said:
My brother, a VMI grad, says he was fired for DEI reasons. The link below is from Facebook so you may end up there if you click it.

The Virginia Military Institute has long been a bastion of honor, leadership, and tradition. Founded to mold leaders of integrity and moral courage, it now finds itself caught in a storm of political agendas, ideological skirmishes, and administrative indecision. At the heart of this maelstrom, lies a singular, essential question: Is VMI still upholding its core mission, or has it become another pawn in the relentless game of political power plays? This is not merely an internal crisisit's a pivotal moment that could reshape the very ethos of one of America's most storied institutions. READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT: https://cadetnewspaper.com/news/906/vmi-at-a-crossroads-why-integrity-must-trump-politics-in-the-institutes-future/
dumb question alert. who is "he?"
The VMI Superintendent.
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Ulysses90
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In reply to OldArmyCT • 6:43p, 3/1/25
AG
What does the VMI Superintendent have to do with LtGen Bierman aside from Bierman having graduated from there?


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OldArmyCT
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In reply to Ulysses90 • 5:20a, 3/2/25
AG
Ulysses90 said:
What does the VMI Superintendent have to do with LtGen Bierman aside from Bierman having graduated from there?


Well I'll try and dumb it down for you. Had Bierman known the VMI Superintendent job (which is higher than their Corps Commandant job) was going to be open would he have even applied for our job? Or maybe he's having 2nd thoughts?
Other than that, nothing at all.
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Ulysses90
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In reply to OldArmyCT • 5:41a, 3/2/25
AG
My guess is that he would have still applied for A&M because the VMI Board of Visitors is a mess that, as I understand it it, is still controlled by appointees installed by Ralph Northam.

https://virginiamercury.com/2025/02/26/power-struggle-at-vmi-governor-lawmakers-clash-over-black-superintendents-future/
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OldArmyCT
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In reply to Ulysses90 • 11:44a, 3/2/25
AG
Ulysses90 said:
My guess is that he would have still applied for A&M because the VMI Board of Visitors is a mess that, as I understand it it, is still controlled by appointees installed by Ralph Northam.

https://virginiamercury.com/2025/02/26/power-struggle-at-vmi-governor-lawmakers-clash-over-black-superintendents-future/
Well Welsh sort of fired Michaelis for many of the same faults and the range of opinions posted just on TexAgs suggests nothing is really settled about the future direction of the Corps. I retired from the Army a long dang time ago but diversity was a factor in a lot of daily decisions even back then. It's not going away.
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Buck Turgidson
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10:00p, 3/4/25
Nothing to do but pray hes a good one and wait to see how he does.
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Ulysses90
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In reply to Ulysses90 • 10:28a, 8/16/25
AG
Ulysses90 said:
My guess is that he would have still applied for A&M because the VMI Board of Visitors is a mess that, as I understand it it, is still controlled by appointees installed by Ralph Northam.

https://virginiamercury.com/2025/02/26/power-struggle-at-vmi-governor-lawmakers-clash-over-black-superintendents-future/


Bumped to note that VMI just made a brilliant selection for their new Superintendent by picking LtGen David Furness. In the space of a few months, Texas A&M, Virginia Tech, and VMI have picked recently retired Generals to lead their Corps' of Cadets that have great credentials for courage to enforce standards even when it was unpopular and criticized by the press. I don't know LtGen Bierman but I know LtGen Furness fairly well and MajGen Seely very well. These Corps' of Cadets have some really bluechip leadership talent that bodes well for the future

https://www.vmi.edu/news/headlines/2025-2026/furness-named-vmis-16th-superintendent.php

https://vtcc.vt.edu/about/bios/Seely.html
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Jock 07
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8:48p, 8/16/25
AG
Was actually just talking about the new commandant with a couple VMI buddies over beers at the club yesterday afternoon. Don't know anything about the new commandant but I will say I've known quite a few VMI guys over the years and they've all been really good dudes with the traditional values we all cherish. I know it's a small sample size that doesn't really mean much, but I'm optimistic that we'll see positive changes in the coming months/years.
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Trinity Ag
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In reply to OldArmyCT • 10:32p, 8/21/25
S
OldArmyCT said:
Ulysses90 said:
My guess is that he would have still applied for A&M because the VMI Board of Visitors is a mess that, as I understand it it, is still controlled by appointees installed by Ralph Northam.

https://virginiamercury.com/2025/02/26/power-struggle-at-vmi-governor-lawmakers-clash-over-black-superintendents-future/

Well Welsh sort of fired Michaelis for many of the same faults and the range of opinions posted just on TexAgs suggests nothing is really settled about the future direction of the Corps. I retired from the Army a long dang time ago but diversity was a factor in a lot of daily decisions even back then. It's not going away.

Welsh didn't really fire Michaelis.

Good luck to anyone taking the Commandant's job.

It is tough to have a position when the influence of powerful parents outweighs the judgement of university officials -- and you have more bosses than you can shake a stick at.

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hillcountryag86
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In reply to Trinity Ag • 10:55a, 8/23/25
AG
Think there are many positions (coaches) at all universities that fall into that scenario.
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Trinity Ag
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In reply to hillcountryag86 • 5:51p, 8/25/25
S
Good point. Football coaches are probably the closest comparable in terms of the influence of multiple centers of power and the lack of clarity on who is your actual "boss" -- ie, who can fire you.

At least with football your performance is pretty objective -- at the end of the day you win enough games or you don't. And you know going in you are getting life-changing $ to produce, and a huge payout if you get canned.

The Commandant is highly paid, and politics comes with the territory at that level. But at this particular moment the politics is off the charts -- and it is probably shocking to the uninitiated.

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hillcountryag86
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In reply to Trinity Ag • 8:45p, 8/25/25
AG
Trinity Ag said:
Good point. Football coaches are probably the closest comparable in terms of the influence of multiple centers of power and the lack of clarity on who is your actual "boss" -- ie, who can fire you.

At least with football your performance is pretty objective -- at the end of the day you win enough games or you don't. And you know going in you are getting life-changing $ to produce, and a huge payout if you get canned.

The Commandant is highly paid, and politics comes with the territory at that level. But at this particular moment the politics is off the charts -- and it is probably shocking to the uninitiated.


Are these parents of current cadets? Helicopter in this day and age? Or more Ol Ags with money and influence?
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Hedley Lamar
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11:23p, 8/25/25
Completely agree with Trinity Ag.

The political pressure on the Commandant these days (yes, similiar to the pressure on the football coach) is indeed intense. And from multiple sources: parents, former students, regents, and even current cadets. Its as intense now as it has ever been - especially given how some people "weaponize" social media against any decisions the Commandant and his staff make that they disagree with, or call "others" in a position of authority and influence to put pressure on the Commandant from above about decisions he makes that they don't agree with. It is a difficult environment for a new Commandant to have to operate in.

I wish the new Commandant and his staff the best of success. But it won't be easy.
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Trinity Ag
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In reply to hillcountryag86 • 9:57a, 8/26/25
S
hillcountryag86 said:
Trinity Ag said:
Good point. Football coaches are probably the closest comparable in terms of the influence of multiple centers of power and the lack of clarity on who is your actual "boss" -- ie, who can fire you.

At least with football your performance is pretty objective -- at the end of the day you win enough games or you don't. And you know going in you are getting life-changing $ to produce, and a huge payout if you get canned.

The Commandant is highly paid, and politics comes with the territory at that level. But at this particular moment the politics is off the charts -- and it is probably shocking to the uninitiated.


Are these parents of current cadets? Helicopter in this day and age? Or more Ol Ags with money and influence?

It is both.


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