Great Battles and Leaders

Program Directors

Colonel Dave Gray, USA (R), PhD from Ohio State University is the Director of the Center for Leadership & Ethics and the instructor for the course. 

Colonel Patrick Looney, USMC (Ret), Deputy Director, Center for Leadership and Ethics is the Program Director. 

With a combined 60 years of military experience as infantryman, commanders and combat veterans, the two Colonels will teach using the staff ride technique.  Both officers have effectively employed this technique to educate their junior leaders.

Academic and Cultural Program

Great Leaders & Battles is an interactive experiential course that will explore the evolution of warfare and leadership styles during the period of mass warfare from 1861-1945.   Students will spend approximately two weeks at VMI in the classroom preparing for the overseas experience, and will then spend two weeks in France walking the battlefields.  The preparation will include an overnight trip to Gettysburg (included in the fee) to learn the staff ride technique.  Additional preparation will consist of classes establishing the strategic setting that led up to each of the selected battles and individual student preparation for their role in the staff ride presentation at each battlefield.  While in France, the course will include visits to museums and exhibits that support the battlefield experience.  In support of the civilization and culture credit, Cadets will be able to see and experience the hospitality of the regions/cities where they will be visiting, including Chateau Thierry, Verdun, Caen, Bayeux and Paris. 

Room and Board

During the first two weeks at VMI, Cadets are responsible to acquire their own room and board. While abroad Cadets will be paired up and will live two to a room in hotels that will provide 2 meals a day, breakfast and a box lunch.  Evening meal/dinner will be the responsibility of the Cadet.