First Black American Leader Of Virginia Military Institute, Who Removed Confederate Statute On Campus, Is Fired
Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, the first Black superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), has been ousted after the school’s board of visitors voted 10-6 against renewing his contract. The decision came after a closed-door session that lasted more than two hours, with no official reason given for Wins’ removal. The vote follows years of criticism from conservative alumni who opposed his efforts to foster diversity and remove symbols of the Confederacy on campus, New York Times reported.
Wins, a VMI alumnus, became superintendent in 2021, following a tumultuous period for the institute, which had been criticized for a culture of racism and sexism. Prior to his appointment, a 2020 Washington Post investigation revealed the persistent racial discrimination faced by Black cadets, prompting a state investigation that confirmed a toxic atmosphere at VMI. In response, Wins took significant steps to address these issues, including launching initiatives aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion.
One of Wins’ most high-profile decisions was the removal of the statue of Confederate General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, a figure tied to VMI’s history, from the campus grounds.
These tensions boiled over as Wins’s contract renewal approached, with accusations from a Virginia state senator that racial motivations were behind the push to remove him.
The vote to fire Wins raises important questions about the future of diversity initiatives in military institutions and the ongoing debates about Confederate symbols and their place in American history. As VMI moves forward, the legacy of Wins’s leadership and his impact on the institution will undoubtedly continue to be a subject of intense debate.
Just days earlier, President Donald Trump fired Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a four-star general. He was the 21st Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest-ranking military officer in the United States. Brown, who took the role in October 2023, was dismissed amid criticism from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who accused him of promoting a “woke” agenda.
