LEXINGTON, Va. Dec. 4, 2025 — Virginia Military Institute will hold its December ROTC joint commissioning ceremony, in which approximately 20 new officers take their commissioning oaths, Wednesday, Dec. 17 at 5 p.m., and commencement ceremony, Thursday, Dec. 18 at 11 a.m. About 25 cadets are expected to receive the diplomas. The public is invited to attend both ceremonies, which will take place in Memorial Hall on post.

The speaker for the commissioning ceremony will be Col. Timothy Price ’04, who graduated from VMI with a degree in international studies and immediately commissioned into the Army. 

His service includes multiple combat deployments across the Middle East in support of both conventional and special operations, as well as operational deployments to South Korea, Israel, Poland, the Baltic states, and the Southern Caucasus region. His military education includes the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Maneuver Captain's Career Course, Ranger School, and Command and General Staff College. He also earned a master’s degree in public policy management from Georgetown University as part of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Internship Program.

The speaker for commencement will be Lt. Gen. William J. Bowers ’90, deputy commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Bowers commissioned into the Marine Corps after graduating with distinction from VMI with a degree in history. While at VMI, he was a member of the boxing club, the Semper Fi society, the Ring Figure honor guard, and was Echo Company commander.

Throughout his military career, he has served in every Marine Expeditionary Force, in every element of the Marine Air Ground Task Force, and in most parts of the supporting establishment. Bowers’ personal decorations include the Legion of Merit (with gold star), the Bronze Star, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with oak leaf cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (with two gold stars), the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. He was the “Combat Engineer Officer of the Year” in 1998.

The commencement ceremony will be livestreamed. The stream may be found here.  

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE