VMI Turnouts - February 2025

In this Turnouts, check out photos from Breakout for the newly minted Class of 2028 and?hear from former state Sen. Thomas Norment?’68 about his career as a public servant. Plus meet a 2010 grad who flies with the U.S. Navy’s famous Blue Angels. For more news from the Institute, visit the On Post and Athletics sections.

VMI Baseball First Pitch Dinner

More than 200 people gathered in the Hall of Valor in Marshall Hall the evening of Friday, Jan. 24, for the inaugural First Pitch Dinner, held to kick off the baseball season and welcome Keydet fans and supporters.

Class of 2028 Breakout

Breakout began in the morning with a blast from Little John in barracks, followed by a workout on North Post Feb. 10, 2025. After a rigorous and challenging experience, they completed a regular academic day before resuming activities later in the afternoon and evening, which included cannon pulls, log exercises, and low crawls.

Keilty '10: Blue Angel

Every November, the Blue Angels perform their traditional Homecoming Air Show at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. It marks the squadron’s return home after a season that began in early March and took it to more than 20 states. For U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jack Keilty ’10, it had a personal significance: It concluded his first season flying with the Blue Angels.

Homiak '95 Named Chief of Staff

Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Travis Homiak ’95 has been named VMI’s new chief of staff.?As a VMI cadet, Homiak earned the Lemuel MacKennie Long Jarman Award and the First Jackson-Hope Medal for highest attainment in scholarship. Upon graduation, he commissioned into the Marine Corps, where he served for over 30 years.

Why I VMI: Norment '68

Thomas K. Norment ’68, who served for 32 years representing the 3rd Senatorial District in the Senate of Virginia, is a “grateful man.” He is grateful for the opportunity to serve what he considers his hometown, as the 3rd District encompasses James City County-Williamsburg, Gloucester and New Kent County.?It was from there he matriculated at VMI in 1964.

Prillaman Brothers

When Richard Prillaman ’49B entered VMI in fall 1945, no one would have predicted that he would become a much-decorated soldier of two wars, a commander of Patton’s “Hell on Wheels” 2nd Armored Division, and a three-star general.?Richard was the first of three brothers who went to VMI.?A few years behind Richard came younger brother John Paul Prillaman ’53.

Athletics & Keydet Club Updates

Find details of how the Keydets are competing and winning in the Athletics & Keydet Club Updates section.

On Post

Read all about achievements at VMI from cadets to instructors, and see photos from December graduation and commissioning ceremonies in the On Post section.