Alumnus Retired From 36-Year Career In Marines
The Virginia Military Institute board of visitors has selected retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. David Furness, a 1987 graduate of the institute, as its 16th superintendent.
The announcement came Friday, just one day before VMI’s newest class of cadets reported to post for matriculation. Furness succeeds Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins, whose four-year contract expired at the end of June.
“My selection as the 16th superintendent of VMI is the highest professional honor of my lifetime,” Furness said in a statement. “I have benefited immeasurably from my VMI education … and it is an immense honor to give back and serve the VMI community as superintendent.”
Furness graduated summa cum laude with a degree in history and served as regimental commander, the institute’s top cadet post. He went on to a 36-year career in the Marine Corps, retiring as a three-star general in 2023 after assignments that included commanding the 2nd Marine Division, leading U.S. forces in the Horn of Africa, and serving as deputy commandant for plans, policy and operations at the Pentagon. His career highlights included managing $2 billion in assets, overseeing a 17,000-Marine division, and pioneering suicide prevention programs that dramatically reduced self-harm incidents.
Following retirement, Furness worked in the private sector as executive vice president of defense programs at the bipartisan government relations firm J.A. Green & Company.
Board of visitors President retired Col. Jamie Inman ’86 emphasized that the choice followed an extensive national search. “Lt. Gen. Furness distinguished himself among a strong field of candidates,” Inman wrote in a letter to the VMI community.
According to Inman, the sixmonth search drew more than 800 inquiries or nominations and resulted in interviews with six candidates. Three finalists — Furness, retired Army Maj. Gen. Bill Rapp, and Brig. Gen. Dallas Clark ’99, who served as interim superintendent during the search — visited post last week, meeting with more than 100 cadets, faculty, staff and board members.
Feedback from those meetings was considered before the board cast its vote Aug. 15. “The quality and character of each finalist forced the board into a very difficult decision,” Inman wrote, but he praised the process as “transparent, inclusive, and thorough.”
Furness, who currently lives in Tampa, Fla., will relocate to Lexington with his wife Lynda and daughter Elizabeth. The couple also has three grown sons.
Inman said the board looks forward to Furness’ leadership: “His strong military record, passion for the VMI experience, and proven ability to advance the Institute’s mission make him the right person to lead the Institute in this next chapter of its history.”
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