The Citadel names three finalists for commandant of cadets
Three men, including two graduates of The Citadel, have been named finalists for commandant of the South Carolina Corps of Cadets.
The finalists are:
- Marine Col. Leo A. Mercado, Class of 1979, currently serving as Secretary of the General Staff, HQ, United States Marine Corps.
- Marine Col. David J. Mollahan, director of the division of Humanities and Social Sciences and senior Marine Corps representative at the U.S. Naval Academy.
- Army Col. Richard C. Townes, Class of 1983, commanding officer of the Army ROTC unit at The Citadel.
Click here for photos and biographical inforamtion about the finalists.
The Commandant of Cadets is a vice presidential position responsible for the command and control of the 2,100-member South Carolina Corps of Cadets. The commandant reports directly to Citadel President Lt. Gen. John W. Rosa.
Finalists will be invited to campus for interviews after which Rosa will recommend to the Board of Visitors someone to replace outgoing Commandant Col. Greg Stone. Stone came to The Citadel in 2006 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he was deputy commandant. A graduate of West Point, Stone plans to step down May 29. He and his wife will enter the private sector in Columbus, Ga.
Finalists for commandant of cadets were selected by a five-person search committee. Members are retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Mike Steele, ’67; retired Lt. Col. Ben Legare, ’63, member of The Citadel Board of Visitors; Sam Hines, dean and provost of the college; retired Col. Joe Trez, ’69, director of staff; and retired Brig. Gen. Harry Carter, director of academic leadership programs.
