VMI Center For Leadership and Ethics

10/26/2026

We are well underway with this year’s VMI Leadership and Ethics Conference. We are joined by high school and undergraduate college students from JROTC, ROTC, senior military, civil, and foreign universities.

10/14/2026

The conference focuses on the central tenets of our American identity and the key leadership competencies – collaboration, negotiation, and compromise – needed to govern our complex, pluralistic nation. VMI's conference always features inspiring speakers and engaging interactive activities.

While this event is designed for college students, adult lifelong learners also enjoy this dynamic experience.

10/12/2026

Registration is open! Join us Oct. 26 & 27 for the Annual Leadership and Ethics Conference titled “America: Forging Common Ground.”

For our speaker lineup, we have Leader-in-Residence and former CIA Senior Intelligence Service agent, Marc Polymeropoulos, Director of UVA’s Institute for Engagement and Negotiation Tanya Denckla Cobb, Pulitzer-prize winning author Beverly Gage, Abram’s Accord negotiator and alumnus Robert Greenway ’90, and special guest BG (Ret.)Christopher Burns ,MBA, MSS, CPC.

Attendees will participate in a civil debate and mock interagency exercise, where they will add techniques for negotiation and collaboration.

This two-day learning arc is unique for an undergraduate college leadership conference and attracts the attendance of leadership programs, practitioners, ROTC, and senior military college students, staff, and faculty.

This event is open to the public and requires registration. Discounted rates apply to undergraduate students and VMI alumni. VMI students, staff, and faculty may attend for free with their registration.

Conference 🔗 https://vmileadconf.cventevents.com/event/887ef9de-1d03-4a9a-acef-68a7ac084d3d/summary.

📰 News from Post | Annual Leadership and Ethics Conference

Virginia Military Institute's Center for Leadership and Ethics will host its annual Leadership and Ethics Conference Oct. 26-27.

This year's theme, "America: Forging Common Ground," will bring together distinguished leaders and experts to explore the importance of negotiation, collaboration and civil discourse.

The conference is open to the public, with discounted registration for students and VMI alumni. VMI cadets, faculty and staff may attend at no cost.

🔗 Learn more: https://www.vmi.edu/annual-leadership-ethics-conference-to-be-held/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_content=ap_cse0afc6xe

10/07/2026

The Steamboat Institute Campus Liberty Tour Debate, in partnership with Virginia Military Institute's Center for Leadership and Ethics, brought together Douglas Macgregor and Hal Brands to debate a consequential resolution:

“Resolved: America benefits from the end of the rules-based international order.”

Macgregor, a retired U.S. Army colonel and former senior advisor to the Secretary of Defense, argued in favor. Brands, the Henry Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins SAIS, argued against.

Moderated by Washington Post opinion journalist and Steamboat Institute Fellow Carine Hajjar, the discussion examined the choices shaping America’s future: support for Ukraine, commitments to NATO allies, competition with China, and the limits of American power.

What do our alliances deliver, and what do they demand? Would a different world order make America safer?

👉 Watch the full debate and decide for yourself →link in comments.

09/28/2026

Earlier today, we held the second of three Civil Discourse Initiative rat battalion trainings at the request of VMI S-9 staff. This solutions-based workshop, an ABCD Workshop, is a conversation in which participants consider an issue that organizers frame with a question or two. After considering the topic and questions, participants pair up to share, then share their viewpoints with the group in a round of issues and a round of solutions. All remarks are addressed to the cadet-led event chair, with approvals and encourgement expressed by tapping. Cadet freshmen, referred to as rats, don't often get an open forum in which to express their views, so this event was met with much enthusiasm!

09/23/2026

Monday night, cadets gathered in the Hall of Valor for a solutions-based discussion on how we can foster integrity, not just compliance, within VMI's systems.

VMI's regimental, class, and Honor systems converge in our unique environment, so we want to ensure our systems teach lifelong principles and values.

Cadets, rats, faculty, staff, and members of VMI's Board of Visitors participated in the conversation. We were equally excited to welcome a faculty advisor and two cadets from .tech, which supports this program's mission to spread civil discourse programs beginning at VMI.

We discussed several angles, including personal integrity from one's upbringing, the brother rat spirit, creating a supportive environment, viewing the Honor System as a system of should-dos versus mustn't-dos, and other thoughtful insights.

Next Event: 2nd Rat Battalion training on 9/28 with S-9. That event will be cadet-led.

09/23/2026

Registration is now open for the 2026 Annual Leadership and Ethics Conference titled "America: Forging Common Ground." Our theme focuses on leadership skills harkening back to the Founding Fathers, whose influence in garnering public support for their cause required them to negotiate, collaborate, compromise, and engage in civil discourse. We have incorporated these skills into an interactive event with subject-matter experts who will guide us through understanding, applying, and practicing them.

VMI's annual Leadership and Ethics Conference is highly ranked for participant satisfaction and draws top leadership programs nationwide, including leadership and ROTC programs and several senior military colleges.

Join us for this engaging, top-rated leadership conference. Open to the public. Cadets strongly encouraged. Cadet permit available.

Link: https://vmileadconf.cventevents.com/event/887ef9de-1d03-4a9a-acef-68a7ac084d3d/register.

09/18/2026

For the past two years, VMI has made The Steamboat Institute Campus Liberty Tour, a traditional debate program, one of its stops.

This year, our speakers will debate the following resolution: Does America benefit from the end of the rules-based international order?

🌐 What is the "Rules-Based International Order"?

Think of it as a giant, global rulebook created after World War II, largely led by the United States. Instead of countries just invading each other whenever they want, this system relies on: Global Alliances (like NATO) to keep the peace. International Organizations (such as the UN and the World Trade Organization) to settle disputes. Shared Rules on global trade, human rights, and international law. Today, this system is fracturing as countries like China and Russia challenge these rules, and many Americans wonder whether it still serves US interests.

💬 Let's Discuss! Is it time for America to drop the global rulebook and focus entirely on itself, or would letting the system collapse create a more dangerous world?

Come see what our speakers think and decide for yourselves! There will be a pre- and post-debate poll of audience opinions.

This event is free but requires registration. See the link in the comments below.

Like and share so others can learn about this event!

09/17/2026

S-9 staff reached out to the CLE’s Civil Discourse Initiative faculty to request training for the rat mass to ease the first weeks of adjusting to VMI's unique lifestyle. The Rat Line is a very demanding period of learning all the traditions and skills required of new cadets.

The training focused on civil discourse, communication, and sharing solutions rather than complaints. Said one cadet, “It was great to discuss the challenges and to solve our issues together.”

Nothing like getting a productive start to building Brother Rat spirit and class cohesion!

09/16/2026

Should the United States continue leading the rules-based international order, or would America benefit from moving beyond it?

Join us for a thought-provoking debate examining the resolution:

"Resolved: America benefits from the end of the rules-based international order."

Hear compelling arguments from both sides as speakers discuss sovereignty, security, economic interests, alliances, and America's role in the world.

This event is FREE and open to the public. Because in-person seating is limited and to ensure the audience can participate and be heard in the pre- and post-debate poll, we ask everyone to register.

Register today: 👉 https://tinyurl.com/VMIdebate