Army cadre and staff teach, coach and mentor every cadet. Senior cadets run the battalion day to day, and leadership positions rotate so every cadet has the chance to lead.
Commissioned through ROTC as a Field Artillery officer in 2005. Served with the 82nd Airborne and 1st Infantry Divisions, deployed twice to Afghanistan and once to Iraq, and most recently led operations at Human Resources Command. Ranger qualified, with a master's in adult and organizational development.
A West Point graduate and Military Police officer who commanded a company in The Old Guard. As a Foreign Area Officer and Arabic linguist he led security cooperation in Mauritania. He joined Vanderbilt in 2024.
Enlisted as an infantryman in 2003, then served as a military police Soldier and CID special agent, including protective duty for the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Commissioned as an Engineer officer in 2015.
Enlisted as a CBRN specialist in 2012 and commissioned into the Chemical Corps through ROTC. Commanded two chemical companies, one of them deployed to Kuwait, and received the 2024 General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award.
An air defense Soldier since 2009 who has served from squad leader to first sergeant, including as a tactical NCO at West Point. Deployed to Qatar and Iraq, and a member of the Sergeant Audie Murphy Club.
A retired Master Sergeant with 21 years of service who joined Go Gold in 2018. Your first contact for scholarships and enrollment: darrell.thompson@vanderbilt.edu, 615-343-7616.
A former squad leader in The Old Guard who now runs battalion supply. bruce.d.bradley@vanderbilt.edu, 615-322-8556.
Part of the Go Gold Battalion since 1997, after 22 years on active duty. kenneth.w.walden@vanderbilt.edu, 615-322-8550.
Senior cadets (MS IVs) plan and run the battalion's training, operations and events.
Battalion CommanderVanderbilt · Economics and CSET. Responsible for everything the battalion does or fails to do.
Cadet Sergeant MajorVanderbilt · Environmental Sociology and GSS. Oversees fitness, standards, discipline and training.
Executive OfficerVanderbilt · Economics. Manages day-to-day activities and the staff.
Alpha Company CommanderVanderbilt · Chemical Engineering.
Bravo Company CommanderTennessee State · M.S., Criminal Justice.
S1 · PersonnelFisk · Criminal Justice.
S2 · Security & IntelligenceVanderbilt · HOD. Vanderbilt football.
S3 · OperationsVanderbilt · Economics.
Assistant S3 · OperationsVanderbilt · Neuroscience. Billy Lubas and Nathan Simon also serve in the S3 shop as assistant S3s.
S4 · LogisticsVanderbilt · HOD. Vanderbilt football.
S5 · Recruiting & OutreachBelmont · Nursing.
S6 · CommunicationsVanderbilt · Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Platoon leaders plan training and look after the health, welfare and morale of their platoons. Platoon coaches develop newer cadets one on one.
| 1st Platoon | Platoon leader Isaac Colletti · Vanderbilt, Computer Science Coach Peter Thompson · Vanderbilt, Economics |
|---|---|
| 2nd Platoon | Platoon leader Alex Leighton · Vanderbilt, Economics, History Coach Alex Goldberg · Vanderbilt, Economics |
| 1st Platoon | Platoon leader Isaiah Owens · Fisk, Psychology Coach Knathifa Cambridge · Vanderbilt, Computer Science |
|---|---|
| 2nd Platoon | Platoon leader Helena Sena · Vanderbilt, Computer Science Coach Denise Cherchio · Belmont, Nursing |
| 3rd Platoon | Platoon leader Shane O'Connell · Vanderbilt, Biomedical Engineering Coach Rylie Hill · Belmont, Nursing |
Chain of command as of fall 2026. Cadet positions rotate; this page is updated each semester.