​by James A. Bacon

Two weeks ago, following the decision of the Virginia Military Institute Board of Visitors not to renew his contract, Superintendent Cedric T. Wins, defended his record and asserted that the Board’s decision was influenced by political bias rather than job performance. Bacon’s Rebellion posted his statement here.

The Cadet, VMI’s independent student newspaper, subjected the superintendent’s claims to critical examination in a lengthy article this morning: “Fact-checking MG Wins: True, False, or Unsubstantiated Claims on His VMI Tenure,”

Wins, a 1985 alumnus, was appointed superintendent by former Governor Ralph Northam amid accusations of institutional racism and sexism. His tenure included initiatives such as removing the Stonewall Jackson statue and implementing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs. Some alumni supported the changes and others criticized them for undermining the traditions that made VMI distinctive and worthy. The Board, dominated by appointees of Governor Glenn Youngkin, voted 10-6 against renewing his contract.

The Cadet, which has had a tumultuous relationship with Wins, found that some of the claims in his letter were accurate but needed context, others lacked substantiation, and yet others weren’t supported by the facts. Among the highlights:

Claim: The Board’s decision was politically motivated

Assertion: The decision not to renew his contract, said WIns, “was not based on my performance or the tangible progress we achieved.”

Evaluation: Unsubstantiated. “This claim suggests political motivation without evidence. The BOV follows a standardized evaluation process, and no public evidence supports allegations of bias. The BOV, consisting of sixteen highly qualified individuals, conducted its annual performance rating in a closed session as required by its Bylaws and state law. MG Wins was not in the room for those discussions and has no first-hand knowledge.​”

“Mr. Tom Watjen, a strong advocate for Wins, was a part of that closed session. Watjen voted to extend Wins’ contract and resigned after the vote. Still, according to the Washington Post, ‘Watjen said that while he can ‘understand’ Wins’s allegation that the board’s decision was biased ‘that’s not necessarily the way I feel.’ This does not substantiate MG Wins’ claim. The burden of proof lies with MG Wins.”

Claim: Wins reversed VMI’s enrollment decline

Assertion: “We reversed a 10-year decline in admissions.”

Evaluation: False. “Enrollment was relatively stable before his arrival and significantly declined after his leadership began.”

“The year MG Wins arrived (FY21), enrollment stood at 1,611, a 3.6% decline from the 2018 peak, which is not indicative of a crisis. Enrollment dropped after MG Wins assumed leadership and continued to decline under his tenure with 2023 falling below 1,600, 2024 below 1,500, and 2025 enrollment at approximately 1,433, indicating a 16%+ drop during his leadership.”

Claim: Wins repaired VMI’s culture and climate

Assertion: “What I can attest to since my arrival is I placed the right emphasis on repairing the culture and climate and charting a way forward for VMI. I prioritized cadets by providing the best for their safety, education, and well-being…. Unfortunately, the winds of resistance by the few have drowned out those who desire to bring the Institute into the 21st Century while maintaining the right traditions.”

Evaluation: Unsubstantiated. “While MG Wins claims to have repaired VMI’s culture and climate, cadet surveys indicate dissatisfaction with his administration. This claim remains unverified without objective measures of cultural improvement, such as cadet retention, leadership feedback, or alumni support.”

“When asked during The Cadet‘s award-winning Initial Voice of the Corps survey in Feb 2022 whether the administration’s decisions represent the cadets’ voice, an overwhelming majority, 88%, reported that the decisions either mostly do not or do not. Also, 85% reported that the VMI Office of Communications and Marketing publications mostly or all the time do not adequately convey cadet grievances. 67% disagreed with the changes made to the Honor System, 88% responded that they could not voice their displeasure with changes to the Corps system, and 73.5% did not agree with how VMI was being run. Not a single respondent expressed trust in the administration to preserve the VMI ethos or to look out for the best interests of the Corps.”