Major General William L. Thigpen
US Army South Commander
MG William L. Thigpen is the Commander of U.S. Army South, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. A native of Hampton, Virginia, he graduated from Virginia State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Administration and commissioned as an Armor officer in the United States Army.
Prior to assuming command of U.S. Army South, he served as the Deputy Director for Operations, OT-4, Joint Staff, J3 National Military Command Center, Pentagon. He also served as both the Acting Senior Commander for 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson and Deputy Commanding General for Support.
MG Thigpen is a combat veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan who has commanded at every level from company through ASCC. He commanded the 316th Cavalry Brigade at Fort Benning, GA, and served at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. as a Chief of Staff of the Army Senior Fellow. Additionally, MG Thigpen served as aide-de-camp to the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army.
MG Thigpen is a graduate of the National War College. He has a Master’s Degree in National Security and Strategic Studies and a Master of Business Administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Colonel Edward L. P. Shepherd
COL Shepherd received his Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics Engineering Technology from Virginia State University and was commissioned through ROTC in December 1992.
Branched Ordnance with a Branch Detail to Infantry, COL Shepherd served 10 years in the Regular Army before transferring to the to the Army Reserve in Nov 2002.
During his time in the Regular Army COL Shepherd served as an Artic Light Rifle Platoon Leader and Maintenance Company Executive Officer in FT Wainwright, AK. He also served as a Company Commander for Human Research Volunteers at the Soldier Systems Command, Natick MA. His last assignment in the Regular Army was as in the Acquisition Corps where he served as a Capability Developer for OPFOR tactical engagement simulation and instrumentation at the Army Training Support Center. FT Eustis, VA.
Upon transferring to the United States Army Reserve, COL Shepherd was assigned as a Joint Exercise Officer in the Joint Forces Command J7, Suffolk, VA from 2002 to 2006. In this role he supported numerous exercises in support of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff exercise program and Partnership for Peace exercises for countries seeking entrance in to NATO.
In 2006, COL Shepherd deployed the Bagram, Afghanistan where he served as an Operations Officer and LOGCAP Support Office. He managed the Contract Task Order for services for 51 forward operating bases and Provincial Reconstruction Teams throughout Afghanistan.
Prior to accepting his most recent assignment, COL Shepherd served as an Area Coordinator and Staff Group Instructor for the Intermediate Level Education (ILE) course from 2007 to 2014 at FT Lee, VA. In this capacity he supervised other instructors and facilitated instruction for this graduate-level course.
COL Shepherd is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Combined Logistics Officer Advanced Course, Combined Arms and Service Staff School, and ILE. He holds a Master of Engineering in Modeling and Simulation from Old Dominion University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the Army War College.
COL Shepherd’s awards and decorations include: The Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War On Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War On Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, NATO Medal, Parachute Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, and Ranger Tab.
COL Shepherd has two daughters. CPT Ashley Shepherd commands the HHD, 519th MI BN, FT Bragg, NC. Ryan Shepherd is a lab technician at Sanaria research in Rockville, MD which develops malaria vaccinations. COL Shepherd resides with his wife, Karen in Woodbridge, VA.
Jerry D. Clark
1993 Vassar Hurt Scholarship Recipient
Jerry Clark is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Virginia State University and was commissioned a Distinguished Military Graduate through ROTC in December 1994. Branched Military Intelligence with a four-year detail to Armor, Mr. Clark served a combined 10 years on Regular Active Duty Army (1994-2001) and as part of the U.S. Army Reserve (2001-2004). He holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security Studies from American Military University (2008) and has earned several professional accreditations including the Project Management Professional (PMP®) certification with the Project Management Institute (PMI). Following his Active Duty Army service, Mr. Clark began his employment with Booz Allen Hamilton, a Fortune 500 firm headquartered in McLean, VA. Mr. Clark rose through the corporate ranks at Booz Allen, and is now a Principal/Director.
Catina Downey, CPA
1994 Vassar Hurt Scholarship Recipient
“I was a first-generation college student at VSU majoring in accounting. I happened upon ROTC really by accident. I was looking for a part-time job since I was paying my own way through school. I found an ad for “part-time” work that was actually the number for an Army recruiter. He explained the ROTC program and how I could go into the National Guard and get commissioned when I graduated. So, that’s what I did. I went to basic training and joined the ROTC program. I learned so much from that program. My PMS was Cortez Dial and then Michael Shakleford. I heard about the scholarship and applied. I was commissioned into the Finance Corp and went to Fort Jackson for OBC. I married a fellow cadet, Anthony Gray (Colonel Gray, now) and we went to Korea as our first duty station. From there, we went to Fort Bragg. I was in the 18th Airborne Corp and Anthony was in the 82nd Airborne. I transitioned out and moved back home to Virginia. I worked for a regional accounting firm for several years and in 2005, I started my own accounting practice. I have been operating my practice since then. I have a high school freshman who plans to go to VSU when she graduates.
I have to tell you that when I applied for that scholarship, I was on the edge of leaving school because I couldn’t afford it. I was considering going into the Navy, but fortunately the cadre at VSU convinced me to stay and told me about the scholarship. I credit that scholarship as the turning point in my life. It helped me finish school, go on to have a great military experience and I use the skills I learned in ROTC every single day. I use those leadership skills to mentor my staff, help my clients, and serve my community.”
