Deputy Commandant of LSU Corps of Cadets

Deputy Commandant of LSU Corps of Cadets

Reporting to the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Deputy Commandant of LSU Corps of Cadets serves as a senior administrator responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of programs and initiatives that support the holistic growth, leadership development, and operational excellence of the Corps of Cadets. The Deputy Commandant is charged with ensuring the strategic alignment of the Corps with university policies, student success outcomes, and institutional values, while fostering cross-campus collaboration and external engagement.

General Responsibilities for This Position

• Provide strategic leadership and administrative oversight for all Corps of Cadets operations.
• Serve as chief liaison between the Corps and key university offices, including ROTC detachments, academic departments, LSU Foundation, and Student Affairs.
• Direct fundraising and development efforts in partnership with the LSU Foundation and alumni.
• Lead planning for cadet recruitment, scholarships, housing, and co-curricular learning experiences.
• Coordinate academic and leadership development opportunities, including oversight of a proposed Center for Leadership Development.
• Represent the Corps of Cadets at official university events and with key external stakeholders, including veteran, civic, and alumni organizations.
• Oversee discipline, honor code processes, and student support services related to the Corps.

Opportunities for Leadership

Attributes of the Successful Candidate

About the Division of Student Affairs Priorities

Three priorities guide our work in the Division of Student Affairs. Foremost, we maintain a commitment to quality which is rooted in the belief that LSU students deserve our best effort. Every interaction we have with students should communicate care, relevance, polish, and attention to detail. We work to ensure every space, place, and staff-to-student interaction communicates a sense of home to students. Finally, we design programs, services, events, and experiences with everyone in mind.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Corps Administration (30%) Provides strategic leadership for the Corps of Cadets, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities and standards. Responsible for overall quality, effectiveness, and continuous improvement of Corps programs. Interprets and executes university, divisional, and departmental policy to maintain the Corps as a signature student organization within the Division of Student Affairs. Oversees day-to-day operations, personnel management, and stewardship of facilities and resources assigned to the department.

Institutional and External Partnerships (20%) Serves as the principal liaison between the Corps and key university units including Admissions, Financial Aid, Residential Life, Veterans Affairs, Military & Veteran Student Center, and Student Advocacy and Accountability. Builds and maintains strategic relationships with military and veteran organizations including the Navy ROTC at Southern University, Cadets of the Ole War Skule, and other alumni-based support networks.

Budget Management and Philanthropic Advancement (15%) Oversees all aspects of fiscal planning and resource stewardship for the department. Leads development and implementation of fundraising strategies in partnership with the LSU Foundation. Ensures responsible use of funds to support Corps operations, programming, scholarships, and strategic initiatives.

Academic and Leadership Development (10%) Provides direction for the creation and implementation of leadership development initiatives, including the establishment of a Center for Leadership Development. Collaborates with academic colleges, the Office of Research, and the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development to integrate Corps programming with university-wide curricular and co-curricular opportunities, including cybersecurity education.

Recruitment and Retention Strategy (10%) Designs and leads a comprehensive recruitment and retention strategy for the Corps of Cadets. Develops outreach initiatives, marketing campaigns, and partnerships to attract and retain high-quality student leaders.

Educational, University, and Community Engagement (10%) Contributes to the academic mission of the university through instruction of undergraduate and / or graduate courses. Participates in educational programming and maintains regular office hours. Advises student organizations or engages in co-curricular learning initiatives in support of student success. Represents the Corps of Cadets at university-wide events and serves as a visible advocate for student leadership, civic responsibility, and service. Designs and implements events and philanthropic initiatives that connect cadets with the broader LSU and Baton Rouge communities.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%) Supports university and division-wide initiatives including but not limited to Welcome Week, Family Weekend, Commencement, and other special projects that contribute to the student experience and institutional mission.

Minimum Qualifications

Desired Qualifications

Additional Requirements / Expectations

This position will require a physical evaluation based on the physical demands required.

Safety and security-sensitive positions are defined as those positions where any form of substance abuse may affect University activities through unsafe work behavior / performance or error in judgment; or where substance abuse could jeopardize the safety and well-being of employees, other personnel, or the general public, or cause significant damage to University property. This includes positions requiring firearms, access to controlled substances, handling hazardous material, operating heavy equipment or machinery, etc. These positions are subject to drug screens per PS-67 / FASOP HR-04.

As with all LSU employees, due to this position title and / or responsibilities, this position has an obligation to assist students in the acquisition of necessary services. Should a student appear in need of or seek assistance with issues of an emotional, behavioral, or mental health related matter they should be referred to the proper service within the Student Health Center. In situations where the student creates an impression that they are a danger to themselves or others, the advisor should immediately contact the Care Team, the Dean of Students or the appropriate law enforcement agency. The employee outside of those rights contained within FERPA should create no impression of client or patient confidentiality.

Nominations, Applications, and Inquiries :

Applications will be accepted online on the LSU Careers website. Please direct all nominations and inquiries for the position to Emily Hester, Student Affairs Chief of Staff at ehester@lsu.edu