Maj. Mitchell H. Fridley
Major Mitch Fridley graduated from VMI
in 1989 and was commissioned in the U.S. Army in the Military Intelligence Corps. His first duty station was the 11th
Armored Cavalry Regiment in Germany, where he also served several months in Kuwait after
Desert Storm. After the MI Advance Course at
Fort Huachuca in Arizona, he served a tour as a Battalion Intelligence Officer in the
First Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. Major
Fridley left active duty in 1995 and commanded an infantry company in the Army Reserve in
Covington, VA.
In 1997, Mitch was hired by Dave
Harbach ’61 to work for General Dynamics in Saudi Arabia for 2 ½ long years as part
of their M1A2 tank training program.
Mitch spent the
past year before coming to VMI as the Commandant of Massanutten Military Academy in
Woodstock, Virginia. Massanutten is a private
coed Army JROTC high school of about 200 students. The
long hours and challenges while in charge at Massanutten really prepared Mitch for work in
the VMI Commandant’s office. He joined
us this summer.
A native of
Covington, Virginia, Mitch now lives in western Rockbridge county. Mitch’s father – VMI class of ’61
– and mother still reside in Covington and he spends much of his free time over the
mountain. His limited free time is spent
hunting, reading, and watching college basketball.
Duties of the Assistant Commandant S1/S4
The
Assistant Commandant S1/S4 reports to the Deputy Commandant and serves as the planning and
logistics officer for the Commandant’s Office.
Key responsibilities include developing policies and procedures for the
cadet guard team, overseeing the issuance of uniforms and equipment to the Corps,
maintaining accurate and current cadet accountability, and mentoring cadet staff in
logistical and adjutant duties.
FridleyMH@mail.vmi.edu
Commandant -
Corps of Cadets
