Executive Offices of the BU Division of Military Education

Mission Statement of the BU Division of Military Education

Boston University’s Division of Military Education is entrusted with overseeing the military education of over 250 students enrolled at Boston University or one of our seventeen ROTC partner institutions of higher learning as these cadets and midshipmen prepare to become commissioned officers in the U.S. Armed Services. 

BU’s ROTC Partner Institutions of Higher Learning

• Air Force ROTC :  Boston College, Brandeis University, Bridgewater State University, Emmanuel College, Northeastern University, Simmons University, Suffolk University, University of Massachusetts at Boston, & Wentworth Institute of Technology.
• Army ROTC:  Babson College, Bentley University, Brandeis University, Bridgewater State University, Curry College, Fisher College, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Stonehill College, & University of Massachusetts at Boston.  (In May 2024, the U.S. Army Cadet Command elevated the Massachusetts Maritime Academy to satellite status in our partnership, which means Army ROTC will be providing two cadre members who will be assigned full-time to the MMA campus at a future date.)
• Navy/Marine Corps ROTC:   Boston College & Northeastern University, with MIT, Harvard University, & Tufts University also falling under BU Navy/Marine Corps ROTC command, but with separate facilities.

Support the BU Division of Military Education

• Financial support from our alumni, friends, and family members helps to enrich the ROTC experience for all of our cadets and midshipmen.  For example, donations help offset increasing costs for various activities, like training competitions and formal events (e.g., the annual military ball), so that our cadets and midshipmen can more readily participate.
• You can donate to support our ROTC efforts at this Division of Military Education link.  Thank you for helping prepare America’s future military leaders!

Current Announcements

• Save the Date (Sat., 19 Oct.) for the ROTC Pass-in-Review Parade and Reception:  On Saturday, 19 October 2024, the combined Boston University Division of Military Education ROTC unit, consisting of over 250 cadets and midshipmen, will conduct their annual ROTC Pass-in-Review Parade at Nickerson Field, followed by a reception at Agganis Arena.  For details and an invitation, please contact Jennifer Wilson at wilson12@bu.edu

• Congratulations to General B. Chance Saltzman:  General Saltzman, a BU history and BU Air Force ROTC graduate (Class of 1991), will receive the CAS Distinguished Alumni Award at a ceremony at BU on 28 September 2024.  General Saltzman, a loyal Terrier, is the current Chief of Space Operations for the U.S. Space Force.  He is featured in the Summer 2024 edition of Bostonia available here.

• Thanks to the Ancient & Honorables:  The Division of Military Education extends its thanks to the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Boston for hosting eight BU AF ROTC cadets to a special tour of their museum and a dinner at their impressive headquarters at Faneuil Hall on 16 September 2024.  The cadets enjoyed interacting with the AHAC members, many of whom are military veterans, and they learned a great deal about military history.

• Passing of Rear Admiral Danielle Barrett:  It is with great sadness that I report the loss of Rear Admiral Danielle Barrett, (USN Retired), who passed away on 26 August 2024. Rear Admiral Barrett graduated from BU with a degree in history and received her commission from BU NROTC in 1989.She spent her Navy career in a variety of challenging assignments, starting as a Surface Warfare Officer and eventually becoming a leader in cyber defense and information assurance.  She retired from the Navy in 2019.I had the privilege of knowing Rear Admiral Barrett. She visited BU on several occasions and served as the keynote speaker at a BU ROTC Navy commissioning ceremony that I attended.  We also were co-panelists at a national security conference.  Rear Admiral Barrett was extremely bright, thoughtful, considerate, and personable. A Navy trailblazer, she was a true Patriot and a loyal BU Terrier.Shortly before her passing, she arranged to establish a scholarship fund at BU to help NROTC students in financial need and asked that donations in her memory be directed there.  The scholarship fund link is listed in her obituary; donors should manually enter Admiral Barrett Scholarship in the comments section.— Prof. John Woodward, Director of the Division of Military Education

Past Announcements

• Save the Date for the ROTC/BU Veterans BBQ:  On Saturday, 31 August 2024, the Division of Military Education will host a Joint Services ROTC and BU Veterans barbeque to kick off the start of the Fall 2024 semester.
  • All cadets, midshipmen, and their family and friends as well as BU veterans (to include faculty, staff, and students) are invited to attend this free lunchtime event.
  • This year’s guests of honors include BU President Melissa L. Gilliam and our military guest of honor, Enoch Woodhouse (BU Law 1955), one of the last Tuskegee Airmen of World War II fame.
  • If you would like an invitation, please e-mail Jennifer Wilson at wilson12@bu.edu

• Suffolk University is a New Military Education Partner:  The Division of Military Education warmly welcomes Suffolk University as a new Partner Institution of Higher Learning.  Suffolk is joining our Air Force ROTC program.

• Congratulations to Newly-Commissioned Officers:  The Division of Military Education extends congratulates to our 48 newly-commissioned officers of the United States Armed Services.

  • 17 Air Force Second Lieutenants
  •   1 Space Force Second Lieutenant
  • 21 Army Second Lieutenants
  •   5 Navy Ensigns
  •   5 Marine Corps Second Lieutenants

• Thanks:  We also extend our deepest appreciation to our distinguished commissioning ceremony keynote speakers:
  • Air Force:  General Chance Saltzman (BU ’91), Chief of Space Operations, USAF.
  • Army:  Brigadier General Peter Fiorentino, 42nd Infantry Division, Army National Guard.
  • Navy/Marine Corps: General Joseph Dunford, USMC, Retired.

• Graduation:  The Division of Military Education is especially proud to honor the 69 U.S. military veterans who will be graduating from BU on 19 May 2024.

• Commissioning Ceremonies:  The Division of Military Education is pleased to announce the dates/times of the May 2024 commissioning ceremonies for our ROTC cadets and midshipmen.  Please note that these ceremonies are by invitation only.  If you would like an invitation, please contact the Director of the Division of Military Education or the respective ROTC unit commander.

  • Air Force:  Date/Time: Saturday, 18 May 2024, 400 pm–600 pm.
  • Army:  Date/Time: Monday, 20 May 2024, 1000 am–1200 pm.
  • Navy/Marine Corps:  Date/Time: Monday, 20 May 2024, 400 pm–600 pm.

• Are You a BU Veteran?  The BU Division of Military Education cordially invites all BU-affiliated personnel who are military veterans to contact Prof. John Woodward, the Military Education Director, at jdwjr@bu.edu to be invited to future BU Veterans’ Socials.  Spouses, children, and friends of veterans are also welcome to join us.  Our thanks to BU Catering Executive Chef, Chris Graceffa, a U.S. Navy veteran, for coordinating and providing outstanding support for our inaugural BU Veterans Social held on 03 April 2024 at the BU Fuller’s Pub.

• Tough Ruck:  On 14 April 2025, twenty BU Army ROTC cadets participated in the Tough Ruck,  a 26.2-mile ruck march in support of the Military Friends Foundation.  Each cadet completed the arduous race while carrying a minimum of 35 pounds in their rucksack.  We commend our cadets not only for their determination in completing the race but also for their remarkable fundraising efforts.  Together, they raised over $30,000, the third highest total amount for the event for our nation’s service members and first responders who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

• Gettysburg Trip:  From 12-14 April 2024, 25 seniors from the Boston University Charles River Battalion Army ROTC traveled to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to tour the historic Civil War battlefield as a part of their professional military education.  Prior to the trip, cadets were assigned aspects of the battle to research.  During the tour, each cadet delivered a briefing, highlighting the strategies and tactics employed during the battle.  The Division of Military Education thanks Mr. Frank Hadden, who provided generous financial support for the trip in memory of his late father, Major Frank L. Hadden, Jr., a class of 1950 BU Army ROTC alumnus.

• DoD Guest Speaker:  The Division of Military Education thanks Mr. Guido Torres, a Department of Defense (DOD) official, for giving a presentation to BU students on DOD activities in support of allies in the SOUTHCOM region on 21 March 2024.  Mr. Torres provided a detailed explanation of Operation Jaque, which freed hostages in Columbia in 2008, and ongoing contingency planning efforts with respect to Haiti.

• Joint Services Military Ball:  The Division of Military Education extends thanks to all of our cadets, midshipmen, cadre, MilEd staff, and guests who helped make the  annual Joint Services Military Ball on 24 Feb. 2024 an enjoyable evening of fellowship and camaraderie.

• Undersecretary Visit to BU:  On 15 Feb. 2024, BU’s Division of Military Education hosted The Hon. Ashish Vazirani, the Acting Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, to a campus visit.  Military Education Director John Woodward, Pardee School Dean Scott Taylor, and Prof. Sanne Vershuren greeted Undersecretary Vazirani upon arrival.  He received in-depth briefings from each of the BU ROTC commanders – Captain Jack Houdeshell for Navy/Marine Corps ROTC, Lt. Col. Treavor Johnson for Air Force ROTC, and LTC Brian Hummel for Army ROTC.  Undersecretary Vazirani then met with cadets and midshipmen in the BU ROTC program to discuss their ROTC perspectives.  Our thanks to Undersecretary Vazirani for visiting with us and sharing insights.

• Pershing Rifles Honor:  Congratulations to Catherine T. (Vadney) Sheridan (Boston University Army ROTC, CFA 1989) for being named to the Heritage List of the Pershing Rifles National Alumni Association.  She is currently the President of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bridges and Tunnels (Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority), the largest bridge and tunnel authority in the USA.  Cathy served as an officer in the U.S. Army’s Corps of Engineers, attaining the rank of Captain.

Leadership

Office of the Director of the Division of Military Education

Director: John D. Woodward, Jr. Professor of the Practice, International Relations, Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies
Phone: 617-353-8978
Email: jdwjr@bu.edu

Interim Assistant to the Director:  Jennifer Wilson
Phone:  617-353-4025
Email:  wilson12@bu.edu

Previous Directors

• Dr. Douglas Sears (2012-2024)
• Prof. H. Joachim Maitre (1993-2012)
• Ambassador Hermann Eilts (1982-1993)

Military Education Faculty Committee

• Professor Igor Lukes, Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies
• Dr. Glenn R. Markenson, Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Boston University School of Medicine and Director, Center for Military and Post-Deployment Health
• Professor of the Practice Jack Weinstein, Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies
• Professor of the Practice Joseph Wippl, Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies

From the Archives

On 29 April 2022, Boston University honored the late William Francis Buckley, BU Class of 1955, with induction into its U.S. Army ROTC Hall of Fame.  Buckley, an Army combat veteran of Korea and Vietnam, was one of the CIA’s most highly decorated officers.  On a CIA assignment in Beirut, he died in the line of duty at the hands of Iranian-backed terrorists in 1985.

On 17 April 1999, during BU ROTC’s 80th Anniversary celebration, Ambassador Hermann Eilts (left), a U.S. Army WW2 veteran, and CAS Military Science Professor Fred Woerner, the former commander in chief of the U.S. Southern Command, unveiled the ROTC Alumni Memorial on Bay State Road.  (Photo by Vin Catania.)