List of United States Military Academy first captains
The Corps of Cadets at the United States Military Academy (USMA), at West Point, New York, is organized into a brigade. The senior ranking cadet, the brigade commander, is known traditionally as the first captain, a leadership position created in 1872. The first captain is responsible for the overall performance of the 4,400-strong Corps of Cadets, including the implementing of a class agenda and acting as a liaison between the corps and the administration. The rigid screening process begins with the applications for enrollment being submitted to either Federal-level legislators, or to the president or vice president of the United States. Once enrolled at the academy, each student's performance is closely tracked through the first three years, at the end of which, the individual top-performing cadet is named first captain for the ensuing academic year. Among the notable historical figures who held that position were John J. Pershing, Douglas MacArthur, and William Westmoreland. During the academy's first 174 years, only men were admitted, with Henry Ossian Flipper in 1877 being the first African-American graduate. Vincent K. Brooks in 1980 was the first African American to hold the rank of first captain, and John Tien, who became the Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security in 2021, was the first Asian American to serve as first captain, in 1987. The first woman selected as first captain was Kristin M. Baker in 1989, and Simone Askew became the first African American woman first captain in 2018. Martayn Van de Wall, a native of West Friendship, Maryland, is the 2023–2024 first captain. Background The United States Military Academy was founded in 1802, through the Military Peace Establishment Act signed into law by President Thomas Jefferson. The legislation served the dual purpose of maintaining a well-trained standing militia at the ready, and of bringing to fruition Jefferson's vision of a national university. During the academy's first 174 years, only men were admitted, with Henry Ossian Flipper in 1877 being the first African-American graduate. Public Law 94-106 (89 Stat. 531), signed by President Gerald Ford on 7 October 1975, mandated the admission of women at all of the previously male-only United States military service academies. On 7 July 1976, the first 119 women were admitted as students to West Point. The school is one of three officer-training United States service academies under the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense, which sets the criteria for the applicants. The other two schools are the United States Naval Academy and the United States Air Force Academy. Applications for admission to any of the three schools are submitted to the offices of the United States president and vice president, as well as to congressional and senatorial representatives. Selection and organization of the Cadet Corps The USMA academic year runs 12 calendar months, beginning in mid-May of one year, with class graduation taking place in May the following year. Class of 2023 began 16 May 2022, with the scheduled graduation date of 27 May 2023. Each academic