Webster Alumnus Col. Gadson Assumes Command of 47,000 at Fort Belvoir

Webster University alumnus Col. Gregory Gadson assumed command of Fort Belvoir in Virginia last month. According to the U.S. Army, Gadson is the first double amputee assigned to command a major U.S. military installation.

At Fort Belvoir he will oversee a 47,000-troop garrison currently in its 100th year of service.

Gadson earned his master’s degree in computer resources and information management from Webster’s Fort Leavenworth campus location in 2001. Six years later, Gadson lost both his legs when an improvised explosive device hit his vehicle in Iraq, where he was serving.

Gadson was also the 2010 Webster University Commencement speaker at ceremonies in Forest Park and even starred in the recent Hollywood movie Battleship.

“Whatever I’ve done to reach this point in my career is more testament to the soldiers, leaders and employees for which I serve and certainly the patience and support of my family,” Gadson said upon his installation.

Watch his 2010 Commencement speech here:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRD-l5_lHsU[/youtube]

Category: Alumni and Development, Military, Webster News