Rose ’26: Honor Court President

On his first day of the Rat Line, Cadet Grant Rose ’26 learned that the VMI Honor Code is intrinsic to VMI. Back then, however, he couldn’t have imagined he would one day have the pivotal responsibility of leading its enforcement as Honor Court president.

Every part of Matriculation Week was an education on the Honor Code—yelling it during physical training, reciting it throughout the day, and meeting with Honor Court members. The effect was a foundation built in Rose and his brother rats. “Everything you’re doing, you’re screaming the Honor Code. From that point on, the first day you show up, you know the Honor Code. It’s something you begin to live by,” said Rose.

As president, Rose’s goals for the Honor Court are foremost to educate the incoming Rat Mass of 2026+3 on the Honor Code and the spirit of it, just as he and his brother rats were educated. “We want the incoming Rat Mass to know what the Honor Code is, how to live by the Honor Code, and how to live within the spirit of the system—the spirit of the code itself.” The second major goal is to continue the education of the rest of the Corps, ensuring cadets are living and leading honorably.

Matriculating from Virginia Beach, Virginia, Rose had not heard of VMI until his brother, Luke Rose ’24, decided to attend. “He had a bunch of stories,” said Rose. “And he kept telling me I would only understand the stories if I went to VMI.” By the time it was Rose’s turn to choose a college, he was convinced of two things: He wanted to serve, and he wanted to see for himself what all of his brother’s stories were about.

Raised in a military family with a rich history of service, including his father and eldest brother, Rose, too, felt called to serve his nation. He applied for and was awarded a 3-year U.S. Army ROTC scholarship and plans to commission after graduation.

This calling began with military service and naturally extended to leading in the Corps, eventually guiding him toward his current position. “VMI is unique in the leadership opportunities it has—everywhere you look around on post, there’s a leadership role that you could fulfill,” said Rose. He embraced every opportunity for growth as a person and as a future Army officer, serving as a Company I corporal his 3rd Class year, Company I first sergeant his 2nd Class year, and as Honor Court assistant prosecutor both years. Today, along with his position as Honor Court president, Rose is also the Company I commander.

Despite Rose’s full plate, he also found time for yet another area of leadership as the Cadet Investment Group president in the spring of his 2nd Class year. As an economics and business major, his penchant for investment and responsibility combined perfectly in the CIG, a cadet-led organization of approximately 30-40 members that makes real financial decisions regarding investments worth around $200,000 in total.

With his robust resume, it seems natural that Rose would be the leader for the job as Honor Court president, but he says being named in the running at all, much less as president, left him “shocked.” The role of Honor Court president means upholding the very foundation of the VMI system, and that weight of responsibility can be intimidating, but Rose manages it all through the support of his brother rats and the leadership around him and through his committed belief in the honor system. “Being the Honor Court president is, of course, daunting, in a sense, but I couldn’t be more thankful for the team that I have behind me,” said Rose. Being a part of a flourishing honor system and educating cadets about it energizes him. “This system is thriving, and people are always wanting to know what they’re allowed to do, what they’re not allowed to do, the rights and wrongs, and [they are] always asking questions about the system itself,” said Rose.

“All the little factors that go into the Honor Code: It’s not just words written on a page, but it’s an actual system that people live by. There’s a spirit behind it,” Rose elaborated. He values both the practical side of the Honor Code—like cadets being able to leave items unattended—and the personal growth that comes from living as accountable leaders. “The Honor Code is alive and well. People here and the cadets here live by the Honor Code; regardless of whether you wear rank, you’re a leader in the Corps,” said Rose.

Looking back at his VMI experience going into his final year, Rose is grateful for significant personal growth during his time at the Institute and for the leader he will be after graduation. “I’ve changed a lot since I came to VMI; it’s pretty crazy to look back at myself when I was a rat,” Rose reflected. “Seeing how much I’ve grown as an individual and seeing how much my BRs have grown is awesome. It’s awesome to see that VMI is working, and the leadership opportunities do work to make people better leaders and better men and women of character.”

Editor’s Note: This interview was conducted in spring 2025, shortly after Rose was named Honor Court president for the 2025-26 academic year.