Five New Members Join BOV

Col. Michael Dick ’77 is the director of the Lewis B. Puller Veterans Benefits Clinic and a clinical associate professor of law at William & Mary Law School.

After graduating with his bachelor’s degree in history from VMI, he spent more than 26 years on active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps, mostly as an infantry officer.

After attending William & Mary Law School, as part of the class of 2006, he joined the U.S. Department of Justice through the Attorney General’s Honors Program and served with the Office of Intelligence. He later joined the Office of Internal Affairs in the DOJ criminal division and then became the associate director for policy, legislation, and multilateral affairs at the OIA.

Dick is also a graduate of the USMC Command and Staff College, USMC School of Advanced Warfighting, and the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy.

Don Hall is president and CEO of the Virginia Automobile Dealers Association and has been with the organization since 1988. VADA represents more than 450 franchised new car and truck dealerships across the Commonwealth, directly and indirectly supporting more than 60,000 jobs.

Prior to joining the automotive industry, Hall served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1974–80.

Hall was a business/finance major at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina, before leaving for a career opportunity in the banking field.

Lester Johnson Jr. ’95 is the owner and managing partner of the popular Richmond restaurant Mama J’s, one of the most notable soul food restaurants in the country. He and a fellow VMI alumnus launched the restaurant in historic Jackson Ward in 2009. Prior to opening the restaurant, Johnson was with Verizon Communications and Reynolds Metals Company.

In addition to a degree in mechanical engineering from VMI, Johnson holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. He played basketball at VMI and was a team captain from 1994–96. He was also a member of the Promaji Club.

Gov. Ralph Northam served as the 73rd governor of Virginia from 2018–22, the second VMI alumnus to serve as Virginia’s governor. His prior political roles include state senator and lieutenant governor. 

After graduating from VMI with a degree in biology, he commissioned into the U.S. Army. He earned his medical degree from Eastern Virginia Medical School and served 8 years as an Army doctor, including treating battlefield casualties from Operation Desert Storm at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. After serving as governor, Northam returned to practicing medicine and is a neurologist at the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia.

Damon Williams ’90 is a widely respected community leader whose career blends financial stewardship, youth development, and regional service. As a community development officer for a large financial institution, Williams champions initiatives that expand opportunity for underserved communities, strengthen nonprofit partnerships, and drive sustainable community development throughout the mid-Atlantic region.

His leadership extends well beyond the banking sector. Williams is co-founder and vice chairman of Youth Sports Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to pairing sports with academic enrichment to build character, resilience, and teamwork in young people. He also serves on the Carilion Clinic Board of Directors, the Boys & Girls Club of Southwest Virginia, and is active with other community service organizations, contributing to efforts that advance youth services, community health, and regional well-being.

A 1990 graduate of VMI, Williams earned his degree in economics and participated on the Keydet basketball team, the Promaji Club, the New Cadet Retention Committee, and the Young Economists Society.