John S. Grinalds
Encyclopedia
John Southy Grinalds, is a retired United States Marine Corps Major General who served as the 18th president of The Citadel.
He arrived at the historic military college on August 1, 1997, one year after the first female cadets were admitted. During his first year, Grinalds announced his intentions to strengthen the communications, admissions and fundraising functions of the college while also focusing on cadet leadership training and the philosophy that leadership means service to others.
His tenure as president has been marked by significant milestones in admissions, fundraising, coeducation and media relations. A less tangible but more far reaching influence, however, has been his advocacy of principled leadership as evidenced by his strong support for integrating leadership and ethics into all aspects of campus life.
Interest in The Citadel increased significantly under Grinalds' leadership and, in recent years, the college has set admissions records. As applications have increased, recent entering classes have been more competitive and retention has improved. Female enrollment in the Corps of Cadets has gone from four to more than 120 in eight years. The separate fundraising entities of the college are now coordinated under a unified organization - The Citadel Foundation - and donations to the college have grown dramatically.
The Citadel has returned to the national media spotlight several times, this time with positive news. Meanwhile, measures of cadet life such as academic performance, community service, employment upon graduation and military commissions are strong indicators of a healthy, robust institution.
Grinalds was born on January 5, 1938 in Baltimore, Maryland but spent most of his childhood in Macon, Georgia. By the time he graduated from high school, Grinalds had become a class officer, an all-state football player, an honor student and colonel of the Junior ROTC unit.
Grinalds was graduated with honors from the United States Military Academy
in 1959, earning a BS degree. He continued his education at Brasenose College
, Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in geography and, once again, graduating with honors. He served as a White House Fellow in 1971 and completed his MBA at Harvard Business School
with distinction in 1974.
Serving with the Department of Defense Systems Analysis Office during the late 1960s, Grinalds became a manpower planning analyst—a field in which he developed an expertise used throughout his military service. Grinalds has served abroad in the Mediterranean region, the Panama Canal Zone, Japan, Belgium, and for two tours of duty in Vietnam. During one of those tours, he was awarded a Silver Star for heroism in combat. In 1978, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and became a battalion commander in the Second Marine Division. Oliver North
, then a major, served as his operations officer.
From 1982 to 1985, he served as special assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, working in delicate negotiations between NATO and the French military. Because of his outstanding service there, French President François Mitterrand inducted him into the Légion d'honneur, a rare honor for an American colonel.
In 1986, Grinalds received the rank of brigadier general before beginning an assignment serving the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was later promoted to major general and, in 1989, became the commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot
in San Diego, California, a position he held until his retirement in 1991.
Grinalds then entered the field of education, becoming the seventh headmaster of Woodberry Forest School
, a boys' preparatory school. He served there until coming to The Citadel in 1997.
Grinalds married Norwood Dennis, his childhood sweetheart from Macon, in 1962. They have four children.
Grinalds is active in a number of organizations. He is a member of the Officers' Christian Fellowship, the White House Fellows Association and the Association of American Rhodes Scholars. He is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and an honorary member of the Society of the Cincinnati.
In 2004, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce honored Grinalds with the Sgt. William Jasper Freedom Award, an annual award given to a South Carolinian who has made significant contributions to preserving freedom, upholds the highest standards of ethics and has a reputation for excellence that earns the respect of South Carolina citizens. The Rotary Club of Charleston, which he has served as a past president, has named him a Paul Harris Fellow.
Grinalds has also served on the Senior Board of Directors of the Brasenose College Charitable Foundation and the Executive Board of the Coastal Carolina Council, Boy Scouts of America. He has been a trustee of Porter-Gaud School
in Charleston, Hampden-Sydney College
and the Madeira School, both in Virginia. He has served on the Virginia and South Carolina state selection committees for the Rhodes Scholarship Trust.
He arrived at the historic military college on August 1, 1997, one year after the first female cadets were admitted. During his first year, Grinalds announced his intentions to strengthen the communications, admissions and fundraising functions of the college while also focusing on cadet leadership training and the philosophy that leadership means service to others.
His tenure as president has been marked by significant milestones in admissions, fundraising, coeducation and media relations. A less tangible but more far reaching influence, however, has been his advocacy of principled leadership as evidenced by his strong support for integrating leadership and ethics into all aspects of campus life.
Interest in The Citadel increased significantly under Grinalds' leadership and, in recent years, the college has set admissions records. As applications have increased, recent entering classes have been more competitive and retention has improved. Female enrollment in the Corps of Cadets has gone from four to more than 120 in eight years. The separate fundraising entities of the college are now coordinated under a unified organization - The Citadel Foundation - and donations to the college have grown dramatically.
The Citadel has returned to the national media spotlight several times, this time with positive news. Meanwhile, measures of cadet life such as academic performance, community service, employment upon graduation and military commissions are strong indicators of a healthy, robust institution.
Grinalds was born on January 5, 1938 in Baltimore, Maryland but spent most of his childhood in Macon, Georgia. By the time he graduated from high school, Grinalds had become a class officer, an all-state football player, an honor student and colonel of the Junior ROTC unit.
Grinalds was graduated with honors from the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
in 1959, earning a BS degree. He continued his education at Brasenose College
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
, Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, earning bachelor's and master's degrees in geography and, once again, graduating with honors. He served as a White House Fellow in 1971 and completed his MBA at Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School
Harvard Business School is the graduate business school of Harvard University in Boston, Massachusetts, United States and is widely recognized as one of the top business schools in the world. The school offers the world's largest full-time MBA program, doctoral programs, and many executive...
with distinction in 1974.
Serving with the Department of Defense Systems Analysis Office during the late 1960s, Grinalds became a manpower planning analyst—a field in which he developed an expertise used throughout his military service. Grinalds has served abroad in the Mediterranean region, the Panama Canal Zone, Japan, Belgium, and for two tours of duty in Vietnam. During one of those tours, he was awarded a Silver Star for heroism in combat. In 1978, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and became a battalion commander in the Second Marine Division. Oliver North
Oliver North
Oliver Laurence North is a retired U.S. Marine Corps officer, political commentator, host of War Stories with Oliver North on Fox News Channel, a military historian, and a New York Times best-selling author....
, then a major, served as his operations officer.
From 1982 to 1985, he served as special assistant to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, working in delicate negotiations between NATO and the French military. Because of his outstanding service there, French President François Mitterrand inducted him into the Légion d'honneur, a rare honor for an American colonel.
In 1986, Grinalds received the rank of brigadier general before beginning an assignment serving the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was later promoted to major general and, in 1989, became the commanding general of the Marine Corps Recruit Depot
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego
Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego is a United States Marine Corps military installation in San Diego, California. It lies between San Diego Bay and Interstate 5, adjacent to San Diego International Airport and the former Naval Training Center San Diego...
in San Diego, California, a position he held until his retirement in 1991.
Grinalds then entered the field of education, becoming the seventh headmaster of Woodberry Forest School
Woodberry Forest School
Woodberry Forest School is a private, all-male boarding school located in Woodberry Forest, Madison County, Virginia, in the United States. Woodberry's current enrollment is 402. Students come from 28 U.S...
, a boys' preparatory school. He served there until coming to The Citadel in 1997.
Grinalds married Norwood Dennis, his childhood sweetheart from Macon, in 1962. They have four children.
Grinalds is active in a number of organizations. He is a member of the Officers' Christian Fellowship, the White House Fellows Association and the Association of American Rhodes Scholars. He is also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution and an honorary member of the Society of the Cincinnati.
In 2004, the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce honored Grinalds with the Sgt. William Jasper Freedom Award, an annual award given to a South Carolinian who has made significant contributions to preserving freedom, upholds the highest standards of ethics and has a reputation for excellence that earns the respect of South Carolina citizens. The Rotary Club of Charleston, which he has served as a past president, has named him a Paul Harris Fellow.
Grinalds has also served on the Senior Board of Directors of the Brasenose College Charitable Foundation and the Executive Board of the Coastal Carolina Council, Boy Scouts of America. He has been a trustee of Porter-Gaud School
Porter-Gaud School
Porter-Gaud School is an independent coeducational college preparatory day school in Charleston, South Carolina. Porter-Gaud has an enrollment of some 870 students in grades 1–12 and located on the banks of the Ashley River...
in Charleston, Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
and the Madeira School, both in Virginia. He has served on the Virginia and South Carolina state selection committees for the Rhodes Scholarship Trust.