Credit: Daniel Faraone/University Photography

Graduating seniors in Cornell's Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) about to enter military service received warm, personal congratulations from one of the U.S. Army's highest-ranking officials, Gen. David Petraeus, for their accomplishments at Cornell.

The head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and the overseer of both the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Petraeus paused in his high-level duties to visit campus April 23 to speak at ROTC's tri-service brigade ceremony for senior awards.

G10 Biotech was filled to capacity with uniformed cadets and midshipmen, alongside their families. The de facto formality of a military ceremony was punctuated by a lighthearted Petraeus, who handed the sabers and plaques to the awardees, posed for pictures and urged each student to point out their parents in the audience.

"Wave to them; they're filming this," Petraeus told Army ROTC cadet and Asian Studies major Jeff Mullen '10, winner of the Bruce Hart Award, after handing Mullen his saber.

Before the awards ceremony, Petraeus shared nuggets of wisdom with the students as they enter either active or reserve duty in their respective branches of the U.S. military. He urged them to lead by example; to listen and learn; to act decisively; and to lead from the front.

Petraeus, who was invited to campus by Lt. Col. Steven Alexander, made a point to thank the cadets and midshipmen for their future service, reminding them that with 210,000 troops under his command in the CENTCOM region, the military needs great leadership.

"The complex, comprehensive, counterinsurgency civil military campaigns like those we're conducting in Afghanistan and Iraq require thoughtful and informed leaders at all levels," he said.

In conclusion, Petraeus said, "Godspeed, go Big Red, good luck and, once again, thank you very much."

The ceremony also included honoring underclassmen for various achievements, as well as Joanne Madigan for 28 years of service as the ROTC program's administrative assistant.

Olivia Lawson '10, a biological engineering major who received the Professor of Aerospace Studies Award, called Petraeus' words "really motivating." His talk of leadership was what cadets and midshipmen need to hear, she said.

"It was a little bit nerve wracking, but we are all really glad he came," said Lawson, who will enter active duty at Eglin Air Force Base in Pensacola, Fla., as a development engineer.