ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Saturday, February 24, 1996            TAG: 9602270029
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-4  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BETTY HAYDEN 


NEW VMI CHIEF TO TAKE CHARGE BEFORE RULING

The man chosen to lead Virginia Military Institute's Corps of Cadets after July will take command shortly before the U.S. Supreme Court decides if the Lexington school's all-male admission policy is constitutional.

Lt. Col. Keith Dickson, a 41-year-old intelligence analyst in Washington, D.C., will succeed Brig. Gen. Michael Bozeman as commandant of cadets July 1, according to a news release. The court is expected to announce its ruling the same month.

Bozeman, who has led the corps since July 1994, will return to coaching cross country and indoor and outdoor track, which he called his first love. He signed a two-year contract when he took the commandant position.

Dickson graduated from VMI with honors in 1976 and received a master's degree in history from the University of Richmond. He expects to earn a doctorate in history from the University of Virginia in 1997.

He has taught at the University of Maryland and Northern Virginia Community College and will teach a history course at VMI.

Dickson served five years in the Army and now serves in the Army Reserve. He is a battalion commander with the 11th Special Forces Group.


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