LEXINGTON, Va. Jan. 16, 2024 — Retired U.S. Marine Corps Col. Travis Homiak ’95, former commanding officer of the Naval ROTC unit at Virginia Military Institute, has been named VMI’s new chief of staff, assuming the position most recently held by Col. John Young.   

As a VMI cadet, Homiak double majored in international studies and German, and was a member of the swim team. He earned the Lemuel MacKennie Long Jarman Award, and the First Jackson-Hope Medal, for highest attainment in scholarship. Upon graduation, he commissioned into the Marine Corps where he served for over 30 years.

Originally a ground intelligence officer, Homiak served as a scout sniper platoon commander before entering the reconnaissance and special operations community. He was the first ground intelligence officer to serve as a reconnaissance platoon commander in the 1st Marine Division and served at every level of command up to the regimental level. He was commanding officer of the Marine Raider Training Center at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. 

Homiak was deployed multiple times including leading 3d Reconnaissance Battalion in combat in the upper Sangin River Valley of Helmand Province, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom; serving as a reconnaissance battalion operations officer in Fallujah, Iraq, during Operation Phantom Fury/Al Fajr; and leading a U.S./U.K. special forces team that trained Yemen’s national counterterrorism force.  

Homiak holds two Master of Arts degrees from the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia, and a third from the National War College in Washington, D.C. He holds a doctorate in war studies from the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario. Prior to his retirement last summer, Homiak oversaw the 50th anniversary of the VMI NROTC unit.   

Homiak shared he is humbled and excited to have been selected for the position.

“VMI was a foundational part of my journey, and I look forward to working hard so others can continue to have a similar experience,” he said.  

Brig. Gen. Robert W. Moreschi, dean of the faculty and deputy superintendent for academics, who served as chair of the search committee stated that Homiak brings a wealth of skills and experience to the position.

“In his capacity as chief of staff, Colonel Homiak will serve in a critical management role, coordinating the strategic and tactical decisions and actions of the senior leadership team while also functioning as a key advisor to the superintendent,” he said.  

Homiak will be joined on post by his wife, Phornphan, and their two children. 

A national search was conducted to identify the new chief of staff, with input from the senior leadership team and numerous faculty and staff.  

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE