The former Parris Island commanding general and U.S. Southern Command chief of staff will lead Mary Baldwin’s Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership.
Mary Baldwin University has named retired Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Julie Nethercot commandant of cadets for the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership (VWIL) and senior advisor to the president, following a nationwide search. Nethercot, who most recently served as chief of staff of U.S. Southern Command, will be introduced to the Mary Baldwin community at the homecoming parade on Friday, Oct. 23.
Nethercot — who most recently retired from the Marine Corps after 33 years of service — succeeds Brigadier General Terry Djuric, US Air Force retired, VWIL’s second commandant, who announced her retirement in April.
Established in 1995 at the request of the Commonwealth of Virginia, VWIL is the nation’s only all-female corps of cadets and is part of the Virginia Corps of Cadets alongside the Virginia Military Institute and Virginia Tech. VWIL cadets pair their Mary Baldwin degree with military training, physical fitness, ethics, and leadership development. More than 540 women have graduated from the program; over the past 25 years, 196 have been commissioned as military officers, and more than half of all graduates have gone on to careers in government service.
VWIL is one of Mary Baldwin’s most distinctive programs, and key to our future plans for the university. General Nethercot has the experience, credentials, and personal character to lead VWIL and Mary Baldwin University into its next thriving chapter.
Interim President Gary Daynes
In the search for a new commandant, the university zeroed in on candidates who are proven commanders, strategic leaders, educators, mentors, and senior-level collaborators. The commandant search committee also focused on candidates with organizational transformation skills and a passion for developing future leaders.
“VWIL is one of Mary Baldwin’s most distinctive programs, and key to our future plans for the university. General Nethercot has the experience, credentials, and personal character to lead VWIL and Mary Baldwin University into its next thriving chapter,” said Mary Baldwin President Gary Daynes. “She is exactly who we were hoping to attract to the position — an accomplished leader with passion and energy who will inspire students and colleagues to excellence, build connections throughout our university community and beyond, and evolve VWIL to be even more successful in preparing young women for service in the military, government, business, and civic life. VWIL and ROTC cadets will see in her an accomplished senior leader, but they will also encounter an accessible mentor who values that each young person may require a different form of encouragement or challenge.”
Nethercot has commanded at multiple levels, including Officer Candidates School, 9th Communication Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, and the Eastern Recruiting Region. In each of those assignments, she was responsible not simply for accomplishing the mission, but also for developing people, setting and enforcing standards, building healthy command climates, and preparing future leaders for service.
Her command of Officer Candidates School is especially relevant to the VWIL Commandant position. She oversaw the screening, evaluation, instruction, and development of candidates seeking commissions as Marine officers. This experience gave her a deep understanding of leader formation, character development, accountability, physical readiness, ethical decision- making, and the careful balance between challenge and support. She understands that standards must be clear and consistently enforced, but also that the ultimate purpose of a leadership-development program is to help young people grow into confident, responsible, and principled leaders.
As the Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island and the Eastern Recruiting Region, Nethercot demonstrated her ability to lead complex institutions with national reach. She was responsible for the training of thousands of Marines annually, the welfare and performance of instructors and staff, and recruiting operations across a large portion of the United States. She led during the COVID-19 pandemic, when established processes had to be reassessed rapidly; and the health, safety, and confidence of recruits, families, instructors, and surrounding communities were at stake. Julie responded with discipline, creativity, transparency, and calm. She protected the mission while preserving trust — an essential quality for any Commandant.
Nethercot brings multiple joint assignments with experience coordinating activities across more than 30 nations, advising senior military leaders, and working closely with embassies, partner governments, and multinational organizations. These are essential skills to help grow VWIL’s international partnerships beyond Sungshin Women’s University in South Korea and Lady Doak College in India.
A decorated military leader, Nethercot’s personal decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal (Second award), the Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit (Second award), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (Third award), Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (Fourth award) and the Navy Achievement Medal. She was the 2010 recipient of the Major Megan McClung award for Visionary Leadership for her performance as a battalion commander in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.
Nethercot holds a master of arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College, and a bachelor of science degree in biology and natural science from Midland University. Schools include Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course, Command and Control Systems School, Naval Command and Staff College and the Maritime Advanced Warfighting School.
“I am honored to join the Mary Baldwin University team and I hope to contribute my servant leadership style,” Nethercot said. “I’m eager to guide the cadet corps into the next chapter of its legacy, and I am dedicated to creating an environment where every cadet can thrive academically, personally, and professionally to be successful in life.”
To learn more about the Virginia Women’s Institute for Leadership and how to join the corps of cadets, visit marybaldwin.edu/student-experience/virginia-womens-institute-for-leadership.