Always on Parade with Heaton Lawrence '26

What does peer leadership really look like — and what does it cost you? In this episode of the VMI Leader Journey, host Lt. Col. Catherine Roy sits down with Cadet Heaton Lawrence, Virginia Military Institute Class of 2026, Corps Chief of Staff, and CSAB Vice President, just days before graduation. Heaton isn't commissioning — he's headed to the classroom to teach AP English and build a career in education. But his four years at VMI have been a front-row lesson in what it means to lead the people beside you, every single day.

Heaton opens up about navigating peer leadership at the highest level of the Corps, why he says VMI is "an experience, not an education," and the mindset shift that changed how he carries himself — on and off parade. He also shares hard-won advice for any cadet or young professional who has ever been passed over for a position they wanted.

In this episode:

• What "always on parade" means and why it applies to everyone — ranked or not
• Building peer leadership as a competitive career advantage
• How to turn a setback into a stepping stone
• Why you earn your stripes every single day

Whether you're pursuing a military commission, a corporate career, or something entirely your own, this conversation will meet you where you are.

🎙️ VMI Leader Journey is produced by the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics.