William & Mary officially joined the Hampton Roads Navy ROTC consortium in late September, an effort years in the making that will have a profound impact on student learning and the university’s relationship with the military.

As a cross-town unit with the program, William & Mary is partnering with Hampton University to offer cross-registration to students interested in becoming commissioned officers in the Navy or Marine Corps. Participants will take courses about naval science and engage in physical training.

The two universities celebrated the membership at the William & Mary and Hampton University football game in Zable Stadium on Sept. 28. Sailors lined across the field alongside President Katherine A. Rowe and other leaders who helped to complete the merger.

Special Assistant to the President for Military & Veteran Affairs Kathleen Jabs was vital to the partnership. Serving in her position for the past two years, her mission is to expand and grow the university’s military and veteran partnerships, and adding the Navy ROTC program was one of the first major projects she took on.

“There is such a strong Navy presence in Hampton Roads, we thought this would be a great complement with William & Mary’s focus on service,” Jabs said.

William & Mary is deeply involved in military and veteran affairs with both current students and alumni. Resources include the Center for Military Transition, the Office of Student Veteran Engagement, Whole of Government Center of Excellence, the Center for Mindfulness & Authentic Excellence and the Veteran-to-Executive program, which provides comprehensive career transition support across disciplines to prepare veterans to excel in civilian leadership roles. Additionally, W&M Law School hosts an Office of Military & Veterans Affairs and operates the Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Veterans Benefits Clinic, which allows students to assist veterans file claims to the Department of Veterans Affairs.

This Veterans Day, William & Mary will observe the holiday with a bell-ringing ceremony at the Wren Building, while both the law and business schools have observances and celebrations for military and veteran students, faculty, staff and executive partners. Throughout November, military and veteran students will have free access to therapeutic modalities at the McLeod Tyler Wellness Center.

Expanding scholarship & internship opportunities

In total, Jabs worked with a group of nearly 50 people in William & Mary, Hampton University and within the Navy to confirm the partnership.

“It takes a whole university,” she said.

One of those people included Matt Frauenzimmer, commanding officer for the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. While Jabs was crucial to ensuring the partnership went through the proper channels, Frauenzimmer will be one of the main points of contact to keep Navy ROTC students on track.

“I didn’t plant the seed, (I’m) just watering the soil that the seed is in and trying to grow that opportunity,” he said.

Frauenzimmer has a background in naval aviation and has been in a command officer position three times. He was initially on track to retire from the Navy on Nov. 1, but after hearing about the opportunity to work in Navy ROTC, he decided it was too good to pass up.

“The opportunity to engage with the youth and to help them be a part of something bigger than themselves … that’s really what we are,” he said.

The new partnership, which is available during for the 2024-2025 academic calendar, will provide a wider variety of choices for students interested in ROTC options at William & Mary. The university previously only had Army ROTC, but with a Navy presence now on campus, current and prospective students will have more access to scholarships and programs within the United States military.

According to Frauenzimmer, this includes opportunities ranging from one to three years of full scholarships that lead to a guaranteed job in the Navy post-graduation. A wide array of internships are also available. Careers is one of the core initiatives of W&M’s Vision 2026 strategic plan.

“I want to recruit men and women here at the school to be a part of something bigger than themselves and be a part of service culture,” he said.

Frauenzimmer added that the new program will widen the array of potential applicants to the university, with the Navy providing tuition not just for in-state students, but also full payment for out-of-state tuition.

“(This) broadens the reach from not just the state, but the region and the nation,” he said.

The Navy has 79 ROTC consortiums, according to Frauenzimmer. There are three other schools in the Hampton Roads area that are crosstown units, including Hampton University, Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University.

Toward a common mission

The effect this program can have on students extends far beyond the university’s campus. Alumnus and Navy Commanding Officer Ian Kemp ’03 had a contrasting path to joining the Navy; he applied to 12 colleges, each with their own Navy ROTC program, except for William & Mary. 

Even without the program, he still chose William & Mary due to its size, history and academic strength. After graduation and while doing missionary work in Japan, he applied to the Navy and attended officer candidate school. 

Today, he’s an active member of the Navy, serving as the commanding officer of Strike Fighter Squadron 192 at Naval Air Station Lemoore in California. An active alumnus, he did the flyover in his F/A-18 Super Hornet at the W&M Homecoming game on Oct. 19.

Had Navy ROTC been available during his time on campus, Kemp would’ve joined the program, he said.

“It probably would have made my decision a lot easier and would have probably reduced the number of schools that I’d applied to if that had been the case,” he said.

Regardless, he appreciates the time he had both pre- and post-graduation and would encourage any students interested in the program to apply.

“I think William & Mary is a school that draws people from a very diverse set of backgrounds,” Kemp said. “To come together to form a common team towards a common mission is what I think military service is really unique in what it offers.”

More work is being done to expand ROTC opportunities at William & Mary. Jabs hopes to add the Air Force ROTC sometime in the future. For now, the focus is on recruitment and spreading awareness for the program.

“It’s exciting,” she said. “We’re entering a new phase of work.”