The Army ROTC program at Syracuse University has changed leaders.

The Professor of Military Science, who is in charge of SU’s Army ROTC program, is now Lt. Col. Jason Warner after a Change of Authority ceremony held Friday in the Hall of Languages. Warner replaces Lt. Col. Michael Bianchi, who has 21 years of service in the Army, according to an Office of Veterans and Military Affairs press release.

Warner has served in various roles and locations in the Army, including a stop in Seoul, South Korea. At Fort Drum, a military base located about an hour north of Syracuse, Warner was a division support command intelligence officer, a battalion intelligence officer, a battalion operations officer, a company commander and an assistant intelligence officer.

The U.S. Army ROTC was established in 1916 when President Woodrow Wilson signed the National Defense Act of 1916. SU’s program began a few years later and Army ROTC is available at more than 1,100 institutions across the country. SU is one of 13 schools in New York state to offer Army ROTC, but students at other schools can take classes at the 13 schools that offer Army ROTC.

During the transitional ceremony, Vice Chancellor for Veterans and Military Affairs Mike Haynie served as the higher authority and facilitated the exchange, according to the release. Haynie also issued a Certificate of Appreciation to Bianchi on behalf of President Barack Obama. Bianchi was also given the Meritorious Service Medal “for exceptional meritorious service while serving as the Professor of Military Science.”

The event finished with a retirement ceremony for Bianchi and the playing of the Army Song.

In a 2014 interview with The Daily Orange, Bianchi said that what separates SU’s ROTC program from the rest is the vision of Chancellor Kent Syverud and of the university.

“(Syverud) established in his inauguration speech to make this a center for veteran excellence and military excellence,” said Bianchi. “With that type of support from the university and from the community, that really enhances our leadership development program. It gives our cadets a sense a pride.”

Published on September 8, 2015 at 12:01 am

Contact Justin: jmatting@syr.edu | @jmattingly306