VMI search committee retains Buffkin Baker to lead superintendent search

Ernie Edgar, co-chair of the Virginia Military Institute superintendent search committee, introduced the committee’s retained search firm, Buffkin Baker, at a public meeting and asked the firm to outline its search process for the institute’s next superintendent.

Buffkin Baker consultants described a four-step search approach — institutional immersion and stakeholder listening; proactive sourcing; multi-stage candidate evaluation; and finalist vetting, references and background checks. Ken Carrick, a Buffkin Baker search consultant, said the firm has already received an unusually large volume of early interest: “We had 1,495 responses to that survey,” and before aggressive sourcing begins the firm already has “over 30 people” who have proactively reached out or been referred. Carrick added the committee emphasized to the firm that “we will do this as fast as we possibly can without sacrificing thoroughness and quality.”

The firm described recent, relevant searches it has led in Virginia, including work at Christopher Newport University, Radford University, the University of Mary Washington and William & Mary. Martin Baker, a principal owner who leads Buffkin Baker’s higher-education practice, said the firm will perform reference checks, background and media checks for finalists and that it views its role as advising the search committee throughout the process.

Buffkin Baker described its outreach methods as primarily proactive recruitment and referral solicitation, supplemented by standard job postings in higher-education channels. Janie Deloitte, a higher-education consultant with the firm, said the team aims to present a short list of well-vetted candidates to the search committee rather than a long unfiltered list of résumés.

Committee members and board representatives asked about timeline expectations. Multiple speakers said the search committee has not committed to an absolute August 1 start date for a new superintendent and emphasized quality over meeting an arbitrary deadline. “Quality is not [adjustable],” Carrick said, describing searches as an “algebraic equation” of candidate number, quality and time. He noted typical academic searches often begin in the fall and name finalists in spring for the next academic year, but institutions sometimes target other start dates depending on interim arrangements.

Board members and others on the call asked how the firm identified the early contacts and what next steps would be. Carrick said the 30-plus early contacts came from people who proactively reached out or who were referred to the firm; those individuals had not been screened in depth. The consultants said the next formal step is to finalize the position profile with the search committee and begin an “aggressive sourcing” phase once the profile is approved.

The meeting closed with the search committee reiterating that seven board members serve on the committee and that members may be contacted with questions; committee members named in the meeting included Kate, Damon, Admiral McKnight, Bill Janis, Jim Jastra, Jamie and Ernie Edgar. Buffkin Baker thanked VMI constituents for their cooperation during on-campus interviews and listening sessions, and described the cadet engagement and alumni response to the survey as strong indicators of institutional interest.

The search committee did not record a formal vote during the livestream; the transcript reflects that the committee previously selected Buffkin Baker following interviews and that the firm is now conducting the search on the committee’s behalf.