FERRUM, VA (October 28, 2022) – On Friday, November 11, 2022, Ferrum alumnus and Lieutenant Colonel Derek R. Baird ’96 will be the keynote speaker during Ferrum College’s annual Veterans Day ceremony. The ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. in Vaughn Chapel and is open to the community.
Originally from Virginia Beach, VA, LTC Baird enlisted in 1997 and was selected for Officer Candidate School and commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Field Artillery in 2000.
LTC Baird’s next assignment was to Fort Hood, TX where he ultimately deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. Following the career course, LTC Baird returned to Fort Hood, where he served as the 2-4 CAV Task Force Fire Support Officer and the Commander of Battery Alpha, 1-82 FA where he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08.
LTC Baird’s next assignment took him to the National Training Center, where he served on the Tarantula and Wolf Teams as an Observer/Controller-Trainer. Following the U.S. Army Command and Staff College, LTC Baird served as the 3rd Infantry Division’s Deputy Chief of Fires, where he deployed to Afghanistan, and served as the 1-9 FA and 3ID Division Artillery Operations Officers. LTC Baird then served as the Joint Fire Support Officer for the 1st German-Netherlands Corps, a NATO Rapid Deployable Corps. His next assignment was back at Ford Hood as the Commander of the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment Battalion, deploying his Battalion to Europe as part of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
LTC Baird is currently a student at the United States Army War College. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Ferrum College, and a Master of Science in Administration from Central Michigan University.
LTC Baird is married to the former Jolinda Bandy from Ohio, and they have two dogs, Layla and Joker.
7/8/2021
Ferrum alumni enjoyed a Washington Nationals game (2018).
After more than a year of solitude due to COVID-19, Ferrum College alumni are now able to safely gather and reconnect per updated CDC guidance for fully vaccinated individuals.
“Ferrum alums are ready to get back together,” said Director of Alumni and Family Programs Tracy Holley. “We’ve all missed each other and are excited to put into action the plans we’ve been making over the last year.”
A list of upcoming alumni events follows. Some details are not finalized yet. Holley reminds everyone to continue watching the Alumni and Alumni Association Facebook pages for updates.
Additionally, the College is pleased to introduce a Build Your Own Event (B.Y.O.E.) option, in which alums are invited to create their own events, and Alumni and Family Programs will help spread the word. “We want to get reconnected with each other and our community,” explained Holley. Interested participants should email Holley at alumni@ferrum.edu to get started.
Upcoming Alumni Events:
July 15, noon: Alumni Lunch at Mac & Bob’s, Salem
July 15, 7:00 PM: Salem Red Sox Game
July 27, noon: Alumni Lunch at Golden Leaf Bistro, Danville
July 27, 6:30 PM: Greensboro Grasshoppers Game
July 21 – 25, all day: FloydFest21~Odyssey
July 30 – 31, all day: Float Trip down James River
August 12, 7:00 PM: Alumni Virtual Wine Tasting with Beliveau
August 19, noon: Alumni Lunch at P.F. Chang’s, 9212 Stony Point Pkwy, in Richmond
August 19, 6:00 PM: Alumni Event at Topgolf, Richmond
September 17: Alumni Event in Hampton (more details to come)
September 18, 4:00 PM: CNU Tailgate & Game
October 8: Alumni Event in Bridgewater Area (more details to come)
October 15, 5:00 – 8:00 PM: Alumni Kick-Off at 202 Social House, Roanoke
October 16, 8:30 AM: Homecoming & ABOD Meeting
October 16, 11:00 AM: Golden Panthers Induction
October 23, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Blue Ridge Folklife Festival
October 30, 11:00 AM: Alumni Awards and Sports Hall of Fame
