When Andrew Elgin graduated in the spring of 2015, he collected nearly every academic accolade available at Christopher Newport: the Klich Academic Award, the Luter School of Business Outstanding Academic Achievement Award, valedictorian honors, and summa cum laude distinction.
All this might suggest Elgin had his goals clearly defined from day one.
He didn’t.
"Absolutely not,” Elgin said. “When I arrived on campus freshman year, I wasn’t at all sure what I wanted to do with my life. In high school, I was a fairly average student and didn’t enjoy many of my classes.”
But Elgin says his future came into focus when he joined ROTC. He was drawn to the teamwork and the sense of belonging, which reminded him of his many years playing lacrosse. He was also inspired by the opportunity to be part of something much larger than himself.
"I pursued military service originally because I wanted to be a part of a team and serve a higher purpose, but academically, I was still uncertain of my future path. I figured I would like something in business, and after taking an accounting course, fell in love with the language of business. I really found my niche studying financial statements and markets during my time at CNU, thanks to a fantastic faculty and curriculum."
After graduating with a degree in Business, Elgin began his Army service and was deployed for nine months, serving a tour in northern Iraq. The service awards and decorations he earned on the battlefield are as plentiful as the academic awards he earned at Christopher Newport. They include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Combat Device, the Army Achievement Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, the Parachutist Badge, the Pathfinder Badge, and the Air Assault Badge.
Elgin went on to earn a master’s degree in business administration from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he specialized in quantitative finance, accounting, and business economics. He graduated in the top 5% of his MBA cohort, was named a Palmer Scholar, and received a Wharton MCA Academic Excellence Fellowship. Now, MAJ. Elgin teaches and serves as an academic counselor at West Point. It’s a role that blends scholarship, mentorship, and leadership development for the next generation of Army officers. Elgin tries to instill in his students a leadership philosophy rooted in humility and service.
"Being competent and leading by example goes a long way, but learning about your team members on a personal level outside of the work context means a lot. What motivates them at work? Do they have a family and children? What are their long-term personal and professional goals? Truly caring and showing that individual interest means a lot to people,” he said.
“The fact that I had wonderful professors like Professor Gabriel Lingenfelter, Professor William Donaldson, and the late Professor Joseph Morris sparked a curiosity and passion for lifelong learning that I think propelled me to be successful academically,” Elgin said. “My success is very much the result of the exceptional faculty and support staff at CNU.”
Elgin credits one mentor in particular for having a profound impact on his career trajectory.
"There are so many fantastic faculty members and leaders at CNU, but I’m especially grateful to Lt. Col. James Kimbrough, who served as our professor of Military Science. He was a model of professionalism, sound judgement, emotional intelligence, and, most importantly, helped me and my peers who were about to commission develop our own leadership styles and philosophies. He taught us that leaders and leadership manifest in many ways, but a surefire way to fail is to be inauthentic. His guidance helped lay the foundation for my own leadership journey in the Army, and I certainly wouldn't be where I am today without his mentorship,” he said.
For Elgin, it’s now all about paying it forward. The mentorship he benefited from has become a compass of sorts, guiding not only his career but those who follow in his footsteps.
"What I really hope they carry with them into their future service,” he said, “is that servant leadership and putting others before yourself is critical to earning the trust and respect of those you lead.”