App State senior management major and ROTC Cadet Jake Cannon is pictured in front of the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia, where he participated in the 51st George C. Marshall Leadership and Awards Seminar. Cannon was selected among the top 5% of cadets nationwide to receive the United States Army Cadet Command George C. Marshall Award, recognizing his leadership, academic excellence, physical fitness and overall officer potential. Photo submitted
BOONE, N.C. — Cadet Jake Cannon, a member of Appalachian State University’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, has been recognized with the United States Army Cadet Command George C. Marshall Award. He was among the top 5% of cadets nationwide to receive the honor and was named the Southeast’s top-ranked cadet, earning the No. 1 spot out of only eight cadets who were selected from 43 regional ROTC programs.
App State senior management major and ROTC Cadet Jake Cannon, right, with former U.S. Army Cadet Command Brig. Gen. Maurice “Moe” Barnett. Photo courtesy of App State’s Department of Military Science and Leadership
This distinction is the highest honor awarded to Army cadets, recognizing those who embody what is known as the “Marshall Standard” of leadership, academic excellence, physical fitness and officer potential. It is named in honor of General George C. Marshall, the Virginia Military Institute graduate and distinguished citizen‑soldier whose leadership during World War II helped shape the modern Army.
“Cadet Jake Cannon is the epitome of a leader, military athlete and scholar,” said Lt. Col. Zach Jones, professor in and chair of App State’s Department of Military Science and Leadership. “He represented App State exceptionally well among a very talented cohort — bringing the grit and humility required of our App State ROTC cadets.”
Cannon’s selection reflects not only the rigor of the process but also the mission‑focused leadership he has demonstrated throughout his time in the Mountaineer Battalion, shared Jones.
As a recipient of the award, Cannon participated in the 51st George C. Marshall Leadership and Awards Seminar, held in February at the Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Virginia. There, he had the opportunity to network with peers and engage with senior military leaders.
Cannon is one of 12 Mountaineer Battalion cadets who will be commissioned as Army second lieutenants during a May 7 ceremony on App State’s Boone campus. He and his peers represent the next generation of officers committed to service and leadership.
A commitment to servant leadership
Cannon — a Waxhaw native and senior management major with a minor in military science and leadership — has been a Mountaineer Battalion member throughout his collegiate career, consistently seeking out the most difficult challenges.
His resume is a testament to disciplined leadership: He served as captain of App State’s 2026 Ranger Challenge team, leading his squad to a fourth-place finish in the military skills competition, and has participated in the annual Mountain Man Memorial March over the past three years. Cannon led App State’s cadet team in this year’s march, held April 10–11 in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
App State senior management major and ROTC Cadet Jake Cannon, far right in sixth row, is pictured with other top Army ROTC cadets from across the nation, as well as U.S. Army Cadet Command leadership, at the 51st George C. Marshall Leadership and Awards Seminar, held Feb. 23-24 at the Virginia Military Institute. U.S. Army photo by Sarah Windmueller
App State senior management major and ROTC Cadet Jake Cannon served as captain of the university’s Ranger Challenge team. This year’s 4th Brigade Army ROTC Ranger Challenge took place Feb. 20–22 at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Photo courtesy of App State’s Department of Military Science and Leadership
Cannon’s performance during his Army internship with the 1st Cavalry Division further demonstrated his aptitude for exceptional leadership. There, he assumed leadership roles in a brigade-level exercise and was identified by commanders as the strongest cadet they had seen, outperforming peers from across the country.
“Leadership is not about comfort or personal performance,” said Cannon. “It is about showing up for others, especially in the most challenging circumstances.”
At App State, Cannon has headed the Appalachian Commando Club, an ROTC-affiliated organization focused on small unit tactics. To better prepare his fellow cadets, he redesigned the club’s Commando Qualification Course — a weeklong assessment of military and leadership skills required for club members aspiring to lead the organization.
He credits much of his success to the culture of accountability fostered by App State cadre members Jones and Master Sgt. Paul Sinnott, as well as the many Mountaineer Battalion mentors who came before him.
“Any achievement I have earned reflects the standard they set and the culture they built,” Cannon said.
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The award recognizes the top 8 ROTC programs in the country
About the Department of Military Science and Leadership
One of seven departments housed in the College of Fine and Applied Arts, Appalachian’s Department of Military Science and Leadership is home to the Mountaineer Battalion. Established in 1969, the program provides students with training to develop self-discipline, physical stamina and poise, as well as the organizational and motivational skills that contribute to success in any career. Students who complete the ROTC program earn credits for a minor in military science and leadership and are commissioned as second lieutenants in the U.S. Army, Army Reserves or Army National Guard upon graduation. Learn more at https://rotc.appstate.edu.
About the College of Fine and Applied Arts
Appalachian State University’s College of Fine and Applied Arts is a dynamic and innovative group of seven academic departments, bringing together a variety of perspectives, experiences and real-world education to provide unique opportunities for student success. The college has more than 3,500 undergraduate and graduate majors. Its departments are Applied Design, Art, Communication, Military Science and Leadership, Sustainable Development, Sustainable Technology and the Built Environment, and Theatre and Dance. Learn more at https://cfaa.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, cost-effective education. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.
The award recognizes the top 8 ROTC programs in the country
