THE CITADEL CLUB OF GREATER WASHINGTON, D.C.
21ST ANNUAL ALUMNI MUSTER
The Citadel Club of Greater Washington, D.C. will host the 21st Annual Alumni Muster in observance of the 176th muster of the Corps of Cadets and to honor alumni who have passed away in the preceding year. The muster will be on evening of Wednesday, March 13, 2019, at the Springfield Golf & Country Club.
We are honored to have Carlos Hopkins, Class of 1993, Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, Commonwealth of Virginia as our keynote speaker.
Online registration will be available through 11:59 pm, Monday, March 11, 2019. CCGW Fellows (formerly "175 Campaign Members") are requested to register in order to have an accurate head count. Heavy hors d'oeuvres are included and a cash bar will be available. The social begins at 7:00 pm and ceremony at 8:00 pm.
THE CITADEL CLUB NEEDS YOU! The annual muster would not happen without the generous support of greater Washington area Alumni. If you are able to support the muster by assisting with set-up, guest check-in and registration, or participating in the ceremony as a reader please reply to the event announcement. Also, there will be a silent auction and the club is looking for individuals and classes to donate silent auction items. Proceeds from the auction will support the club’s scholarship and charitable activities.
Dress and Uniform:
- Civilians – Business Formal; Coat & Tie
- Army - Class "A"
- Marine Corps - Blue Dress "B"
- Navy - Service Dress Blue
- Air Force - Service Dress
- Coast Guard - Service Dress Blue
- Cadets - Dress Gray
Covers are not required.
The 2019 Citadel Club of Greater Washington challenge coin is available for pre-order during check-out and pick-up during the Muster. The coin features a miniature replica of the Honor Code plaque and on the reverse the U.S. Capitol, Padgett-Thomas Barracks, U.S. Flag, Corps of Cadets Flag with battle streamers, and Big Red. Proceeds from the sale of this 4” by 1.5” full color challenge coin will fund club scholarships and charitable activities. Additional images may be seen here.
Carlos Hopkins currently serves as Virginia’s Secretary of Veterans and Defense Affairs, the state’s top official for coordinating state and federal resources to support Virginia’s veteran community and liaison with federal defense facilities. Former Governor Terence R. McAuliffe appointed him Secretary on September 1, 2017, following Hopkins’ service over the previous 3 years as Counsel to the Governor where he advised the Governor on the impact current federal and state law might have on the Governor’s policy proposals. Governor Ralph S. Northam reappointed him to a new four-year term.
Carlos was born in Columbia, SC and is a graduate of The Citadel in Charleston, SC, where he graduated with a degree in political science with a concentration in law and criminal justice. He received his law degree from the University Of Richmond School Of Law and is licensed by the Virginia State Bar.
Carlos began his legal career at a small firm in the City of Richmond handling insurance defense cases and federal court appointed matters. He left private practice to join the Richmond Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office. Carlos served seven years as a prosecutor in the City of Richmond where, as a Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney he supervised the office’s narcotics and Project Exile prosecutions, working closely with his federal and state counterparts to stem the flow of drugs and illegal firearms in the City. As the Deputy in charge of the office’s Manchester Courthouse Division, he supervised the prosecution of all cases occurring within the City of Richmond south of the James River. He also prosecuted a broad range of felonies including capital murder, rape and numerous drug and firearm offenses.
After a brief stint managing a solo practice, Carlos returned to the public sector when he was asked to serve as the Training Director for the newly restructured Virginia Indigent Defense Commission, the state agency that manages Virginia’s public defender system. The agency also determines the eligibility criteria for court appointed counsel-those attorneys who provide a legal defense for indigent persons accused of crimes that carry a potential penalty of incarceration or death.
In 2013, Carlos joined the Richmond City Attorney’s office after operating his own solo practice the previous two years. As a Deputy City Attorney, his practice areas focused on tax assessment and eminent domain litigation as well as public safety. He was instrumental in bringing together members of the administration and Council staff to address the issues surrounding the reclamation of derelict properties in the City. After Governor McAuliffe was elected to be Virginia’s next governor, Carlos was then tapped to be the Governor’s Counsel in January 2014.
In addition to his civilian legal experiences, Carlos currently serves as the Staff Judge Advocate for the 29th Infantry Division at Fort Belvoir. He has over 27 years of service in the Reserve and Guard forces of the United States as a Judge Advocate and former enlisted Soldier and, from July 2008-July 2009, he deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where he served as the Chief of Military Justice as part of Joint Task Force Guantanamo.
Carlos is an avid golfer and runner and has a son, Isaiah, whom he hopes to convince to attend The Citadel one day.
