Georgia Tech Engineering Student Named Among Top Army ROTC Cadets Nationally
Civil engineering student and ROTC cadet Mason Ladd will graduate from Georgia Tech this week with more than his diploma and a pair of U.S. Army second lieutenant’s bars. Ladd will also end a stellar career at Georgia Tech with the distinction of being ranked one of the top cadets among the approximately 5,000 new officers joining the branch this year.
The U.S. Army Cadet Command ranked Ladd No. 2 among cadets being commissioned in the Fall 2024 cycle, according to Lt. Col. Bradford Morgan, commander of Georgia Tech’s Army ROTC.
“Cadet Ladd’s dedication to his academics, military training, and his fellow cadets is commendable and certainly deserving of this distinction,” Morgan said.
“In addition to maintaining a 4.0 GPA each semester at Georgia Tech, Ladd consistently volunteered his personal time to enhance the ROTC program by assisting fellow cadets to plan rigorous training support various events. He also served as treasurer of the Georgia Tech Chapter of the Society of American Military Engineers, was the captain of the Army ROTC Ranger Challenge Team, and served as president of the Army ROTC Cadet Association.”
Ladd’s national ranking — which is calculated based on academic performance, training performance, physical fitness standards, and instructor evaluations — means that he could have chosen just about any job in the Army.
Ladd chose the infantry.
“Infantry offers more immediate challenges and opportunities like Ranger School,” Ladd said. “It’s also a proving ground and opens doors to other fields like military intelligence, which could lead to roles with the FBI or CIA.”
Ladd, who grew up in Buford, will be following his father, a former U.S. Navy submarine crew member, into the military. His great grandfather also served during World War II, as an Army engineer.
“ROTC has given me exposure to stressful situations, teaching me to make quick, confident decisions and stick to them while explaining my reasoning. Georgia Tech has prepared me through challenging academics, balancing deadlines, and thriving under pressure. Both experiences have built confidence for what’s ahead," he said.
Morgan agreed, saying there’s little better preparation than the combination of Georgia Tech and ROTC, not just for a military career, but for life in an unpredictable, ever-changing world.
“Georgia Tech’s rigorous academic programs challenge students to push their intellectual limits, preparing them for the complex problems they will face as officers,” he said. “Within ROTC, state-of-the-art facilities such as the recently dedicated Lt. Tyler Brown Fitness Facility provide cadets with the resources they need physically, while our leadership training helps them grow into leaders capable of inspiring their team to solve tough problems, whether managing a construction project or leading troops on the battlefield.”
Mason will graduate Dec. 13 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. After commissioning as a second lieutenant, he will report to Fort Moore in Columbus for the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course. He hopes to attend the prestigious U.S. Army Ranger School after graduating from that school and before reporting to his first combat unit.