List of United States Military Academy top-ranking graduates

U.S. Military Academy Coat of Arms

The United States Military Academy (USMA) is an undergraduate college in West Point, New York that educates and commissions officers for the United States Army. This article lists those alumni of the Military Academy who graduated top, or first, in their class.

All USMA cadets are rated each year; and get a final rating when they graduate. The cadet with the highest class rank is the one that has the best combination of score, academical standing, additional merits and demerits. The United States Military Academy opened in 1802; the initial class having just two cadets. The academy started the practice to rank its graduates in 1818.

Top-ranking graduates

Year	Name	Highest Rank	Notability	Sources
1802	Joseph Gardner Swift	Colonel Bvt. Brigadier General	First graduate ever, Superintendent of the Military Academy (1812–1814) and Chief of Engineers	^a[›]
1803	Walker Keith Armistead	Colonel Bvt. Brigadier General	Chief of Engineers
1804	Samuel Gates
1805	George Bomford	Colonel
1806	William Gates	Colonel Bvt. Brigadier General
1807	Justus Post
1808	Daniel A. A. Buck	Second lieutenant
1809	Christopher Van Deventer
1811	Alexander J. Williams
1812	Joseph M. Wilcox
1813	George Trescott
1814	George Gardiner
1815	Henry Middleton
1817	Augustus Roumfort
1818	Richard Delafield	Brigadier General Bvt. Major General	7th, 11th, and 13th Superintendent of the Military Academy (1838–1845, 1856–1861 and 1861), Chief of Engineers (1864–1866)	^a[›]
1819	William A. Eliason	Captain	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1820	Stephen Tuttle	1st Lieutenant	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1821	Edward H. Courtenay	2nd Lieutenant	civil and military engineer, became Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy at the Military Academy, he then being only twenty-five years old	^a[›]
1822	George Dutton	Major	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1823	Alfred Mordecai	Major	served in the Ordnance Dept., Asst. Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy & Asst. Professor of Engineering at the Military Academy, observer in the Crimean War 1855‑57	^a[›]
1824	Dennis Hart Mahan	2nd Lieutenant	taught Engineering at the Military Academy for over 40 years	^a[›]
1825	Alexander D. Bache	2nd Lieutenant	served in the Corps of Engineers, served as Vice President of the U.S. Sanitary Commission	^a[›]
1826	William H.C. Bartlett	2nd Lieutenant	taught Natural and Experimental Philosophy at the Military Academy for 37 years	^a[›]
1827	Ebenezer S. Sibley	Lieutenant Colonel	served in the Artillery and in the Quartermaster Department	^a[›]
1828	Albert E. Church	1st Lieutenant	taught Mathematics at the Military Academy for 46 years	^a[›]
1829	Charles Mason	Bvt. 2nd Lieutenant	Asst. Professor of Engineering at the Military Academy	^a[›]
1830	Alexander J. Swift	Captain	served in the Corps of Engineers, died after he became sick during the Siege of Veracruz 1847	^a[›]
1831	Roswell Park	2nd Lieutenant	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1832	George W. Ward	1st Lieutenant	served in the Artillery	^a[›]
1833	Frederic A. Smith	Captain	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1834	William D. Fraser	Captain Bvt. Major	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1835	George W. Morell	2nd Lieutenant (USA) Brigadier General (USV) Major General (unconfirmed)	served in the Corps of Engineers, commanded an infantry division in the American Civil War	^a[›]
1836	George L. Welcker	Captain	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1837	Henry W. Benham	Colonel (USA) Bvt. Major General (USA) Brigadier General (USV)	commanded the Engineer Brigade of the Army of the Potomac	^a[›]
1838	William H. Wright	1st Lieutenant	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1839	Isaac I. Stevens	1st Lieutenant (USA) Bvt. Major (USA) Major General (USV)	served in the Corps of Engineers, commanded an infantry division when he was killed at the Battle of Chantilly 1862	^a[›]
1840	Paul O. Hébert	Lieutenant Colonel (USA) Bvt. Colonel (USA) Brigadier General (CSA)	served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War	^a[›]
1841	Zealous B. Tower	Colonel (USA) Bvt. Major General (USA) Brigadier General (USV)	served in the Corps of Engineers, Superintendent of the Military Academy (1864–1866)	^a[›]
1842	Henry L. Eustis	2nd Lieutenant (USA) Brigadier General (USV)	served in the Corps of Engineers, commanded an infantry brigade during the American Civil War	^a[›]
1843	William B. Franklin	Colonel (USA) Bvt. Major General (USA) Major General (USV)	served in the Corps of Topographical Engineers, commanded an infantry corps during the American Civil War	^a[›]
1844	William G. Peck	1st Lieutenant	served in the Corps of Topographical Engineers	^a[›]
1845	William H.C. Whiting	Captain (USA) Major General (CSA)	served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War	^a[›]
1846	Charles Seaforth Stewart	Colonel	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1847	John C. Symmes	Captain	served in the Ordnance Department	^a[›]
1848	William P. Trowbridge	1st Lieutenant	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1849	Quincy A. Gilmore	Colonel (USA) Bvt. Major General (USA) Major General (USV)	served in the Corps of Engineers, commanded an infantry corps during the American Civil War	^a[›]
1850	Frederick E. Prime	Major Bvt. Brigadier General	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1851	George L. Andrews	2nd Lieutenant (USA) Brigadier General (USV) Bvt. Major General (USV)	served in the Corps of Engineers, was an infantry and staff officer during the American Civil War, became Professor of French at the Military Academy	^a[›]
1852	Thomas L. Casey	Brigadier General	Chief of Engineers	^a[›]
1853	James B. McPherson	Brigadier General (USA) Major General (USV)	served in the Corps of Engineers, killed at the Battle of Atlanta 1864 while commanding the Army of the Tennessee	^a[›]
1854	G.W.C. Lee	1st Lieutenant (USA) Major General (CSA)	served in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War	^a[›]
1855	Cyrus B. Comstock	Brigadier General (USA) Bvt. Major General (USA)	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1856	George W. Snyder	1st Lieutenant (USA) Bvt. Major (USA)	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1857	John C. Palfrey	Captain (USA) Bvt. Brigadier General (USA) Lieutenant Colonel (USV)	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1858	William C. Paine	Captain	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1859	William E. Merrill	Lieutenant Colonel (USA) Bvt. Colonel (USA) Colonel (USV)	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1860	Walter McFarland	Lieutenant Colonel	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1861 (May)	Henry A. du Pont	Captain Bvt. Lieutenant Colonel	served in the Artillery	^a[›]
1861 (June)	Patrick O'Rorke	1st Lieutenant (USA) Bvt. Colonel (USA) Colonel (USV)	killed at the Battle of Gettysburg 1863 while in command of the 140th New York Infantry regiment	^a[›]
1862	Ranald S. Mackenzie	Brigadier General (USA) Bvt. Major General (USA)	served in the Corps of Engineers as well as in the Artillery, Infantry and Cavalry	^a[›]
1863	John R. Meigs	1st Lieutenant (USA) Bvt. Major (USA)	served in the Corps of Engineers, was killed during the American Civil War in 1864	^a[›]
1864	Garrett J. Lydecker	Brigadier General	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1865	Charles W. Raymond	Brigadier General	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1866	Henry M. Adams	Brigadier General	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1867	Ernest H. Ruffner	Colonel	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1868	Albert H. Payson	Captain	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1869	Eric Bergland	Major	served in the Corps of Engineers, was a 1st Lieutenant of Volunteers during the American Civil War	^a[›]
1870	Francis V. Greene	Captain (USA) Major General (USV)	served in the Corps of Engineers, participated in the Russo-Turkish War (1877–78) with the Russian Army, commanded infantry during the Spanish–American War	^a[›]
1871	Jeremiah R. Wasson	Colour Sergeant (USV) Major (USA) Colonel (Japanese Army)	enlisted during the Civil War and the Philippine–American War, left the U.S. Army four times (was mustered out twice, resigned once and was dismissed once)	^a[›]
1872	Rogers Birnie	Colonel	served in the Ordnance Department, was a civil army consultant during World War I	^a[›]
1873	William H. Bixby	Brigadier General	Chief of Engineers	^a[›]
1874	Thomas W. Symons	Colonel	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1875	Smith S. Leach	Colonel	served in the Corps of Engineers	^a[›]
1876	John R. Williams	Colonel	served in the Coastal Artillery, Asst. Professor of French (1878–1883)	^a[›]
1877	William M. Black	Major General	Chief of Engineers	[1]
1878	George M. Derby	Lieutenant Colonel	served in the Corps of Engineers	[2]
1879	Frederic V. Abbot	Brigadier General	Commandant of Engineer School 1917–18, Acting Chief of Engineers 1919–20	^a[›]
1880	Oberlin M. Carter	Captain	Dismissed 29 September 1899	^a[›]
1881	John Millis	Colonel		^a[›]
1882	Edward Burr	Brigadier General	Commanded 62nd Field Artillery Brigade on Western Front in World War I	^a[›]
1883	George A. Zinn	Colonel		^a[›]
1884	Irving Hale	Brigadier General		^a[›]
1885	Joseph E. Kuhn	Major General	Commanded 79th Division on Western Front in World War I	^a[›]
1886	Henry C. Newcomer	Brigadier General	Assistant Director of Chemical Warfare Service	^a[›]
1887	Francis R. Shunk	Colonel		^a[›]
1889	Henry Jervey	Major General	Commanded 41st Division on Western Front in World War I	^a[›]
1890	Edgar Jadwin	Brigadier General	Director of Division of Light Railways and Roads, AEF	^a[›]
1891	Spencer Cosby	Colonel	Commanded 5th, 605th, 209th Engineers	^a[›]
1892	James B. Cavanaugh	Colonel		^a[›]
1893	George P. Howell	Colonel		^a[›]
1894	William B. Ladue	Colonel		^a[›]
1895	Edward H. Schulz	Colonel		^a[›]
1896	Edwin R. Stuart	Lieutenant Colonel		^a[›]
1897	William D. Connor	Major General	Chief of Staff SOS AEF 1918–19; Commanding General SOS AEF 1919; Commandant, Army War College 1927–1932; Superintendent and Commandant, United States Military Academy 1932–38	^a[›]
1898	Frank C. Boggs, Jr.	Colonel		^a[›]
1899	James A. Woodruff	Major General	Commandant, Engineer School 1921–24; Director Command and General Staff School, 1928–31; Commanded Hawaiian Division 1938–39	^a[›]
1900	George B. Pillsbury	Brigadier General		^a[›]
1901	Edward N. Johnston	Colonel		^a[›]
1902	William A. Mitchell	Brigadier General		^a[›]
1903	Douglas MacArthur	General of the Army (USA) Field Marshal (Philippine Army)	Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, commanded the U.S. Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area during World War II; commanded the United Nations Command during the Korean War	[3]
1904	Charles R. Pettis	Colonel		^a[›]
1905	Dewitt C. Jones	Colonel		^a[›]
1906	Harold S. Hetrick	Colonel		^a[›]
1907	James G. Steese	Colonel		^a[›]
1908	Glen E. Edgerton	Major Gerneral	Governor of Panama Canal Zone 1940–44	^a[›]
1909	Stuart C. Godfrey	Brigadier General	Chief Air Engineer, CBI 1943–45	^a[›]
1910	Frederick S. Strong	Brigadier General	Command North West Service Command 1944; UK Base 1945	^a[›]
1911	Philip B. Fleming	Major General		^a[›]
1912	Howard S. Bennion	Colonel	served in the Corps of Engineers during World War I
1913	Francis K. Newcomer	Brigadier General	Governor of Panama Canal Zone 1944–49	^a[›]
1914	William H. Holcombe	Brigadier General	Commander Ramgarh Training Area	^a[›]
1915	William E.R. Covell	Major General	served in the Corps of Engineers and the Quartermaster Department	[4]
1916	John Howard Wills			^a[›]
1917 (April)	Harris Jones	Brigadier General		^a[›]
1917 (August)	Herman H. Pohl	Colonel		^a[›]
1918 (June)	John Paul Dean	Major		^a[›]
1918 (November)	David W. Griffiths	Colonel		^a[›]
1919 (June)	Louis George Horowitz	Colonel	served in the Corps of Engineers, his son James Salter also graduated in 1945	[5]
1920	James B. Cullum	Colonel		^a[›]
1921	Morris H. Marcus	Colonel		^a[›]
1922	Charles J. Bartlett	Colonel	CG 84th Infantry Division	^a[›]
1922 (June)	Frank L. Beadle	Colonel		^a[›]
1923	Frank R. Johnson	First Lieutenant		^a[›]
1924	Wallace H. Hastings	Colonel		^a[›]
1925	Charles H. Barth, Jr.	Brigadier General	Killed in air crash in Iceland that also killed Lieutenant General Frank M. Andrews on 5 May 1943	^a[›]
1926	William C. Baker, Jr.	Colonel		^a[›]
1927	Hans W. Holmer	Colonel		^a[›]
1928	Luke W. Finlay	Brigadier General		^a[›]
1929	Horace F. Sykes, Jr.	Colonel		^a[›]
1930	Paul F. Yount	Brigadier General	CG, Military Railway Service, CBI	^a[›]
1931	Kenneth A. McCrimmon	Colonel		^a[›]
1932	Rush B. Lincoln, Jr.	Major General	Chief of Transportation (1962–1963)	[6]
1933	Kenneth E. Fields	Colonel		^a[›]
1934	Charles F. Tank	Colonel		^a[›]
1935	John D. Bristor	Lieutenant Colonel		^a[›]
1936	Oliver G. Haywood, Jr.	Brigadier General		^a[›]
1937	Arthur W. Oberbeck	Lieutenant General	CG 1st Infantry Division, Joint Task Force Eight	[7]
1938	John R. Jannarone	Brigadier General		[8]
1939	Stanley W. Dzuiban	Colonel		[9]
1940	Harold C. Brown	Colonel		^a[›]
1941	Alfred J. F. Moody	Brigadier General	Assistant Division Commander of the 1st Cavalry Division during the Vietnam War.	[10]
1942	James S. Hottenroth	Colonel		[11]
1943	Dimitri A. Kellogg	Colonel		[12]
1944	James F. Scoggin, Jr.	Colonel		[13]
1945	Dwight A. Riley, Jr.	First Lieutenant		^a[›]
1946	Wesley Posvar	Brigadier General	taught at the Air Force Academy	[14]
1947	Robert M. Montague, Jr.	Brigadier General		[15]
1948	Joseph M. Kiernan, Jr.	Lieutenant Colonel	Killed in a helicopter crash while on a combat reconnaissance flight near Bien Hoa, South Vietnam on 3 June 1967	[16]
1949	Richard T. Carvolth III	Captain	Killed in a plane crash while making a night instrument take-off at Oxnard Air Force Base, California, on 10 July 1954	[17]
1950	William B. DeGraf	Colonel	served as an enlisted soldier during World War II and received a battlefield promotion to 2nd Lieutenant in 1945, later served in Korea and Vietnam	[18]
1952	Harry L. Van Trees		Chief Scientist of the Air Force	[19]
1965	Daniel W. Christman	Lieutenant General	Superintendent of the Military Academy (1996–2001), retired in 2001
1966	Wesley K. Clark	General	Commander of SHAPE during the Kosovo War, retired in 2000
1977	Vincent K. Brooks	General	on active duty, currently commands U.S. Army Pacific, first African-American valedictorian
1983	Mark S. Martins	Brigadier General	on active duty, currently serves as Chief Procecutor of Military Commissions
1986	Mike Pompeo	Captain	resigned in 1991, currently is a U.S. Congressman	[20]
1995	Rebecca E. Marier		first female valedictorian	[21]
1997	Adam K. Ake	Lieutenant Colonel (ARNG)	resigned from active duty in 2004 as Captain	[22]
2001	Seth A. Bodnar	Major	resigned in 2011, served on the staff of the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army	[23]
2009	Brady Dearden		on active duty	[24]
2010	Elizabeth Betterbed	1st Lieutenant	on active duty, currently serves in the Corps of Engineers	[25][26]
2013	Adam Leemans	1st Lieutenant	on active duty, currently serves in the Corps of Engineers	[27][28]

References

^ a: Cullum, George W. (1879). Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the United States Military Academy, at West Point, New York, since its establishment in 1802. West Point, NY: United States Military Academy Library.

1. Gen William Murray Black at Find a Grave
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