"You start to realize that when your time is dwindling down in the Army that it's all about making sure the next generation is prepared to be the future you," Durham said. "And you can call it legacy. You can call it investing in people for the future."

He couldn't think of a better place to do so than the Corps of Cadets that prepared him for all kinds of unexpected opportunities as an Infantry officer - which include carrying the nuclear football, serving as an strategic advisor on national-level aircraft and serving twice as an executive officer to a general officer.

Durham said his goal is to impart the same mindset he received at UNG to current cadets: a can-do attitude and a desire to serve the nation.

"What sets us apart is not just the quality of character and the high caliber of officers that we produce. When we graduate from here and we go to our unit, we are humble officers," Durham said. "It is all about selfless service. It is all about teamwork. It is all about accomplishing the mission. And it's always about doing the right thing even when no one's looking."

Durham recalled a recent moment at Freshman Recruit Orientation Group (FROG) Week graduation, after the Crown Mountain Run, when he looked out over the FROGs. He turned and told retired Lt. Gen. James Terry, senior vice president and superintendent of the Cadet Leadership Academy, that the future chief of staff of the Army could be among that group. It's the kind of perspective that drives Durham as he develops leaders of character and helps deliver the Corps of the future.

"We're the ones who are helping shape them into who they're going to be 20, 30, 35 years from now. And that's a huge responsibility," Durham said. "But it puts things into perspective because then when you do things, you're always thinking about, 'Am I preparing them for the next step? Am I preparing them to be a platoon leader, a company commander, a field-grade officer, a battalion commander, a brigade commander, or a general officer?'"

A native of Hephzibah, Georgia, Durham earned his Bachelor of Science in criminal justice from UNG before adding a master's degree in military operational art and science from the U.S. Air Force Air Command and Staff College. He attended the Joint Forces Staff College and is also a Secretary of Defense executive fellow and a graduate of the University of Virginia Darden Business School Executive Education Program.

Durham served in a number of Light, Armor, Airborne, and Stryker Infantry units and commanded the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment. Other assignments included serving as a nuclear strike advisor, JRTOC observer/controller, joint mission training officer, Army capability manager, and numerous high-level staff positions. He also had multiple combat and operational deployments. These experiences, and the people with whom he has served, have helped shape Durham into the leader he is today.

Durham said being present will allow him to make an impact.

"These cadets learn by seeing what you do. And if you're there and you're present, then they see that and they will begin to emulate you just like I did when I was here and I saw Colonel Lord, Colonel Chamberlain and Colonel Palmer and all these other guys," Durham said. "They were present. I saw them, and I just remember saying, 'That's who I want to be.' And they were always around. So, my biggest goal while I'm here is not just investing in them through classes, mentorship and coaching, but also to be present."

One way the colonel plans to be present is to know the first and last name and one fact about all 750 cadets by the end of the 2026-27 academic year.