The College of William and Mary community mourned the loss of Lt. Todd Weaver ’08, who was killed Friday during an engagement with Taliban insurgents near Kandahar, Afghanistan.
According to a release from the U.S. Department of Defense, Weaver died of wounds sustained when his unit was attacked with an improvised explosive device near the southern Afghan city.
“Todd Weaver was an outstanding student and leader, one of the very best in his class,” government professor John McGlennon said. “We in the government department share in the deep sense of loss that comes with news of Todd’s tragic death.”
Weaver, who graduated from Bruton High School in Williamsburg in 2001, joined the Army National Guard after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, eventually serving a 10-month tour of duty in Iraq.
After finishing his deployment in Iraq in 2005, Weaver enrolled at James Madison University, but later transferred to the College. In 2008, he earned a B.A. in government and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.
As a member of the College’s ROTC program, Weaver served as a cadet battalion commander, a position awarded to cadets who display excellence in leadership, scholarship and physical fitness. Upon graduation, he was commissioned into the army.
“Clearly, he was the best of the best,” Lt. Col. Barbara Streater said. “We are heartbroken and saddened by the loss of our brother-in-arms.”
Weaver continued his involvement with the College’s ROTC program, serving as a gold bar recruiter.
During his combat service in Afghanistan, Weaver was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division of Fort Campbell, Ky.
Weaver is survived by his wife Emma and one-year-old daughter Kiley. Funeral arrangements have not yet been released to the public.
“He was just a wonderful young man,” Vice Provost for Academic Affairs Kate Slevin, whose daughter went to school with Weaver, said. “He was very patriotic. He felt he owed it to his country to go serve. He was incredibly bright, engaged and full of life.”