WEST POINT CADETS SELECTED FOR MARSHALL SCHOLARSHIP – Dec. 11, 2023 

WEST POINT, N.Y. – Cadets Alexis Bradstreet and Martayn Van de Wall, Class of 2024, were selected to receive the prestigious Marshall Scholarship for continued academic study following graduation and commissioning in May.  

“Congratulations to our newest Marshall Scholars and their mentors! Alexis and Martayn have proven themselves as leaders and scholars and I’m thrilled to see their continued impact as they study in the UK alongside our important allies,” said Dean of the Academic Board Brig. Gen. Shane Reeves. 

About the Marshall Scholars 

Cadet Alexis Bradstreet was born in Landshut, Germany and raised in Richardson, Texas. Bradstreet studies cyber science at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. Her primary research interest is in mis- and disinformation studies, and she has completed three major presentations on this topic. This work included a paper presented in Sicily, Italy, exploring the historical use of disinformation during Operation Husky, a paper presented at the Purdue Military Research Institute outlining a data-driven approach for evaluating and implementing digital literacy solutions tailored to a population’s needs, and a paper presented at the Naval Postgraduate School’s Symposium on Information Strategy and Political Warfare exploring the potential increase in distrust that results from discourse about misinformation (expected to be published). Bradstreet will also present her research exploring disinformation’s role as a risk factor for mass atrocity at the American Political Science Association’s annual conference. She also uses her passion for this topic in the Mounger Writing Center, where she explores how to combat misinformation by properly addressing and encouraging source selection during peer consultations. Presently, Bradstreet is the executive officer for the First Regiment of the United States Corps of Cadets, where she manages and plans staff activities for over 1,100 cadets. “I am so thankful and excited for the opportunity to pursue my dream education through the Marshall Scholarship. I hope to earn a Master of Science in Social Science of the Internet and in Social Data Science at the University of Oxford, which will push me to think about the societal implications and unintended consequences of various emerging technologies,” said Cadet Bradstreet. In her career as a cyber officer, she hopes to use her education to explore the intersection of society and technology to better understand the role that emerging technology plays in shaping human behavior.  

"Ultimately, these degrees will make me a more considerate cyber officer and technologist. I owe many thanks to my friends, family, instructors, mentors, and the Marshall Committee for believing in me and supporting me throughout this process.” 

Cadet Martayn Van de Wall is a first-generation American from Mooresville, NC. After spending a year in ROTC at Vanderbilt University, he recognized his love for military leadership and transferred to West Point. He studies international relations with a focus on strategic collaboration and coherence within NATO. At West Point, he regularly competes in the Sandhurst Military Skills Competition and serves as a leader of two training programs for combat skills. He is a graduate of the Army’s Sapper Leader Course and Air Assault School, a West Point Writing Fellow, and a Truman Scholar. This summer he led Cadet Basic Training, overseeing the training of 1,240 new cadets as they transitioned from civilians to soldiers. Currently, Van de Wall serves as the brigade commander of the United States Corps of Cadets, leading all 4,400 Cadets, and serving as the bridge between West Point and the American public. “I am truly honored to have been selected as a Marshall Scholar, and I feel an immense sense of gratitude for the outstanding mentors, friends, and family who have helped me get to this moment. As I move into my final semester at West Point, I am thrilled at the opportunity to continue my education at one of the UK's preeminent universities and strengthen the historic Anglo-American relationship,” said Cadet Van de Wall. In the future, he hopes to serve as an infantry officer and continue his study of international politics to promote strategic partnerships with NATO allies.  

“As a recipient of the Marshall Scholarship, I will pursue a Master of Science in Global Governance and Diplomacy from the University of Oxford and a Master of Science in War Studies from King’s College London. Serving in the Army after graduation, I am seeking an education that blends academic knowledge with the practical skills required for implementation. A degree in global governance and diplomacy will expand my understanding of institutions and alliances while a master’s in war studies will provide a critical lens to conflict and the role of military power in the preservation of peace.” 

About the Marshall Scholarship 

The Marshall Scholar program is a postgraduate opportunity funded by the British government for intellectually distinguished young Americans to study abroad at a university in the United Kingdom, in any field of study. The goal of the program is to strengthen the relationship between the two countries for the good of mankind. 

To learn more about the Marshall Scholarship, visit  https://www.marshallscholarship.org/ 

About West Point 

The U. S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal, liberal arts college located 50 miles north of New York City.  It was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering and continues today as one of our nation’s premier leader-development institutions, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country.  Its mission remains constant—to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the U. S. Army.  For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.