West Point Class of 2026 Cadets Named Rhodes Scholars

WEST POINT, N.Y. – The U. S. Military Academy is proud to announce that Class of 2026 cadets Max Felter, Johnathan Pinc, and Brandon Tran have been selected as Rhodes Scholars, furthering West Point’s long-standing tradition of academic excellence and service-focused leadership. 

“These three cadets represent the very best of West Point as leaders of character already contributing to some of the nation’s most complex challenges,” said Dean of the Academic Board Brig. Gen. Shane R. Reeves. “We are incredibly proud of them and look forward to their impact as Army officers.” 

With three American Rhodes Scholars selected this year, West Point is tied for first in the nation alongside Harvard University, Yale University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  

Learn more about West Point’s Dawkins Scholars Program at https://www.westpoint.edu/academics/dawkins-scholars-program. 

About the Recipients: 

Cadet Max Felter, originally from Palo Alto, Calif., is an applied statistics and data science major at West Point. He earned the Master of the Sword, an honor given to the top ranked cadet in West Point's physical education curriculum. His research focuses on computer vision and sensor fusion, technologies that are rapidly becoming foundational components of defense innovation. Felter has interned with defense and industry organizations, where he applied AI and machine learning to Army data analytics. In the Corps of Cadets, he has developed leadership skills as a platoon leader for Cadet Basic Training and now as a Company Commander, responsible for the training and discipline of 125 other cadets. Following graduation, he hopes to be commissioned as an infantry officer. 

“I am incredibly humbled to be selected as a Rhodes Scholar. I’d like to thank my family, friends, and mentors that have been so important in my journey here. It is an honor to represent West Point and the Army as I further my studies on the ethical innovation and integration of AI for defense.” 

Cadet Johnathan Pinc, originally from Medina, Ohio, is a chemistry major at West Point and the intelligence and public affairs officer for the Corps of Cadets' Third Regiment. He is the cadet-in-charge of the West Point chapter of the American Chemical Society. Johnathan has presented research on neurodegenerative disease at six conferences and published two peer-reviewed articles, including one in which he is the lead author. A talented athlete, he competed on West Point's Division I Gymnastics Team and now serves as the team's manager. Pinc knows that to solve problems like neurodegenerative disease, the Army needs leaders who can coordinate disparate resources and inspire focused effort. His goal is to become this kind of leader. Upon graduation, he aspires to become a cyber officer.  

"The Rhodes Scholarship is an opportunity to tackle the world's leading problems. I am so grateful to my parents, mentors, and peers who have helped me to grow as a leader, scholar, and person. I hope to continue making them proud in the future."  

Cadet Brandon Tran, originally from Fountain Valley, Calif., is a Truman and Stamps Scholar. At West Point, he studies international affairs and Chinese as a double major. He has interned across defense organizations, working on Indo-Pacific security issues. Tran is also a Fellow with the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, a Non-Resident Fellow for the Indo-Pacific Studies Center, and the former Chief Administrative Officer of the first Oxford Semiconductor Conference. He has been published in several policy and security-focused outlets. In the Corps of Cadets, he has served as a company military development noncommissioned officer and a Cadet Leader Development Training intelligence officer. His experience in planning equipped him for his current role: Battalion Sandhurst Officer, facilitating the training and preparation for the Sandhurst competition in military skills. He hopes to serve as a Military Intelligence Officer upon graduation.  

“Winning the Rhodes Scholarship was a culmination of years of effort, not just on my part, but on the part of my family and friends who have supported me every step of the way. I hope to continue to bring honor to my community as I represent our nation as a Rhodes Scholar.” 

About West Point   

The U. S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year, co-educational, federal service academy located 50 miles north of New York City. It was founded in 1802 as America's first college of engineering and continues today as the world’s premier leader-development institution, consistently ranked among top colleges in the country. Its mission is to build, educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets to be commissioned leaders of character committed to the Army Values and ready for a lifetime of service to the Army and nation. For more information, go to www.westpoint.edu.