LEXINGTON, Va. (WSET) — The Virginia Military Institute Superintendent is speaking out after the Board of Visitors voted not to extend his contract after only about four and a half years of serving in that position.

In an exclusive interview, I sat down with Superintendent Major General Cedric Wins. He has worked hard and cared for the school, so one of his big questions is why are they letting him go?

I spoke with Wins as he was signing his last diplomas as the VMI Superintendent. I asked him how he is feeling about the board not renewing his contract. He said, “I’m disappointed. I think there are so many measurable positive outcomes that have occurred here over the past four years that warranted a contract renewal.”

Wins is VMI's first black superintendent. He graduated from VMI himself and played on the basketball team. He finished his basketball career as a top scorer in the school’s history. After he graduated in 1985, he spent decades in the army before coming back to his alma mater as the superintendent.

He said he came in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, and “At the height of when VMI was going through a lot of scrutiny with respect to charges of institutional racism and sexism here at the school.”

Wins said while serving, he worked on the culture at the school, the funding, and relationships between the school and government agencies.

Then, in February, the Board of Visitors, an advisory board appointed by the governor, voted not to renew his contract.

I asked him why he thinks they are not extending his contract. He said, “You'd have to ask the board.” He said he feels that he was able to communicate the successes from each year.

He said they did not give him any negative feedback or indication that this would happen.

When asked if he would like to know why, Wins said, “Oh sure! I’d love to. Anyone would love to get an honest, candid answer.”

“I don’t see this as being somewhat normal,” he said about the board's decision.

Some politicians and students have questions about whether the decision was racially motivated. I asked him if he thought it was racially based. He replied, “Um, hard to say. I know that I’m an African American man. I know that my tenure will be the shortest of any superintendent among the 15. I’m the 15th, and I’ll leave it at that.”

I reached out to the Board of Visitors president myself, asking for answers, but I have not heard back.

Earlier this year, the former Board of Visitors President John Adams released a statement that said, “The BOV is supremely grateful to Major General Wins for his service to the Institute during some very difficult times The foundation he has provided us will ensure VMI continues to fulfill its vital mission of educating future leaders.”

Wins said he is grateful for his time at VMI and is proud of the progress he made. He offered some advice to the next superintendent. He said to continue considering the cadets when making decisions.

“I don’t think this one (decision) by any stretch was made based on lack of performance,” Wins said.