Department of Physical Education The Department of Physical Education promotes holistic health to ensure cadets are physically fit and mentally tough leaders of character. Department of Physical Education The Department of Physical Education promotes holistic health to ensure cadets are physically fit and mentally tough leaders of character. Breadcrumb about academy leadership commandant department of physical education About the Department The mission of the Department of Physical Education is to build, educate, train, and inspire the Corps by challenging each cadet in activities that promote holistic health and optimal physical performance, commissioning physically fit and mentally tough leaders of character. The Department strives to cultivate a culture of physical fitness excellence that challenges cadets to realize their full potential. Learn more about the Physical Program Major The department offers an academic major that entails the scientific study of human movement and is generally divided into the physiological, psychological, and mechanical aspects of movement. Kinesiology Cadet Engagement The Department of Physical Education works with Army agencies and civilian institutions to develop summer educational and training experiences for Kinesiology majors. Email to learn more about internships Clubs & Programs The department supports the numerous clubs and athletic programs that support cadets' physical development Competitive sports clubs Intramural sports COL Nicholas Gist Instructor & Department Head Colonel Nick Gist is a native of Alpine, CA. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Aviation upon his graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1994 where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences. In his second tour in the Department of Physical Education, he served as Director of Program Support before being selected as an Academy Professor and serving as the department’s Deputy Director. In the summer of 2014, he completed a short combat tour in Regional Command-South as part of Operation Enduring Freedom in Kandahar, Afghanistan. On April 17th, 2015, he assumed his current responsibilities as Professor, USMA, and Head, Department of Physical Education. Read more about COL Gist Meet the DPE staff & faculty Follow DPE on social media Contact Us Department of Physical EducationArvin Cadet Physical Development Center727 Brewerton RdWest Point, NY 10996 Email DPE Prospective Staff & Faculty In the Department of Physical Education (DPE), we have an outstanding mix of rotating military officers and permanent civilian faculty with a variety of backgrounds and are proven leaders of operational units who are dedicated to careers in the U.S. Army. We are looking for instructors to develop warrior leaders of character who are physically fit and mentally tough by engaging cadets in activities that promote and enhance physical excellence. Please email our hiring team to inquire about any potential searches or positions. Join the DPE team Additional Resources Candidate Fitness AssessmentCBT Physical PreparationWhitebook AY25