The Master of the Sword, or MOS, is the head of the Department of Physical Education and the director of the program of physical instruction at the United States Military Academy at West Point. This position is unique in that the physical program at the academy is both academic and non-academic. Some of the courses are taught in a classroom or laboratory environment and some elements of the physical program are stand-alone testing and non-tested events that must be completed by all cadets during their time at the academy. The first Swordmaster was Pierre Thomas, appointed by Congress in 1814. There have been 27 Masters of the Sword since 1814. Despite its position as a department head since 1948, the Master of the Sword was not made a member of the Academic Board at West Point until 1974, with the appointment of Colonel James L. Anderson. The only woman to serve as MOS was COL Maureen LeBoeuf, serving 1997–2004. The current master of the sword, serving since 2015, is Colonel Nicholas Gist. Masters of the Sword Name Rank Years Pierre Thomas Civilian 1814–1825 Pierre Tranque Civilian 1825–1827 Louis S. Simon Civilian 1827–1832 N. Albert Jumel Civilian 1832–1837 Ferdinand Dupare Civilian 1837–1840 H.G. Boulet Civilian 1840–1843 Henry C. Wayne First lieutenant 1843–1846 Patrice de Janon Civilian 1846–1857 Antone Lorentz Civilian 1858–1882 Edward S. Farrow First lieutenant 1882–1884 Herman Koehler Lieutenant colonel 1885–1923 Benjamin F. Hoge Major Jan–Jul 1924 Cuthbert P. Stearns Major 1924–1927 Edward L. Kelly Major 1927–1930 Clovis E. Byers First lieutenant Mar–Jun 1930 Harold M. Rayner Major 1930–1934 William M. Miley Captain Apr–Jun 1934 Willard Ames Holbrook Jr. Captain 1934–1938 George W. Smythe Captain 1938–1940 John W. Harmony Colonel 1940–1943 Carl F. Fritzsche Lieutenant colonel 1943–1944 Francis M. Greene Colonel 1944–1953 Edwin A. Machen Lieutenant colonel 1952–1953 Frank J. Kobes, Jr. Colonel 1953–1974 James L. Anderson Colonel 1974–1997 Maureen LeBoeuf Colonel 1997–2004 Gregory L. Daniels Colonel 2004–2015 Nicholas Gist Colonel 2015–
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