It should be apparent that the University of South Carolina picked a strong leader. With no lack of respect for the other finalists, strength at the top with a dose of humility is what all organizations need.

Lt. Gen. Robert (“Just call me Bob”) Caslen has already shown that he possesses more than strength and humility.

He is willing to sit down with those who opposed his election by the board and talk about their concerns and what might be done to resolve them.

One is his lack of a doctorate or experience as a academician.

Caslen has already addressed that. He is forming a faculty committee to seek a university provost who will be in charge of academic life.

The general has an even bigger job. He must convince alumni, other donors and state lawmakers to continue to pump in the millions of dollars needed to bring the university’s other colleges to the standing of the school of international business, one of the best in the world.

He will need a big tin cup.

Caslen admits he is no academic yet he ran West Point, one of the nation’s service academies, with distinction, passion and enthusiasm for 5 years.

A 1975 West Point graduate himself and former chief of the Office of Security Cooperation in Iraq, Caslen retired from the US Army after 43 years.

New York Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney called him “an exemplary officer and one of the best superintendents in the history of West Point.” That’s not faint praise from a Democrat.

Caslen and the USC board are going to be criticized for what they agreed to pay him – more than $650,000 a year.

His predecessor Harris Pastides’ total annual compensation was nearly $1.15 million.

Pastides’ pay jumped more than $464,000, nearly 68%, since 2014, according to his Statement of Economic Interests filed with the State Ethics Commission, Rick Brundrett of the SC Policy Council found.

Whatever Caslen is paid, we suspect he will show that South Carolina got a good deal.

– Jerry Bellune

Caslen has been called one of the best superintendents in West Point history.