On September 4, GW Law’s National Security, Cybersecurity, and Foreign Relations Law Program, in cooperation with the Veteran Law Students Association (VLSA), held its annual Veterans Welcome Back Reception. The event featured GW Law’s Dean Dayna Bowen Matthew and Lieutenant General (Ret.) Stuart W. Risch, who served as the 41st Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Army.
This reception brought together GW Law students– including veterans, active duty service members, reservists, National Guard members, and prospective JAG students–along with staff, faculty, and friends of veterans to meet, network, and learn more about opportunities and experiences in veterans and military law. Students from the VLSA, Military Law Society, and National Security Law Association made especially strong showings.
Dean Matthew gave welcoming remarks to the veteran community at GW Law and introduced General Risch to the audience. She also highlighted the achievements of GW Law’s National Security, Cybersecurity, and Foreign Relations Law Program, including Cybersecurity Guide’s ranking of the National Security and Cybersecurity LLM as the number one cybersecurity law program for 2025. General Risch then provided engaging remarks emphasizing the importance of service and leadership. He recommended students remember that no matter the circumstances, lawyers must provide the best legal advice possible, and he encouraged them to establish their personal philosophy and set their core values to guide them. For members of the Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps, General Risch said, their practice is guided by four constants—providing principled counsel, servant leadership, stewardship, and a mastery of the law. Drawing from his years of service as a lawyer and JAG officer, he gave students valuable career advice and inspired them to pursue legal careers both in and out of the military.
General Risch currently serves as a partner in the business litigation, government investigations, and white collar practice at Shook, Hardy & Bacon. Before joining Shook, General Risch served in the U.S. Army for almost 40 years, last serving as the 41st Judge Advocate General (TJAG). He was also the senior military legal advisor to the civilian Secretary of the Army and the four-star Chief of Staff of the Army in development of policies and programs and on the full range of legal and policy matters for the one-million-person, worldwide Army. General Risch also served as Commanding General of the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Virginia, and as Deputy Judge Advocate General for four years before his appointment as the Army’s TJAG. His military service encompasses three combat tours of duty in Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, including Operations Desert Shield/Storm, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Iraqi Freedom II. General Risch’s military awards include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Star Medal.
Attendees of all ranks, services, and law school statuses enjoyed refreshments and the chance to connect with one another.
