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 on September 2.
The event featured GW Law Dean Dayna Bowen Matthew and Lieutenant Colonel (Ret.) Brian Baldrate, Vice President and Chief Counsel of BAE Systems. The 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 strengthen connections across the GW Law community. Students from the VLSA, Military Law Society, and National Security Law Association made especially strong showings.
Dean Matthew gave welcoming remarks and introduced Lieutenant Colonel Baldrate to the audience. She also highlighted the importance of the active duty and veteran community to GW Law and the achievements of the Law School’s National Security, Cybersecurity, and Foreign Relations Law Program, including Associate Dean Lisa Schenck’s leadership and Judge Greg Maggs recent appointment as Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.
Lieutenant Colonel Baldrate then provided engaging remarks emphasizing the importance of service in and out of the military. He discussed the skills and experience the military provided in aiding his law school journey and the knowledge and preparation that law school provided for his professional career as a JAG Officer and in private practice. Drawing from his years of service, he gave students valuable career advice and inspired them to pursue legal careers both in and out of the military.
Lieutenant Colonel Baldrate is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point. He retired as an Army lieutenant colonel after more than 22 years of active and reserve service, first as a cavalry officer and later as an attorney in the Army JAG Corps. He is a former federal prosecutor and retired U.S. Army combat veteran who received the Bronze Star Medal. His military career spanned 13 years of active duty, not including his time at West Point. After leaving active duty, he moved into leadership positions in the private sector.
Prior to joining BAE Systems, Lieutenant Colonel Baldrate served as vice president, lead counsel, and corporate secretary for General Motors (GM) Defense. He was also the vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary for Raytheon International. Lieutenant Colonel Baldrate has more than 30 years of wide-ranging legal experience, including in government contracts and corporate governance, in both public and private sector roles.
Attendees of all ranks and services, as well as faculty, staff, and students, enjoyed refreshments and the chance to connect and network with one another.
