Military justice reform | Col. Don Christensen, USAF - S.O.S. podcast #111

Can we change the military justice system? My next thinks so and has done it. Coalitions are powerful, and we are never alone. Join us as I talk to one of the best in the legal profession about how we restore justice to our military community. 

Col Don Christensen, USAF (ret.) served as President of Protect Our Defenders (POD) for 8 and half years. 

In his role as President, Col Christensen appeared regularly in broadcast and print media to advocate for the rights of crime victims, including appearances on CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC, MSNBC, Fox News, and the BBC, in addition to the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Time, and Newsweek. 

During his time with POD, he testified numerous times before Congress on the need to reform the military justice system. His advocacy was critical to the passage of the most significant military justice reform in at least 70 years in 2021. 

He also served as pro bono attorney for victims of military sexual assault in EEO complaints, and lawsuits under the Federal Torts Claims Act and as a special victims counsel. He served as chief prosecutor for the United States Air Force between 2010 and 2014. 

He served as a trial counsel, defense counsel, or military judge for every year of his 23-year career in the United States Air Force.

Christensen has served as an Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, Area Defense Counsel, Circuit Defense Counsel, Deputy Chief Circuit Defense Counsel, and Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, as a deployed Staff Judge Advocate, Chief Circuit Trial Counsel, and Staff Judge Advocate, and as a Military Judge. 

He has tried over 150 courts-martial as a trial and defense counsel and has presided over 100 trials as a military judge.

He was born in Sturgis, South Dakota, and received his law degree from Marquette University Law School. 

A third-generation Air Force officer, he received his commission as a second lieutenant through ROTC and entered active service on 15 July 1991. Christensen is licensed to practice law before the Supreme Court of Wisconsin.

Find Don here - https://www.fedemploylaw.com/our-team/colonel-don-christensen-usaf-ret-/