Air Force launches a big change in basic training
Protect Our Defenders President Col. Don Christensen (ret.) is featured in this article from the San Antonio Express-News: Retired Air...
Air Force Times: Chief to retire at lower grade after probe of 2006 conviction
Protect Our Defenders Col. Don Christensen and Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA) are featured in this article from the Air Force...
January News Roundup
We’re starting a monthly news roundup in 2015. From the first few days of the new year, military sexual assault...
PBS: How military sex offenders fly under the radar after returning to civilian life
There are hundreds of service members who have been convicted of sex offenses but never appear on any public registry...
STL Post Dispatch: How a sexual predator operated under the radar at Ft. Leonard Wood
The St Louis Post Dispatch writes: A government investigation into how an Army drill sergeant was able to prey on...
Washington Post: A new voice for sexual assault victims in the military
The Washington Post reports: The job of special victims’ counsel began as a pilot program in the Air Force in...
Washington Post: Air Force captain dissents from military sex assault policy, and commanders take notice
The Washington Post reports: Don Christensen, a former chief prosecutor in the Air Force, now serves as president of the...
Stars & Stripes: Gillibrand determined to force change in military justice system, but it’s an uphill battle
Stars & Stripes reports: The debate over a commander’s role in the military justice system isn’t over. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand’s...
Air Force Times: Why the AF’s chief prosecutor left to fight for sex assault victims
The AF Times reports on why Don Christensen, the Air Force’s top prosecutor, left the military to join Protect Our...
Oakland Tribune editorial: Military justice on assault needs major overhaul
The Oakland Tribune opines: The U.S. military justice system has been rightly pilloried in recent years for its horrendous record...
Air Force Times: “In trouble for speaking out on sex assault policy”
The Air Force Times reports: On her final day as an Air Force lawyer, Capt. Maribel Jarzabek figured she could...
Stars & Stripes: Military Sexual Assault Year in Review
Stars & Stripes is recapping 2014’s key developments in military sexual assault news. Among the year’s notable events was Don...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders President Speaks at Panel on Sexual Assault in the Military
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 12, 2014 *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS PRESIDENT SPEAKS AT PANEL ON SEXUAL ASSAULT IN...
Victims of Zero Tolerance: Survivors Call on President Obama to Support Reforming the Broken Military Justice System
Twelve survivors of sexual abuse in the military have bravely come forward to launch a national campaign asking President Obama...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Responds After Vote on Military Justice Improvement Act Blocked By Senate
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RESPONDS AFTER VOTE ON MILITARY JUSTICE IMPROVEMENT ACT BLOCKED BY SENATE...
PRESS RELEASE: Protect Our Defenders Launches National Campaign Calling on President Obama to Stand with Victims of Sexual Assault and Fix the Broken Military Justice System
*** PRESS RELEASE *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS LAUNCHES NATIONAL CAMPAIGN CALLING ON PRESIDENT OBAMA TO STAND WITH VICTIMS OF SEXUAL...
Coverage Round-Up: New Pentagon Report with new figures on sexual assault in the military
The Pentagon released new figures on sexual assault in the military, which highlights the continued need for fundamental reform, transparency,...
Coverage Round-Up: Senator Gillibrand Press Conference with Protect Our Defender
Protect Our Defenders President and former Air Force Chief Prosecutor Colonel Don Christensen (Ret.), joined Senator Gillibrand and others in...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Releases Analysis of New Survey That Shows Epidemic of Rape and Sexual Assault in the Military Continues
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 4, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RELEASES ANALYSIS OF NEW...
Analysis From Protect Our Defenders: Evidence Shows That the Military Justice System Remains Broken
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 4, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT THE MILITARY JUSTICE SYSTEM REMAINS BROKEN Despite...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Responds to New Survey that Shows Epidemic of Rape and Sexual Assault in the Military Continues
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 4, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RESPONDS TO NEW SURVEY...
Remarks from Protect Our Defenders President Don Christensen at Military Justice Improvement Act Press Conference with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand
Today Protect Our Defenders President and former Air Force Chief Prosecutor Colonel Don Christensen (Ret.), joined Senator Gillibrand and others...
MEDIA ADVISORY: Former Air Force Chief Prosecutor to Join Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for Press Conference, Calls on the President and Congress to Support Legislation to Fix Broken Military “Justice” System
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 1, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com *** MEDIA ADVISORY *** FORMER AIR FORCE CHIEF PROSECUTOR TO...
[VIDEO] Former chief Air Force prosecutor ‘outraged’ by military’s handling of sexual-assault cases
In an interview with Yahoo News, Protect Our Defenders President Don Christensen discussed the military’s failure to fix the broken...
Top prosecutor leaves Air Force to reform military justice system
Retired Colonel Don Christensen, the Air Force’s former chief prosecutor and newly announced president of Protect Our Defenders is featured...
AF chief prosecutor leaves service for victims advocacy group
Retired Colonel Don Christensen, the Air Force’s former chief prosecutor and newly announced president of Protect Our Defenders is featured...
New York Times Magazine: The Military’s Rough Justice on Sexual Assault
In a New York Times Magazine cover story, Colonel Don Christensen announced that he has left the United States Air...
PRESS RELEASE: Former Air Force Chief Prosecutor Colonel Don Christensen (Ret.) Named President of Protect Our Defenders
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 26, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com *** PRESS RELEASE *** FORMER AIR FORCE CHIEF PROSECUTOR COLONEL...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Calls on President Obama to Stand With Victims of Sexual Assault and Fix the Broken Military Justice System Ahead of the President’s 1-Year Deadline
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 24, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS ON PRESIDENT OBAMA...
[VIDEO] ESPN: Operation Gridiron
ESPN aired their investigative report, “Operation Gridiron” on E:60 following an ABC News’ Nightline report. This is not supposed to happen...
MEDIA ADVISORY: ESPN To Air Investigative Report of Backlash Against Cadet and Air Force OSI Special Agent Who Blew the Whistle on Air Force Academy Football Team Sexual Assault Scandal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 3, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com *** MEDIA ADVISORY *** ESPN TO AIR INVESTIGATIVE REPORT OF...
[VIDEO] ABC News: Air Force Cadet’s Secret Story: I Blew the Whistle on Football Players and Sex Assaults
***Please note*** This content may be triggering for survivors Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish is featured in this investigative...
MEDIA ADVISORY: ABC News Investigative Report Uncovers Backlash Against Cadet and Air Force Special Investigations Agent Who Blew the Whistle on Air Force Academy Football Team Sexual Assault Scandal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 29, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com *** MEDIA ADVISORY *** ABC NEWS INVESTIGATIVE REPORT UNCOVERS BACKLASH...
MEDIA ADVISORY: Protect Our Defenders Policy Director Miranda Petersen to Speak at Panel on Sexual Assault in the Military
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 9, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, Brian@protectourdefenders.com *** MEDIA ADVISORY *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS POLICY DIRECTOR MIRANDA...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Congratulates “The Invisible War” For Two Emmy Wins and Brave Servicemembers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 1, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CONGRATULATES “THE INVISIBLE WAR”...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Calls for Investigation After Reports of Intimidation and Threatened Retaliation Against Victims of Sexual Assault at Fort Leonard Wood
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 25, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION AFTER...
Ft. Leonard Wood court-martial highlights sex crisis in military
Protect Our Defenders Policy Director Miranda Petersen is featured in this article from the St. Louis Post Dispatch: In the...
Huffington Post: Standing With Survivors — POD’s Pro Bono Legal Network Marks 1st Anniversary
Protect Our Defenders President Nancy Parrish writes a blog for the Huffington Post, celebrating the one year anniversary of POD’s...
PRESS RELEASE: Protect Our Defenders Celebrates First Year of Pro Bono Legal Network Assisting Military Sexual Assault Survivors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 17, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com *** PRESS RELEASE *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CELEBRATES FIRST YEAR...
Standing With Survivors – POD’s Pro Bono Legal Network Marks 1st Anniversary
By Nancy Parrish, President, Protect Our Defenders Jenny was on her first duty assignment with the Marine Corps when a...
Men and rape: GQ’s bold new series | CA’s groundbreaking new law
GQ just published their investigative series with male survivors of military sexual assault, “Son, Men Don’t Get Raped”. The series features...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Responds to GAO Report That Finds Pentagon Has Failed to Successfully Address Issues of Sexual Assault in Military Training Environments
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 9, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RESPONDS TO GAO REPORT...
GQ: “Son, Men Don’t Get Raped”
GQ correspondent Nathaniel Penn wrote a long-form investigative report on the male survivors of sexual assault in the military. The...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Calls On Alaska Governor to Enact Fundamental Reform After Report Exposes Broken Justice System in Alaska National Guard
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 9, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS ON ALASKA GOVERNOR...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Calls Letter of Reprimand for Air Force Sexual Assault Prevention Officer “A Slap on the Wrist”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 5, 2014 Contact: Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS LETTER OF REPRIMAND...
[VIDEO] CA Military Sexual Assault Bill Becomes Law
NBC Bay Area reports: California has just made a major change in the way sexual assault allegations are investigated in...
Wing leaders lift alcohol ban in dormitories on Ramstein
Stars and Stripes reports: Though the ban on alcohol wasn’t driven by sexual assaults in the dorms, wing leaders consulted...
PRESS RELEASE: Protect Our Defenders Support Calls for an Independent Investigation of Sexual Assault Cases and Retaliation at United States Air Force Academy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 21, 2014 Contact: Max Wertheimer, 415-302-1584, max@protectourdefenders.com *** PRESS RELEASE *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS SUPPORT CALLS...
Sex-assault cases in California military shifting jurisdictions
The San Francisco Chronicle reports: All sexual assault cases in the California military will be transferred from the chain of...
Inquiry Urged on Air Force Academy’s Handling of Sexual Assault Cases
The New York Times reports: Two senators called Wednesday for an independent investigation into the handling of sexual assault cases...