Twice as many sex assault victims opting out
Protect Our Defenders President Col. Don Christensen is featured in this Air Force Times article: But retired Col. Don Christensen,...
In light of new report, ROTC students ponder military’s sexual assault policies
USA Today reports: For students enrolled in Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) or those considering enlisting in the armed forces...
Editorial: Protecting our service members against sexual assault
The Washington Post editorial board writes in support of fundamental reform: A DEFENSE Department report this month found that fewer...
No witnesses or arguments at Air Force Academy sexual assault hearing
The Colorado Springs Gazette reports: The academy said the brief hearing came amid changes in military procedures for evidence hearings....
Senator Says Pentagon ‘Declaring Victory’ as It Distorts Sexual Assault Numbers
ABC News reports: When the Pentagon released a new report last Friday detailing what one top official described as “meaningful...
Sexual Assault By Military Personnel Still Hidden ‘In The Shadows,’ US Senator Says
The International Business Times reports: Just days after the Pentagon said its initiatives to tackle sexual assault in the military...
[VIDEO] Military sex assaults ‘far greater’ than reported, says Senator
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand joins Andrea Mitchell to talk about why the numbers in the Defense Department’s annual report on sex...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Responds to Sen. Gillibrand’s Report on Military Sexual Assault
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 4, 2015 *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RESPONDS TO NEW MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORT THAT...
[VIDEO] Bulk of women soldiers who report sexual assault report retaliation
A survey published this week showed that a large percentage of women soldiers who reported unwanted sexual advances said they...
AP: Pentagon struggles to assess, stamp out retaliation in sexual assault cases
The Associated Press reports: It’s not against the law or military regulations to choose not to sit with someone in...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Responds to New Military Sexual Assault Report
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1, 2015 *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RESPONDS TO NEW REPORT EXPOSING RAMPANT RETALIATION AND...
April news roundup from Protect Our Defenders
Here’s your monthly digest of top news on our fight against sexual assault in the military. New Whistleblower Legislation Yesterday,...
PRESS RELEASE: Madeleine Albright Joins Protect Our Defenders Advisory Board
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 14, 2015 *** PRESS RELEASE *** FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT JOINS PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS...
[VIDEO] Revealed: Violent, Sexual Unofficial Air Force Songbook
In an interview with MSNBC, former Chief Prosecutor of the Air Force and Protect Our Defenders President Col Don Christensen...
[AUDIO] NPR: When Civilians Accuse Troops Of Rape, Military Courts Often Decide
This NPR story exposes how civilian survivors of sexual assault in the military are forced to navigate an unfair justice...
Think Progress: This Lawsuit Could Change How The Military Handles Sexual Assault
Protect Our Defenders President Col Don Christensen is featured in this piece from Think Progress: But many who work on...
Daily Beast: The U.S. Air Force’s ‘Sick’ Rape & Party Songbook
Protect Our Defenders President Col Don Christensen (ret.) and Communications Director Brian Purchia are featured in this Daily Beast article:...
USA Today: Suit revives controversy on Air Force explicit songbook
Protect Our Defenders President Col. Don Christensen is featured in this USA Today article: Retired Col. Don Christensen, a former...
Air Force songbook contains pornographic, misogynistic lyrics
Protect Our Defenders President Col Don Christensen (ret.) is featured in this article from Stars and Stripes: The songbook is...
Research Suggests Many Cases of Military Sexual Assault Are More Violent than Reported
The Independent Vote Network reports: While the estimated number of sexual assaults have dropped, the Military Times reports that the...
Washington Post: Male on male sexual assault in the military: Overlooked and hard to fix, investigation finds
The Washington Post reports: Here’s a scenario: A male U.S. service member is hanging out with others from his unit...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Responds to GAO Report, Impact of Sexual Assault on Male Servicemembers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 20, 2015 *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RESPONDS TO GAO REPORT THAT FINDS THE PENTAGON...
The Forgotten Victims Of Military Sexual Assault: Men
Former Chief Prosecutor and President of Protect Our Defenders, Colonel Don Christensen USAF (ret) is featured in this article from...
Fort Hood prostitution case shows military’s challenges with sexual assault
The Christian Science Monitor reports: The details of a Fort Hood, Texas, prostitution ring – involving US soldiers recruiting cash-strapped...
[AUDIO] Military Sexual Assault Survivors Find Healing In Therapy, Education and Service
Listen to this piece from WYSO’s, Veterans Voices, part of a public media effort to support veterans. Ashlie Hawes and...
Fort Hood sergeant pleads guilty in pimping scheme that used female soldiers
The San Antonio Express-News reports: A Fort Hood soldier pleaded guilty Wednesday to a long list of charges stemming from...
Disruptive Women in Healthcare: Destruction of Lives with the Stroke of a Pen
Victims of sexual assault in the military are often misdiagnosed with personality or adjustment disorders. Protect Our Defenders Founder Nancy...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Calls on Congress to Investigate Military’s Failure to Track Mental Health Discharges
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS CALLS ON CONGRESS TO INVESTIGATE MILITARY’S FAILURE TO TRACK MENTAL HEALTH...
March Update for Protect Our Defenders Community
Here are a few special updates this month just for the survivor and friends community. Webinar on Male Survivors Brian Lewis, a POD...
February News Roundup
Here’s Protect Our Defenders’ monthly news roundup covering current issues for veterans and active duty service members who are survivors...
Ms. Magazine: Kirsten Gillibrand: Taking On Military Sexual Assault, One Bill at a Time
Ms. Magazine reports: In the wake of recent high-profile cases of the mishandling of military sexual assaults, widespread public outcry...
Mother Jones: Reporting Sexual Abuse in the Military Is “Inherently Unfair.” Here’s Why.
Protect Our Defenders President Col Don Christensen and Board of Directors Member Paula Coughlin are featured in this piece from...
Local veteran overcomes trauma through opera music
Watch this video about Kela Holmes, who walked away from her dream of becoming an opera singer to join the Army:...
House bill would require DOD to publish names of military sex offenders
Former Chief Prosecutor and President of Protect Our Defenders, Colonel Don Christensen USAF (ret) is featured in this Scripps News...
Statement of Protect Our Defenders President, Col. Don Christensen (ret.) on the Introduction of the Military TRAC Act
February 12, 2015 Statement of Protect Our Defenders President, Col. Don Christensen (ret.) on the Introduction of the Military TRAC Act...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Applauds Bipartisan Legislation To Protect Americans from Convicted Sex Offenders
Download as a PDF document FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 12, 2015 *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS APPLAUDS CONGRESSWOMAN JACKIE...
Stars and Stripes: House bill calls for DOD to publish names of military sex offenders
Former Chief Prosecutor and President of Protect Our Defenders, Colonel Don Christensen USAF (ret) is featured in this Stars and...
Protect Our Defenders Releases Analysis of DoD Service Academy Survey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RELEASES ANALYSIS OF DOD SERVICE ACADEMY SURVEY, WHICH FINDS THAT NEARLY...
STATEMENT: Protect Our Defenders Responds to Service Academy Survey
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE *** STATEMENT *** PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS RESPONDS TO SERVICE ACADEMY SURVEY, WHICH FINDS THAT NEARLY HALF THE...
One in 10 female AFA cadets victims of unwanted sexual contact
Former Chief Prosecutor and President of Protect Our Defenders, Colonel Don Christensen USAF (ret) is featured in this Scripps News...
Stars and Stripes: Military lawyers lose the ‘good soldier’ defense
Protect Our Defenders President Col. Don Christensen is featured in this article from Stars and Stripes: “It allowed people to...
USA Today op-ed: Stop Air Force lockdown of public discussion
In a USA Today op-ed, Maribel Jarzabek, a former military lawyer takes commanders to task for trying trying to keep servicmembers...
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...