This article addresses the consequences of a failed drug test in the Army National Guard, not active duty service. While both share certain regulations, the National Guard operates under state control unless federally activated, and members are not subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) in the same way active duty soldiers are....Read More

It started with a simple truth — one that too many people in uniform were forced to hide. For decades, the U.S. military operated under policies that barred service members living with HIV from commissioning as officers or deploying overseas, regardless of their health, performance, or readiness. These rules were not based in current medical...Read More

Mission Alone Won’t Protect You If you’re running a nonprofit, chances are you’re doing it for the right reasons. You’re focused on impact, community, and purpose — not profit. But good intentions don’t insulate organizations from serious legal risk. In fact, some of the most mission-driven nonprofits I’ve encountered have found themselves in legal trouble...Read More

You Did Everything Right — And They Still Let It Happen You own a scooter or a motorcycle — something practical, efficient, maybe even essential for getting to work. You live in a building that won’t let you bring it inside. Leaving it on the street isn’t an option — not in this city. So,...Read More

The Problem No One Talks About In theory, the Active Guard Reserve (AGR) program gives servicemembers a stable path to serve full-time — offering structure, pay, and the ability to build a career while contributing meaningfully to the Guard’s mission. But in practice, I’ve seen too many soldiers and airmen removed from AGR positions without...Read More

Who I Can Help — and Why It Matters Let me be clear from the start: I do not accept payment for military defense work, and I do not represent clients in military proceedings for personal profit. As a Judge Advocate (JAG) officer in the District of Columbia National Guard, I represent only members of...Read More

We’ve come a long way from the days when LGBTQ+ Americans were banned from military service outright. The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was historic, and open service for transgender troops was a major milestone. But beneath the surface of policy change, a quieter, more stubborn resistance remains — one that continues to shape...Read More

Most people don’t see it coming. They’re just trying to get by—buying a car, taking out a loan, paying for a service—when someone lies to them, hides the truth, or uses fine print to rob them blind. Fraud isn’t always some elaborate Ponzi scheme or late-night infomercial hustle. Often, it’s the quiet theft of dignity,...Read More

There’s nothing more infuriating than watching someone get crushed by fine print they never understood, trapped in a contract written by a team of lawyers working for the other side. I’ve seen it too many times — a small business owner who just needed a break, a nonprofit leader trying to do good in the...Read More

Military service comes with immense sacrifices, but financial hardship shouldn’t be one of them. Servicemembers often face challenges that civilians don’t—deployments, relocations, and long periods away from home. Unfortunately, some businesses, landlords, and lenders take advantage of that, assuming that troops won’t have the time or resources to fight back when their rights are violated....Read More