On Wednesday, May 10th, MSJDN members and supporters from across the country gathered to celebrate another year of accomplishments, including the milestone achievement of licensing victories in 25 jurisdictions.

Hosted by Nelson Mullins in their stunning D.C. office overlooking the U.S. Capitol, the event honored the 2017 MSJDN Members’ Choice Award winner Ernest Law Group, a private firm out of Virginia Beach, VA, and Homefront to Hired Partner Award winner, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, a federal agency based in Washington, D.C. Bill Condron, Director of PBGC’s Appeals Division, engaged the crowd with his remarks, telling employers in the room, “You’re nuts if you don’t hire military spouses!”

MSJDN member Rebecca Bresnik traveled from Houston, TX, to receive the 2017 Professional Excellence Award.  Rebecca is Assistant Chief Counsel for International Matters at NASA, a mom, and the wife of an astronaut and retired Marine Corps officer. She shared her story starting out as a military spouse and law student, feeling alone in her career journey. Rebecca recognized MSJDN for providing much needed support for military spouses in the legal profession. MSJDN was thrilled to celebrate Rebecca, who demonstrates the professional excellence military spouse attorneys are capable of when given the opportunity to excel in their careers.  Her advances in her professional endeavors, while also supporting her family and her service member, serve as an inspiration to all military spouses in the legal profession.

The evening ended with recognition of the outgoing and incoming MSJDN Board Members and passing of the gavel to incoming 2017-2018 President Libby Jamison. To see the new MSJDN leadership, click here. MSJDN members interested in volunteering on a committee in the coming year can click here to reach out to committee leaders.

MSJDN would like to thank the 2017 Annual Reception sponsors, including Nelson Mullins, USAA, Squire Patton Boggs, Dykema, and the American Military Partner Association, for their support of military spouses in the legal profession.