EVENT:

As part of the George Washington University Veterans Campaign Distinguished Speakers Series, Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will speak about his journey from the U.S. Navy to Congress, discussing how his time in the military influenced his decision to continue serving as an elected official. This event is co-hosted by the Reserve Officers Association and GW’s Graduate School of Political Management.

WHEN:

Thursday, Sept. 29; 6 – 8 p.m.

WHERE:

Minutemen Memorial Building, 5th Floor
1 Constitution Ave., NE, Washington, D.C.

RSVP:

Members of the public should RSVP at www.veteranscampaign.org. Media interested in attending should contact Courtney Bowe at 202-994-5631 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

BACKGROUND:

Veterans Campaign is a non-partisan, nonprofit organization housed at the George Washington University that trains veterans to run for public office. Founded in 2009 by a group of student veterans, the organization encourages more veterans to continue their legacy of public service as elected officials by demystifying the process of campaigning for public office.

“The Distinguished Speaker Series gives veterans the chance to meet and interact with distinguished individuals who have successfully transitioned from the military to elected office,” said Seth McCormick Lynn, the executive director of Veterans Campaign. “It will also present a terrific opportunity for networking and camaraderie.”

The Reserve Officers Association is the professional association for all uniformed services of the United States. Chartered by Congress and in existence since 1922, ROA advises and educates the Congress, the President and the American people on issues of national security, with unique expertise on Reserve issues. ROA advocates for adequate funding of equipment and training requirements, recruiting and retention incentives, and employment rights for all members of the Reserve.

The George Washington University has a long commitment to serving veterans and is one of the leading participants in the Yellow Ribbon Program. Veterans who qualify at GW receive about a 71 percent discount on full-time graduate tuition and a free undergraduate education. In 2010-2011, GW has budgeted up to $2.8 million for the program, which will be matched by the Veterans Administration. This year, more than 260 GW student veterans are participating in the Yellow Ribbon Program.

GW’s Graduate School of Political Management, the pioneer school in the nonpartisan study of political management and applied politics, offers graduate programs in political management, legislative affairs, strategic public relations and PAC management, as well as international programs in Latin America and Europe. The school seeks to educate its students and professionals in the tools, principles and values of participatory democracy; preparing them for careers as ethical and effective advocates and leaders at the international, national and local levels.

For more information about GW’s Graduate School of Political Management, visit: www.gspm.gwu.edu.

To learn more about Veterans Campaign, visit:www.veteranscampaign.org.

- GW -