Military Veterans In Law Podcast

Serving over 34 years, MG Ewers rose to the highest legal position within the Marine Corps, serving as the Staff Judge Advocate to the Commandant of the Marines from 2014 to 2018. His combat deployments include participating in the invasion of Iraq with 1st Marine Division. MG Ewers also served multiple tours as a Military Judge, presiding over 500 courts-martial. General Ewers currently serves on the faculty of the American University College of Law and is the past President of the Judge Advocates Association.

John is the Managing Partner of O’Hagan Meyer’s Philadelphia and New Jersey offices, where he specializes in commercial litigation, mass torts, and class action defense. John served with the U.S. Army's Judge Advocate General's Corps during the first phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.

Howard Ankin is a third-generation attorney and owner of Ankin Law Firm in Chicago where he practices alongside his father, Paul Ankin, a Vietnam-era JAG. Ankin Law Firm has over 80 employees and represents clients in areas including personal injury, medical malpractice, workers compensation, and mass torts. Amongst his accolades, Howard was the recipient of the 2023 American Association for Justice, Richard D. Haley Distinguished Service Award.

Hillary is a business litigation attorney at GableGotwals Law Firm in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she represents oil and gas companies, insurance companies, universities, Native American Nations, banks, and other businesses. Hillary previously served as an active-duty Army JAG attorney for 10 years and then served as an AUSA in the Western District of Washington for 5 years. Hillary continues to serve in the Army Reserve JAG Corps.

Anthony began his career in the U.S. Coast Guard’s intelligence branch. From there, he transitioned to law enforcement, serving seven years as a Boston Police officer and eventually as a SWAT team member. After earning his law degree, he was commissioned in the U.S. Army JAG Corps where he served at the Third Infantry Division in Fort Stewart, GA. Anthony is now in private practice at JWL International Savanna, Georgia where he focuses on complex commercial law, litigation, and M&A work for diverse clients in heavy equipment and construction.

Stephen Dunn specializes in litigating complex high-stakes business disputes at Bodman PLC in Detroit, Michigan. Before entering private practice, he served on active duty in the U.S. Army Jag Corps as a trial counsel at 18th Airborne Corps in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Stephen currently balances his private practice with his service as a JAG in the U.S. Army Reserve, as well as serving as the General Counsel for EOTech, and Co-Owner of Aviation Supplies & Academics, Inc.

Toby is a man on the move. Out of high school, Toby started his first security company, which he grew quickly and sold less than two years later to a private equity firm. Toby is now the CEO of American Special Investigative Group, whose services including conducting investigations for law firms. In addition to his Coast Guard Reserve duties, he appears frequently on national media outlets to discuss security, investigative, and intelligence matters.

Marc spent five years on active duty in the Coast Guard, including an assignment to Cartagena, Columbia. Since law school, Marc served as a prosecutor at the Queens District Attorney’s Office, an Assistant US Attorney in New Jersey, and is currently a partner at Avelino Law in New York City, where he is the Chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group.

Kurt spent five years on active duty, including a deployment to Iraq with 18th Airborne Corps. Kurt currently serves as a Senior Counsel for West Pharmaceutical Services, as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve, and, quite interestingly, as counsel in a case seeking to identify the perpetrators in the 94-year old mystery involving the kidnapping and murder of Charles Lindbergh’s baby.

Ben is a former Blackhawk Helicopter Pilot and a retired US Army JAG. After his retirement from the active-duty Army, he served for seven years in the Department of Justice’s Professional Responsibility Advisory Office. Ben is currently a Lecturer in Law at Columbia University Law School and the Principal at Alturos Edge, where he helps grow the next generation of lawyers by focusing on legal ethics, professional responsibility, and professionalism.

Sasha retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after serving over 20 years on active duty and in the Army Reserve, including four years as a Military Judge. Sasha has also worked for the National District Attorneys Association, as a federal prosecutor, and as a Chief of Staff for two divisions of the Department of Justice. Listen in for insightful thoughts from Sasha on how Stoicism has shaped her outlook on life and her career, and helped her overcome adversity.

Will is transitioning from a 20-year career in the Army JAG Corps that included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and culminated in his service as the Staff Judge Advocate of Fort Meade, the home of the NSA and U.S. Cyber Command. Listen in to learn how Will is leveraging opportunities available to veterans as they retire, including the Military Corporate Assistance Program, in which a NASCAR Deputy General Counsel is advising Will on his upcoming move to private practice. Will is looking for roles in privacy and cybersecurity in the D.C. area, so please reach out to him with advice and leads. Shout out to my colleague Jacqueline Pavlicek for joining us to share her insights into privacy law practice!

David Corry retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after serving 29 years in the Ohio Air National Guard while also rising through the ranks of the insurance industry. Today, David is the Head of Casualty at Argo Group in Chicago, where he supervises 135 professionals providing multiple lines of casualty insurance in markets across the United States. Listen in to hear how David has excelled in his dual careers, the impacts of litigation on insurance underwriting, and how veterans can leverage their experience in the insurance industry.

Major Aneisha Bell is the Chief of Recruiting for the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps. She received her Bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of South Carolina. Aneisha has completed active-duty assignments at Langley AFB in Virginia, Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, and the United Arab Emirates. She is currently assigned to the Pentagon and may be reached at Af.jag.recruiting@us.af.mil or 1-800-JAG-USAF.

Bobby Don is a retired US Army Reserve JAG Colonel, a former federal prosecutor, a Tribal Court Judge, and now serves as a Criminal Defense and Civil Rights Attorney in Oklahoma City. This past year, he was named the 2025 Clarence Darrow Award winner and one of The Journal-Record’s 50 most influential Oklahomans.

Joel Collins’ reputation as one of the country’s most esteemed trial attorneys has been earned through decades of litigation and accomplishments. Vietnam veteran. West Point Professor. Assistant U.S. Attorney. Founder of Collins & Lacy. President of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Professor of the Constitution. South Carolina Lawyers Hall of Fame. Joel has earned his accolades and continues to give back to the profession and the community.

Anthony Dyer is the author of Moon Child: The Roots and Wings of a USAF Combat Special Missions Aviator. Over the course of a 20-year career, Anthony served as an Air Force weapons handler, fireman, and gunner and deployed over a dozen times to Afghanistan, Iraq, and Eastern Africa. In his book, Anthony recounts how his service eventually took a physical and emotional toll on him that led to alcohol abuse. This conversation is a reminder to all to check in on their battle buddies during this holiday season.

In this special crossover episode, Jerrod discusses with Subrogation Support Network host Ashton Kirsch about how military service prepares veterans for careers in litigation, insurance defense, and subrogation.

Stephanie is an Executive Legal Search Consultant and Managing Director with Major, Lindsey & Africa, where she recruits In-House Counsel for corporations, non-profit organizations, higher education institutions, and government agencies. Her career spans over two decades in private practice, in-house counsel roles, and government service, including positions with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Army Medical Command.

Stephanie has also provided leadership in organizations such as the Military Family Advisory Network, the Military Spouse JD Network, and the Georgia State Bar’s Military and Veterans Law Section.

Michael Graham has served nearly four decades in uniform, both as an enlisted soldier and as an officer, rising in rank from E1 Private to O6 Colonel. Michael has served both on active-duty and in the Army Reserve, with assignments around the world, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. In civilian life, he is a Partner at Smith, Robinson, Holler, Dubose & Morgan in Columbia, South Carolina, where he advises clients on commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and business strategy. Michael’s book, The United Traits of America, explores the enduring values that define American leadership and character.