Join LGBTQIA+ veterans of the US Military, Departments of State and Defense, and The White House for this career panel focused on discussing what it's like to be "out" in the national security field. Please find more information about the panelists below:

Luke Schleusener
Speechwriter to the Secretary of Defense (2012-17), National Security Associate, Office of Presidential Personnel, The White House (2011-12)

Hammad Bassam
Hammad State Department Rusk Fellow, Georgetown University, Former Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of State, Former Foreign Service Officer

Shawn Skelly
Commissioner - National Commission on Military, National, and Public Service (2017-20), Executive Secretary, Department of Transportation (2016-17), Special Assistant to the Undersecretary for AT&L Department of Defense (2013-16), Commander, U.S. Navy (Retired)

Rachel Thomas
Lieutenant Rachel Thomas currently serves as an active-duty Foreign Area Officer in the U.S. Navy, detailed to the Department of State as the Senior Military Advisor on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS)