2025 DAV Distinguished Speaker Series at Harvard Law School – Correcting the Record: Veterans’ Voices on Discharge Upgrades

Please join us for an important conversation about the causes and consequences of wrongful military discharges. Each of our panelists is a veteran who experienced a wrongful discharge, suffered the harmful effects of that discharge over many years, and then finally obtained a measure of justice by pursuing a discharge upgrade. The voices of these veterans tell a powerful story and underscore the urgent work to be done.

Opening remarks by: Barry Jesinoski, DAV National Adjutant

Panel conversation moderated by: Dana Montalto, Lecturer-on-Law, Senior Clinical Instructor, and Associate Director, Veterans Legal Clinic, Harvard Law School

About the DAV Distinguished Speaker Series: Now in its 11th year, the DAV Distinguished Speakers Series provides an annual forum at Harvard Law School for public servants, thought leaders and others to speak on issues of importance to the nation’s veterans. The series recognizes leading figures in the veterans’ community, raises awareness about the needs of veterans, sparks discussion about the public policies that most impact veterans—particularly those with service-connected disabilities—and serves as a call to action for all to help ensure the nation honors its commitments to those who’ve served. The Speaker Series is co-hosted by the Veterans Legal Clinic at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School and the Harvard Law School Armed Forces Association. For information about past convenings, please visit the DAV Distinguished Speakers Series webpage.