Protect Our Defenders

Protect Our Defenders
Name	Protect Our Defenders
Formation	2011
Type	Nonprofit organization
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Leader title	Executive Director
Leader name	Rachel VanLandingham

Protect Our Defenders

Protect Our Defenders is a United States nonprofit advocacy group focused on sexual assault, harassment, and accountability within the United States Department of Defense, United States Marine Corps, United States Navy, and United States Army. Founded in 2011 in the aftermath of widely reported assaults and investigations involving institutions such as the Tailhook scandal, the organization engages with policymakers, service members, and media outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and ProPublica to press for reforms. It has collaborated with lawmakers from the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, as well as watchdogs like the Government Accountability Office and advocacy groups including Human Rights Watch and American Civil Liberties Union.

History

Founded in 2011 during heightened scrutiny following incidents connected to the Tailhook scandal, the organization emerged amid reforms led by figures such as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and investigations by entities like the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General and the Special Victims' Counsel. Early public attention intersected with coverage by The Washington Post, reporting on cases similar to high-profile incidents involving the United States Naval Academy and hearings before the Senate Armed Services Committee. The group grew through alliances with veterans' organizations like Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, civil rights groups such as the Southern Poverty Law Center, and legal advocates associated with the National Women's Law Center. Over time, it responded to policy changes influenced by litigation invoking statutes such as the Uniform Code of Military Justice and congressional measures debated in the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act and later NDAAs.

Mission and Activities

The organization's stated mission centers on ending sexual assault and harassment within the United States Armed Forces by promoting survivor advocacy, legal reform, and accountability mechanisms linked to institutions including the Uniform Code of Military Justice and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Its activities span survivor support similar to services provided by RAINN and referrals to legal counsel resembling work by the National Crime Victim Law Institute, legislative lobbying before the Senate Judiciary Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, and public campaigns that engage outlets such as NPR and The New Yorker. Protect Our Defenders has issued reports drawing on data from the Department of Defense sexual assault surveys, collaborated with academic partners at institutions like Georgetown University and Harvard Kennedy School, and provided testimony alongside witnesses before congressional panels chaired by members like Senator Claire McCaskill.

Leadership and Organization

Leadership has included advocates with backgrounds in veterans' affairs, law, and policy, aligning with colleagues from organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Military Officers Association of America. Executive directors and board members have interfaced with officials in the Office of the Secretary of Defense, inspectors general from the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General, and congressional staff of lawmakers such as Representative Jackie Speier. Organizational structure features advisory councils similar to those in nonprofits like Jane's Defence Weekly contributors, legal teams working in the tradition of public-interest law firms such as the Kaiser Family Foundation's policy shop, and partnerships with survivor networks akin to Service Women's Action Network.

Advocacy and Impact

Protect Our Defenders has advocated for legislative reforms reflected in amendments proposed during debates over the National Defense Authorization Act and measures debated in hearings featuring senators like Senator John McCain and Senator Claire McCaskill. The group has influenced policy discourse on command responsibility, reporting pathways comparable to reforms championed by Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, and proposed changes to prosecution authorities that echo discussions around the Uniform Code of Military Justice and military criminal jurisdiction cases such as United States v. Holmes (2015). Its campaigns have prompted coverage by The Atlantic, prompted briefings for congressional staff from offices like the Senate Armed Services Committee and House Oversight Committee, and contributed to public pressure that intersects with investigations by the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General and reports from the Government Accountability Office.

Controversies and Criticism

The organization has faced criticism from voices aligned with institutions including some veterans' groups, military leadership, and commentators in outlets such as Fox News and The Wall Street Journal who argue about separation of powers and command prerogatives tied to the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Debates have invoked figures such as Senator Lindsey Graham and Senator Joni Ernst during NDAA negotiations, and critics have compared advocacy approaches to those seen in disputes involving the American Civil Liberties Union and National Rifle Association for perceived politicization. Some military legal professionals referenced by commentators from the Judge Advocate General's Corps have disputed data interpretation related to Department of Defense sexual assault statistics and the efficacy of proposed prosecutorial reforms.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources have included private donations, foundation grants, and partnerships with entities in the nonprofit and policy sectors similar to collaborations undertaken by groups like the Open Society Foundations and the Ford Foundation. The organization has accepted support and worked alongside legal clinics at universities such as Georgetown University Law Center and nonprofit coalitions including Human Rights First. It has also engaged with congressional offices of lawmakers like Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Nancy Pelosi for briefings and coordinated with watchdogs such as the Project on Government Oversight on transparency initiatives.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C.