Mike Rose: Fighting for Justice and Integrity in the Military and Service Academies

In this episode of STARRS & Stripes, prepare to engage with a riveting conversation on the intricate landscape of justice and military integrity with our esteemed guest, Michael T. Rose. His journey from rural Kentucky to a distinguished career as an attorney, state senator, and now Executive Vice President and General Counsel of STARRS reveals a passion for upholding the American values of justice, ethics and integrity.

Mike shares his experiences at the Air Force Academy, NYU School of Law, and Harvard Business School, alongside his commitment to combatting injustice in the military. He discusses his game-changing law paper, “A Prayer for Relief” regarding the conduct, honor and ethics systems in the service academies, which he further explained in a 60 Minutes interview. Mike talks about the pressures faced by those who challenge unethical practices, the pushback and the landmark court case regarding the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Through personal anecdotes, including sharing his story of growing up in rural America among people who had a distrust of entrenched elites and valued merit over pedigree, Mike discusses his journey from aspiring Air Force officer to a determined lawyer, driven by the desire to tackle legal injustices.

As a South Carolina state senator, Mike’s legislative triumphs come to life in this episode, where we explore his efforts to reshape governance structures and abolish unethical programs. His stories of overcoming obstacles and championing change, all the way to present day where he has worked on reforming the academy’s Board of Visitors, and helping cadets who were wrongly mistreated over not taking the Covid vaccine, reveal a dedication to addressing and overturning detrimental policies so that military recruitment, retention and readiness can be strengthened.

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Prayer for Relief: The Constitutional Infirmities of the Military Academies’ Conduct, Honor and Ethics Systems (PDF)