Mari Frank Interviews Aaron Kahn, Litigator Specializing in Constitutional Law, and Mike Almy, Discharged from the Air Force in 2006 Under

Aaron Kahn is a litigator specializing in commercial litigation, trust and probate litigation, and white-collar internal investigations and defense. He has represented clients in both state and federal court, as well as in multi-million dollar arbitrations in connection with disputes involving personal and business torts, contract law, commercial fraud, unfair competition/false advertising law, trust & probate law, and constitutional law. His clients have included individuals, small businesses, charitable institutions, and large international corporations in a variety of industries including sports & entertainment, technology, retail, health care, manufacturing, real estate development, engineered products and services, financial services, legal services, and banking. Mr. Kahn's significant recent experience includes being a member of the trial team representing a major nonprofit organization, Log Cabin Republicans, in its high-profile lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the US military's Don't Ask Don't Tell policy. During the two-week federal court trial, which concluded in July 2010, White & Case presented extensive documentary evidence and testimony by experts and former servicemembers, all of which demonstrated that the policy does not further any of its asserted governmental purposes. As part of the trial, Mr. Kahn presented and examined several witnesses, including highly-decorated and accomplished Air Force servicemembers discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Mr. Kahn's recent experience also includes defending a major technology company in several high-stakes class arbitrations before the American Arbitration Association, conducting internal investigations for several large corporations concerning allegations of fraud and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations, and representing charitable institutions in high-value trust and probate challenges. Aaron Kahn serves on the Loyola Law School Alumni Association's Board of Governors and is active in the Loyola Law School community. www.whitecase.com/aakahn/ Mike Almy joined the US Air Force in 1993 after graduating from Wright State University, where he earned his commission through Air Force ROTC, as a distinguished graduate. He served a total of thirteen years on active duty as a communications officer before he was discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" in 2006. In his last position in the Air Force he led a team of nearly 200 men and women, responsible for operating and maintaining the command and control systems used to control the airspace over Iraq. His discharge process lasted sixteen months and started after the Air Force searched his private emails in Iraq. During his career in the Air Force Mike has been stationed at Kelly AFB, Texas, Randolph AFB, Texas, Scott AFB, Illinois, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, Quantico MCB, Virginia, Ramstein AB, Germany and Spangdahlem AB, Germany. He deployed to the Middle East four times during his career, supporting Operation Desert Fox, Operation Southern Watch and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has a master's degree from Webster University, and is a graduate of Marine Corps University and Air University. His decorations include the Joint Commendation Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and the Operation Iraqi Freedom Campaign Medal. He was named Officer of the Quarter, and Officer of the Year several times throughout his career. In 2005, he was named the top communications officer for the Air Force in Europe. In 2006 he was recommended for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel, even as the Air Force was actively seeking to discharge him under DADT. Since his discharge from the military Mike has worked as an IT consultant in the Washington, DC area, on projects for the Department of State and Department of Defense. His hometown is Dayton, Ohio. He has been an advocate for repealing Don't Ask, Don't Tell by testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee and lobbying members of Congress. He spoke alongside Senators Lieberman and Levin when the bill to repeal DADT was introduced in the Senate. He has been interviewed on NPR, CNN, The Associated Press, The Rachel Maddow Show, Kathy Griffin's, My Life on the D List and the Advocate. He also escorted Lady Gaga to the MTV Video Music Awards and spoke at the repeal rally she held in Maine, before the vote in the Senate.