The Backstory on the Historic Repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell

This program will explore the behind the scenes multi-party negotiations that led to the 2010 repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." It took more than a directive from the President to repeal the policy. For that backstory, Colonel Linell A. Letendre, who was a member of the team that helped spearhead the Pentagon's review, will reflect on the process that generated the change and the important lessons learned. 

At the time the President called for the end of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," the team members focused on a review and the engagement of stakeholders. Only after the fact did the team realize that they had managed a large-scale, multi-party negotiation.

This program will discuss how the Pentagon facilitated a consensus among military branches, key members of Congress and outside interest groups. Their experience is an instructive case study of negotiations and consensus building on a "hot-button" issue that many are aware of, but few know.

Presenter: 

Colonel Linell A. Letendre is the head of the law department at the United States Air Force Academy.  She was a member of the team that helped spearhead the Pentagon's review of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" program.

 

Moderator: 

Hal Abramson is a professor of law at Touro Law Center and a former distinguished visiting professor at the United States Air Force Academy.