Public Policy
Out in National Security is about addressing the injustices of the past and creating good governance in the present and future.
Policy Goals
Our responsibility to our community and to our nation demands that we bring about changes in laws, customs, and policies in both the federal government and the private sector to ensure that LGBTQIA+ Americans are able to serve. This includes addressing the injustices of the past and creating good governance, accountability, and transparency in the present and future.
ONS engages in advocacy efforts with Congress, the White House, and National Security Cabinet agencies. After years of conducting thorough research and hard work, we have established ourselves as a reliable partner, advocate, and subject matter expert to the executive branch.
Advocacy Wins
June 30, 2016
July 26, 2017
April 12, 2019
January 25, 2021
March 12, 2024
June 26, 2024
Executive Branch
In our work with the executive branch, ONS leverages its experience and knowledge to build coalitions and advise high-ranking officials on mission-critical policies and good government reforms that are essential to the LGBTQIA+ community.
Our coalition, consisting of Veterans Service Organizations, Military Service Organizations, and LGBTQIA+ advocacy organizations, has actively engaged with Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks since 2021. Our collective efforts have been aimed at addressing important issues affecting our community. We are pleased to report that our joint efforts are producing positive results.
ONS Presidential Appointees
Victor Esteves
Country Director, Mexico, DOD; Special Assistant to the DASD, Western Hemisphere
ONS Class of 2020
Thomas Zimmerman
Senior Policy Advisor, NASA (2022-Present); Special Assistant To The President, National Security, Office of Presidential Personnel (2021-2022)
ONS Class of 2019
Matt Williams
Chief of Staff to the Secretary of the Air Force (2022-present); Department of Defense; Various
ONS Class of 2020
Rachel Thomas
Various; Department of State
ONS Class of 2020
Jimmy Santos
Special Assistant Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment
ONS Class of 2021
Jesse Salazar
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Industrial Policy (2021-22)
ONS Class of 2021
Leon Ratz
Deputy Director, CBRN Defense & Incident Response Policy, U.S. Department of Defense
ONS Class of 2020
Ned Price
Deputy UN Ambassador (2024-Present); Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State Spokesman, Department of State (2021-2023)
ONS Class of 2019
Mira Patel
Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Commerce
ONS Class of 2020
Tyrik McKiever
Director of Public Affairs, ITA, Department of Commerce (2023-Present); Public Affairs Specialist, USUN (2022-2023)
ONS Class of 2020
Ella Lipin
Deputy Assistant Secretary Bureau of International Organization Affairs; Various
ONS Class of 2020
Justin Ángel Knighten
Director, Office of External Affairs at FEMA
ONS Class of 2023
Tony Johnson
Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense
ONS Class of 2019
Richard Johnson
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and CWMD Policy
ONS Class of 2019
Eric Jacobstein
DAS, Western Hemisphere, Department of State (2023-Present); Various
ONS Class of 2020
Andrew Hebbler
Principal Assistant Director for Health and Life Science, Office of Science and Technology Policy (2021-2023)
ONS Class of 2021
Jonah Glick-Unterman
Various; DOD
ONS Class of 2021
Karim Farishta
Director of Intergovernmental Affairs, Office of the Secretary of Defense
ONS Class of 2022
Marco Fabian Sanchez
Special Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Analysis (2023-Present); White House; Various
ONS Class of 2021
Christopher B. Estep
Special Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs
ONS Class of 2022
Andrew Carpenter
Protocol Officer, Department of Defense
ONS Class of 2022
Francisco Bencosme
China Policy Lead/Senior Policy Advisor (2023-); Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary at the East Asian and Pacific Affairs Bureau (2021-2023)
ONS Class of 2019
Josh Black
White House and Department of State; Various
ONS Class of 2021
Legislative Priorities
We are prioritizing key legislation critical to the past and future of our community.
Restore Honor to Servicemembers
The Restore Honor to Servicemembers bill would require the Department of Defense to conduct outreach to build awareness among veterans of the process established for reviewing discharge characterizations related to sexual orientation. DOD must also provide for specified relief for former members of the Armed Forces who were impacted by the discharge characterizations. You can read more in our [fact sheet] and our [white paper].
Jim Kolbe Fellowship
The Jim T. Koble Strategic Defense Fellows Program would be a 12-month Department of Defense leadership development program for LGBTQIA+ recent advanced degree program graduates from across multiple academic disciplines. This program would provide the DoD headquarters staff offices with the ability to recruit and develop future LGBTQIA+ leaders from across the United States. Fellows will be provided with challenging developmental opportunities and flourish into problem solvers, strategic thinkers, and future leaders. You can read more in our [fact sheet] and our [white paper].
Mary Walker Fellowship
The Mary E. Walker Veterans Fellows Program would be an 18-month Department of Veterans Affairs program for LGBTQIA+ identified medical professionals and medical professionals trained in the provision of LGBTQIA+ medical care to better serve more than 1.5 million LGBTQIA+ veterans today and in anticipation of the growing number of veterans into the future. You can read more in our [fact sheet] and our [white paper].
Other Initiatives
We are a consistent partner with Congress in several other key areas, signing onto dear colleague letters including the support of the Burial Equity for Guards and Reserve Act, the LOVE Act, paid internships, veterans benefits, and amendments to the NDAA and the SFOPS to protect programs and policies that support the service of LGBTQIA+ servicemembers, dependents, civil servants, foreign service officers, and veterans.
