Washington, D.C. — Today Winnie Stachelberg, Executive Vice President of External Affairs at the Center for American Progress, announced that former Congressman Patrick Murphy will be joining CAP’s National Security and International Policy team as a Senior Fellow. Building upon his congressional career, Murphy will continue to focus on enhancing our national security and supporting military families, making government more efficient for the American taxpayer, and leveling the playing field of LGBT Americans and their families.
“We are delighted to welcome Congressman Patrick Murphy to the CAP team,” said Winnie Stachelberg, Executive Vice President of External Affairs at the Center for American Progress. “His track record of fundamental fairness for LGBT families, and for gay service members in particular, is a legacy that CAP is honored to share in.”
As the first Iraq war veteran elected to Congress, representing Pennsylvania’s 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives, Murphy served on the House Committee on Appropriations, the House Armed Services Committee, and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He was also the author and chief sponsor of the bill repealing the Defense Department’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy concerning gay service members.
He played a significant role in the passage of the 21st Century G.I. Bill, which provides individuals with various resources upon completion of military service. In his military career Patrick was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve upon his college graduation and eventually branched into the Judge Advocate General, or JAG, Corps.
Murphy attended Bucks County Community College before enrolling at King’s College. He graduated from King’s College in 1996 before being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Reserve. He attended law school at the Widener University School of Law.
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