Joe Reeder, Signer and Co-Counsel of Military Amicus Brief; Former Under Secretary of the U.S. Army and mid-Atlantic Managing Shareholder
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- June 27, 2003 -- In the recent Supreme Court decision in the University of Michigan case, Grutter v. Bollinger, affirmative action in higher education was upheld. The decision cited a military amicus brief to the University of Michigan in which Joe Reeder, former Under Secretary of the U.S. Army, 82d Airborne Division soldier, and currently, mid-Atlantic managing shareholder, served as a signer and co-counsel to the Military Amicus Brief that urged affirmative action in higher education, which is the source of almost all entry level military officers.
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"To lead our country's racially diverse enlisted men and women, our nation's fighting force requires a diverse office corps: affirmative action policies have helped our military build a top quality officer corps that reflects America's diversity. The Supreme Court's decision to reinforce the 1978 Bakke decision by rendering diversity a compelling state interest. Our military and academic institutions are a direct beneficiary of this landmark decision," said Reeder.
The military amicus brief was signed by 29 former high-ranking officers and civilian leaders of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, including military-academy superintendents, former Secretaries of Defense, and present and former members of the U.S. Senate and filed on February 18, 2003.