Thomas Brennan

Thomas Brennan is the founder of The War Horse, an award-winning nonprofit newsroom exploring the human impact of military service. He served as a Marine infantryman in Iraq and Afghanistan before using his G.I. Bill to study investigative reporting at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism. His reporting has appeared in Vanity Fair, the Center for Investigative Reporting, and on the front page of The New York Times. His investigations into government sequestration and sexual exploitation in uniform have resulted in nearly-immediate changes to federal policy and law, and have been highlighted on the front page of The New York Times and Esquire. He has held fellowships at the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, The Center for a New American Security, and the George W. Bush Institute. Thomas is the recipient of two Fourth Estate Awards, three Edward R. Murrow Awards, and the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Journalism Award, and in 2023, became the first enlisted recipient of the Gen. John A. Lejeune Award for Leadership.

Our Alumni Conference held in 2022 was also a great success. It brought together alumni from all over the country to discuss their experiences and share insights on transitioning from military service to academic life. The conference featured engaging panel discussions, networking opportunities, and informative workshops that provided valuable resources for attendees. Overall, it was a meaningful and impactful event that helped strengthen the veteran scholars’ community.