National Defense University Foundation
American Patriot Award

The National Defense University Foundation, which supports the official university of the Department of Defense, and H&A have partnered to create the American Patriot Award Dinner, honoring former President George H.W. Bush in its first year of existence. Since then, The American Patriot Award has honored the likes of Senator Bob Dole, General Colin Powell, Senator Daniel Inouye, Senator Ted Stevens, and Congressman Ike Skelton.

Since its inception, the event has raised more than $5 million for the Foundation and dramatically lifted the University’s profile within the defense industry, the Washington public affairs community, and even DOD itself. The Foundation and H&A have recruited an extraordinary group of speakers to offer tributes to American Patriot Award Winners, including General Norman Schwarzkopf, CIA Director George Tenet, Congressman John Dingell, and Vice President Dick Cheney.

H&A’s media team has also secured tremendous coverage for the event and the University, in part by recruiting emcees like CNN’s Paula Zahn and ABC’s Martha Raddatz. The event programs have been carried live by C-SPAN and covered by national and local print and broadcast media.

H&A’s primary roles include creation, recruitment, and management of honorary and working committees; sponsorship management; list management; graphic design and printing; speaker recruitment; scripting; production of a tribute video; event logistics; VIP management; and, direction and production of the evening’s stage program.