Advocate. Veteran. Mentor: Michael Dick ’06
{{youtube:large|Qspwm-DY3fg, Michael Dick}}For Michael Dick ’06, the call to serve has taken many forms. First, it was a military commission. Then, a legal mission. And now—as Director of the Office of Military and Veteran Affairs and Director of the Puller Veterans Benefits Clinic at William & Mary Law School—it’s a commitment to mentorship, advocacy, and building a legacy of service-minded legal education.
A retired U.S. Marine Corps Colonel, Mike spent more than 26 years leading Marines in global conflict zones and multinational operations. From Lebanon and Somalia to Bosnia, Liberia, and NATO Headquarters in Brussels, his career was defined by mission-driven leadership and high-stakes diplomacy. After graduating from William & Mary Law School, he went on to serve in the U.S. Department of Justice, combining his legal training with his military experience to navigate complex matters of national importance.
But in 2019, Mike returned to his alma mater—not just to teach, but to build. That year, he joined the Puller Veterans Benefits Clinic, where law students help veterans navigate the often-daunting VA claims process. For Mike, the clinic is more than a program—it’s a place where purpose and practice meet.
“The clinic offers students something they can’t get in a textbook: the responsibility of advocating for a real person with real needs,” he says. “It teaches empathy. It teaches discipline. And it teaches that the law is most powerful when it serves others.”
Mike’s leadership within the clinic has not only shaped the student experience but expanded William & Mary’s commitment to the military community. In 2023, he was appointed Director of the newly launched Office of Military and Veteran Affairs—a centralized hub for student support, programming, and engagement.
In this role, he mentors veteran and active-duty students, organizes service events and public talks, and strengthens the school’s relationship with state and national veteran networks. The Office also provides a home base for military-connected students who often juggle complex transitions while pursuing their legal education.
“Military service teaches you to put the mission first, but it also teaches you how important it is to care for your people,” Mike says. “This Office is about doing both—supporting our students while building something that will last beyond any one of us.”
His leadership on campus is matched by continued service beyond it. Mike served on Virginia’s Board of Veterans Services—first as vice chair, then as chair—advising state leaders on policy and priorities that impact veterans across the Commonwealth.
Whether he’s leading a clinic meeting, organizing a Veterans Day event, or talking through case strategy with a student, Mike’s approach is consistent: direct, compassionate, and anchored in real-world perspective.
“Lawyers and Marines have something in common,” he reflects. “We both have to act with precision under pressure. But the best ones? They also act with heart.”
For Mike Dick, coming back to William & Mary wasn’t just a return to a place he once studied. It was a continuation of a lifelong mission: to serve with purpose, lead with integrity, and prepare the next generation to do the same.