Connecticut Veterans Legal Center wishes to recognize Millie Vandenbroek’s exceptional service to our organization as she departs to pursue a new career. Since she first joined us in 2015–and then rejoined us in 2018 after achieving a degree in Public Health–Millie has brought her quiet compassion to all the representation she has undertaken, regularly doing outstanding legal work on behalf of veterans. Whether she was sitting with her computer perched on her knees in our second floor office at the Errera Center or pounding the keys on the loveseat here on Church Street, Millie has been producing incredible briefs, letters, transfer memos and results on behalf of numerous clients. Millie repeatedly combined her energies and her expertise to achieve favorable decisions for her clients.

In the VA Benefits practice area, Millie was also willing to help launch all kinds of efforts on behalf of CVLC clients. There was her outreach to the Yale medical faculty, in efforts to secure in-depth medical reviews; her willingness to teach VSOs connected with the State’s Department of Veterans Affairs; and her design of Review-a-Rama, a 2017 Pro Bono Institute award-winning effort made in partnership with UnitedHealthcare designed to achieve the company’s review of medical and military documents and its provision of detailed summaries to CVLC’s attorneys.

In addition to her VA benefits expertise, Millie took on the difficult world of Discharge Upgrades. Again, Millie has repeatedly reviewed reams of evidence, developed case arguments and written solid–and regularly successful–briefs on behalf of veterans to correct unjust discharge statuses. Partnering with Margaret Kuzma, she contributed to the Military Discharge Upgrade Legal Practice Manual, published in 2021. She advised many pro bono attorneys and mentored numerous junior attorneys and interns on successfully representing clients who have faced discrimination due to gender, race, or mental health conditions.

And, Millie has given to the organization in many ways. She was the staff member who served as a conduit to the Board when we undertook our recent ED search. She has encouraged CVLC to think broadly – taking part in creating the Veterans Inclusion Project, which was behind the work on Discretionary Injustice, CVLC’s 2022 report on racial disparities in the military’s discharge process. And, in her closing months, she has served as Special Counsel to Alison Weir as Alison began her tenure as Executive Director.

Millie – We will miss you – your professionalism, your energy, your vision, and your wonderful laugh!