Colonel Adrienne Schaffer (Ret.), Esq.

Founder/Executive Director

Military Children's Six Foundation

Adrienne Schaffer is an attorney and retired Colonel, US Army. Before retiring from military service in December 2017, she served as the Special Assistant to the Chief Counsel, National Guard Bureau (NGB) from January 2016 – December 2017. In that capacity, she focused on the Chief Counsel’s priorities for strengthening the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program capabilities. COL (Ret.) Schaffer prepared the Special Victims’ Counsel Program concept plan to secure the permanent Title 10 force structure of attorneys and paralegals to be stationed across the 54 states and territories. She also served as an investigator for sexual assault cases with the Office of Complex Administrative Investigations.

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COL (Ret.) Schaffer has over 30 years of military experience. As a Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps Officer, Adrienne served as a Chief Legal Advisor to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), lead counsel for legal operations development for NGB’s Office of the Chief Counsel, and the inaugural Deputy Chief for the Army National Guard Trial Defense Service. Adrienne has engaged in international dialogue forums developing multilateral military operations frameworks, spearheaded several congressionally mandated initiatives, and has overseen the supervision and training of 130 JAG officers.

 

As a legal practitioner, Adrienne served as the Deputy Associate Chief Counsel, Regulatory Affairs Division, in the Office of the Chief Counsel, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in Washington, D.C., owner and operator of the Law Office of Adrienne L. Schaffer in Clayton, Missouri, and an Associate Attorney for the Law Offices of Caldwell, Hughes, McHugh, and Singleton in St. Louis, Missouri.

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Adrienne currently serves as the Vice President, Policy & Government Relations for Missouri American Energy. She volunteers at the VA Hospital in Washington, DC., and serves as a member of the Veterans Mental Health Advisory Council.

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Adrienne has also served as a guardian ad-litem for 10 years advocating for the rights and best interests and welfare of countless children facing juvenile delinquency charges, in foster care, and entangled in complex family court matters.

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Adrienne’s military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal (3), Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (7), National Defense Service Medal (2), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/Silver Hourglass, Armed Forces Reserve Medal w/Bronze Hourglass, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and the Missouri National Guard Long Service Ribbon (25 Yrs.)

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Adrienne has a Political Science degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is also a graduate of the University-Missouri Columbia School of Law and of the U.S. Army War College. She believes that anyone can rise above their circumstances and succeed if he or she is provided with the right tools, opportunities, direction, and inspiration.