About Us
Mission and Vision
Co-founded by criminal defense attorneys and veterans Ryan Else and Brock Hunter, the Veterans Defense Project is a response to the crisis of veterans returning from war and turning to criminal behavior manifested in self-destructive, reckless, and violent behavior. We must help them break this cycle of trauma.
We believe that defending veterans can be among the most rewarding experiences a defense attorney can have. We can help repay our nation’s debt to these heroes for their services and sacrifice. The VDP will continue to ensure our veterans receive as vigorous a defense in the courtroom as they provide our nation on the battlefield.
MISSION: Restoring veterans involved in the criminal justice system to the communities they served.
VISION: A culturally competent criminal justice system that ensures veterans get the holistic services and supports they have earned to help them succeed in the communities they served.
Our Founders
Ryan Else
Brock Hunter
Brock Hunter
Ryan Else is a criminal defense attorney and veteran. Ryan served in the Army National Guard, in the historic 2/135 Infantry Battalion of the 34th Infantry Division, “Red Bulls,” from 1998 to 2006, reaching the rank of Sergeant. He was deployed to Kosovo in 2003 and 2004. Ryan went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from American University i
Ryan Else is a criminal defense attorney and veteran. Ryan served in the Army National Guard, in the historic 2/135 Infantry Battalion of the 34th Infantry Division, “Red Bulls,” from 1998 to 2006, reaching the rank of Sergeant. He was deployed to Kosovo in 2003 and 2004. Ryan went on to graduate Summa Cum Laude from American University in Washington D.C. with a B.S. in International Relations. In May 2011, he graduated from the University of St. Thomas School of Law where he served as President of the Military Law Society. Along with Brock Hunter, Ryan was co-author and co-editor of The Attorneys Guide to Defending Veterans in Criminal Court and co-founder of the Veterans Defense Project.
Brock Hunter
Brock Hunter
Brock Hunter
Brock Hunter is a private criminal defense lawyer, based in Minneapolis. He has served as President and Legislative Chair for the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) and received their Special Achievement Award in 2009. Additionally, he has received the Minnesota State Bar Association’s 2011 Professional Excellence A
Brock Hunter is a private criminal defense lawyer, based in Minneapolis. He has served as President and Legislative Chair for the Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) and received their Special Achievement Award in 2009. Additionally, he has received the Minnesota State Bar Association’s 2011 Professional Excellence Award, its highest honor. Brock is also former Army scout, and is nationally recognized for his work on behalf of troubled veterans in the criminal justice system. He drafted and led passage of Minnesota’s pioneering veterans’ sentencing legislation, which has since been cited by the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark case, Porter v. McCollum, 130 S. Ct. 447, at 455, n.9 (2009), the first time our highest court addressed combat trauma in criminal sentencing. Brock and his team recently won a not guilty by reason of mental illness verdict in State v. Minissale, a murder case involving a mentally ill young Afghan war veteran, the first such jury verdict in Minnesota since the 1970s and the second such verdict in the country, involving an veteran of our current conflicts. Brock is also the co-founder and President of the Veterans Defense Project (VDP) and is the lead editor and co-author of the treatise, Defending Veterans in Criminal Court. The VDP recently received a grant from the State of Minnesota to organize and train a state-wide system of Veterans Courts, the first of its kind in the nation.
Board Member Profiles
Brett Kelley Profile
Michael Hurley Profile
Brett Kelley Profile
Meet Brett Kelley. Brett’s journey from military service to advocacy reflects a life dedicated to leadership, resilience, and making a tangible impact.
Anders Folk Profile
Michael Hurley Profile
Brett Kelley Profile
Meet Anders Folk, a man who brings unparalleled expertise and passion to the VDP, leveraging his storied career to advocate for justice, accountability, and support for those who have served.
Michael Hurley Profile
Michael Hurley Profile
David Holewinski Profile
Meet Michael Hurley, a man whose journey ranges from the heartland of Minnesota to conflict zones around the globe and the corridors of power in Washington, D.C.
David Holewinski Profile
David Holewinski Profile
David Holewinski Profile
Meet David Holewinski, VDP Vice Chair. His extensive social work background, along with his drive to make a difference, makes him an incredibly valued and respected member of the Veterans Defense Project Board.
Hank Shea Profile
David Holewinski Profile
Hank Shea Profile
Meet Hank Shea, U.S. Army veteran and the current Chair of the VDP Board. He believes strongly that the work he has done with the VDP over the last five years has been some of the most rewarding of his lifelong legal career.