From Judge Advocate to Advocating for Children and Veterans

By Dara Purcell

Mission: Readiness member Major General (Ret.) Cassie Strom, U.S. Air Force, believes that we all have a responsibility to give back to our communities. This belief has driven her throughout her military and civilian careers and in her volunteer efforts to advocate for disadvantaged individuals.

General Strom retired from the U.S. Air Force in 2015 after a distinguished career of thirty-one years. During her time in the Air Force, General Strom has served in various theaters both stateside and abroad as a Judge Advocate. Her military accomplishments have been highlighted by her selection as the first woman ANG Advisor to Air Force Special Operations Command’s Staff Judge Advocate and as the first woman to be promoted to Major General in the Air Force Judge Advocate General Corps. General Strom’s last assignment was serving as the Air National Guard Assistant to The Judge Advocate General of the Air Force.

In addition to her Air National Guard responsibilities, she has worked as a staff attorney with the Catholic Charities Veterans Advocacy Project at Saint Louis University School of Law; as the Department of Missouri, American Legion Judge Advocate; President of the Jefferson Barracks Heritage Foundation; and the Co-Chair, along with Mission: Readiness member Brigadier General (Ret.) Tracy Beckette, U.S. Army, of the Gateway Community Veterans Engagement Board.

General Strom has a lifelong track record of supporting equal access to education, crediting her mother for instilling the importance education plays in fulfilling one’s dreams. Her varied assignments both domestically and abroad have further strengthened her belief that high-quality education can level the playing field, opening new and exciting careers for our future generations. These experiences have informed her work with Mission: Readiness and inspired her continued advocacy for families seeking a better education for their children in St Louis’ inner city. General Strom notes that she was particularly glad that “Mission: Readiness exposed me to the younger group with early education and how important it is at those very early ages, even before they get into grade school.”

Staying physically active has also been a lifelong priority for General Strom, seeing firsthand the benefits that come along with a healthy lifestyle. She was an active child and swam competitively in college, and needed to maintain her fitness throughout her military career. Today, General Strom and her husband stay active by walking, hiking, and biking.

General Strom notes that “education and physical fitness are lifelong pursuits that have the greatest impact on our quality of life.” As a Missouri member of Mission: Readiness, General Strom has advocated for programs such as high-quality pre-K and child care, and expressed support for programs that keep children physically active and receiving proper nutrition. Mission: Readiness is grateful for General Strom’s military service, and for her continued service in her community.

This blog post was written by Mission: Readiness intern Dara Purcell with the kind assistance of General Strom. Dara is currently finishing her undergraduate degree at the University of South Florida and interned with Mission: Readiness through The Fund for American Studies program. She hopes to join the U.S. Air Force as an Intelligence Officer and later serve in the JAG Corps.