Appalachian School of Law Dean D.J. Western recently returned to Travis Air Force Base to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of a program he developed while serving as Chief Legal Officer and Staff Judge Advocate in the United States Air Force.
What began as an effort to reduce crime on base became something far greater.
“When I started the program, the goal was simple,” Dean Western shared. “We wanted to reduce crime on base by introducing our airmen to individuals who had committed tragic mistakes they could never take back. We believed that exposure to those real-life consequences would make an impact — and it did.”
Crime rates at the base dropped significantly and have remained down.
But the program’s impact did not stop there.
One of the individuals present at the anniversary celebration was Anthony Bullock — the gentleman pictured cutting the anniversary cake alongside Dean Western. When the program began, Bullock participated as an inmate working directly with airmen.
His involvement changed the trajectory of his life.
The experience ultimately contributed to his parole. Today, Bullock works with prisoners transitioning into civilian life — helping them secure employment, establish credit, and build productive, stable futures.
“The true reality,” Dean Western explained, “is that the program gave prisoners something meaningful — a way to give back to the community and make a real impact.”
Now ten years strong, the initiative continues to serve both the Air Force and incarcerated individuals seeking redemption and restoration.The program received media coverage at its inception. View one of the original features here.
The anniversary event brought together Air Force leadership, program participants, and media representatives to commemorate a decade of measurable impact — both in crime prevention and human transformation.
For Appalachian School of Law, the story reflects the kind of leadership guiding the institution: practical, service-driven, and grounded in the belief that the law can change lives.
