ALUMNI NEWS
ASSOCIATE DEAN
Michael C.H. McDaniel Receives Awards for his Long-term Commitment to Public Service and the Legal Profession
Michael C.H. McDaniel, WMU-Cooley Law School Lansing campus associate dean and professor of law, and retired Brigadier General, has served as head of the Lansing campus, professor, scholar, expert on homeland and national security, head of Michigan’s homeland security program, adviser to the governor on security issues, adviser to the city of Flint following its water crisis, liaison between Flint and the state of Michigan on that same issue, and adviser to the city of Lansing following a widespread power failure.
Acknowledging the amount of time he has devoted and various positions he has held in service to the legal community and the community at large, WMUCooley President and Dean Don LeDuc said, “It’s no wonder that McDaniel received multiple awards this year for his long-term commitment to public service and the legal profession.” On Sept. 27, McDaniel received the Champion of Justice Award from the State Bar of Michigan. The award is given to practicing lawyers and judges for integrity and adherence to the highest principles and traditions
of the legal profession, superior professional competence, and for an extraordinary professional accomplishment that benefits the nation, state or local community.
Citizen Breakfast for Scouting. During the event, he was also presented with the Key to the City from Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero.
In April, McDaniel was inducted into the alumni On Nov. 16, McDaniel ROTC Hall of Fame for was presented with the the Seneca Battalion of Ingham County Bar the U.S. Army Reserve Association’s Camille Officers’ Training Corps S. Abood Distinguished Volunteer Award for his pro at St. Bonaventure bono work during the bar’s University, located 123rd Annual Dinner. The in Olean, New York. Abood Award is presented Following the induction ceremony, McDaniel annually to a member presented the keynote of the Ingham County during the university’s Bar Association who has annual ROTC Military distinguished himself Ball. or herself by making voluntary contributions In addition to teaching of time and talent for the Constitutional Law, benefit of others. McDaniel is the director of the Homeland and In May, McDaniel National Security was honored with the Law LL.M. program Distinguished Citizen at WMU-Cooley Law Award by the Chief Okemos District of the Boy School, a program he Scouts of America during the 2017 Distinguished
has been the chairperson for Great Lakes Hazard Coalition (GLHC) since 2012. He also served as the Assistant Adjutant General for Homeland Security with the Michigan National Guard. McDaniel presents the keynote during the university’s annual ROTC Military Ball
created in 2013. McDaniel is a retired Brigadier General and was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Homeland Defense Strategy, Prevention and Mission Assurance at the Department of Defense prior to joining the law school. In 2003, he was also Homeland Security Advisor to then-Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, and
McDaniel has been on the board of directors for the Infrastructure Security Partnership (TISP) since December 2012, assisting the organization in national infrastructure security and resiliency planning.
In 2016, McDaniel was appointed by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to the Flint Water Interagency Coordinating Committee (FWICC) and helped to secure $100 million in funding from Congress. The funding sped up the process of removing hazardous water pipes, with over 600 pipes replaced by the end of 2016.
McDaniel is a nationally recognized expert in homeland and national security law who has brought his knowledge and experience to bear both in the classroom and on what is perhaps the most significant Michigan infrastructure security issue in recent times, the Flint Water Crisis. McDaniel pictured with his family after receiving the Champion of Justice Award
“It’s no wonder that McDaniel received multiple awards this year for his long-term commitment to public service and the legal profession.” WMU-COOLEY PRESIDENT AND DEAN DON LeDUC
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