The commencement address was offered by The Honorable Brett M. Kavanaugh, judge on the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia since May 2006. Judge Kavanaugh began his legal career by serving federal clerkships. The first was for Judge Walter K. Stapleton of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, who later described him as “a judge’s dreams of a law clerk.” He also clerked for Judge Alex Kozinski, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Justice Anthony M. Kennedy of the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge Kavanaugh served in the White House for more than five years, first as Associate Counsel then as Senior Associate Counsel to President George W. Bush. From July 2003 to May 2006 he was Assistant to the President and Staff Secretary to the President.