Freedom From Religion Foundation 2006 - 29th Annual Convention Convention Overview Convention Speakers Convention Meals Convention Schedule Registration Form Lodgings & Transportation Map & Directions

Convention Speakers

Michael L. ("Mikey") Weinstein is the founder and leader of the national movement to restore the Constitutionally mandated separation of church and state throughout the United States armed forces. In just two years, since the movement began, Weinstein has played a pivotal role in the national debate raging over this controversial issue. Weinstein's efforts have received wide coverage with numerous articles in publications including The New York Times, the Washington Post, the Denver Post, Air Force Times, The Hill and the Albuquerque Tribune. He has also made appearances on CNN, Talk Radio News Network, Michigan Talk Radio Network, Washington Post Radio, the Guy James Show, WNOG (Ft. Meyers, FL) and WINK (Naples, FL).

Weinstein has taken on the powers-that-be in the U.S. government, especially the Department of Defense, as well as those same entities in the growing evangelical Christian movement. In October of 2005 he filed suit in federal court against the Air Force to end illegal proselytizing and evangelizing. In March 2006, Weinstein announced the formation of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org) - a watchdog organization dedicated to ensuring all members of the United States Armed Forces fully receive the Constitutional guarantees of religious freedom.

Weinstein is an attorney and businessman who served on active duty in the United States Air Force as a Judge Advocate (JAG) for 10 years stationed at military installations in California, New Mexico, Illinois and Washington D.C. He served as a Federal prosecutor and defense attorney as well as the Air Force's first Chief of Telecommunications and Information Systems Procurement Law. Weinstein also spent over three years as an attorney in the Reagan White House serving in the Office of Management and Budget under White House Budget Director David Stockman and as Assistant General Counsel in the Executive Office of the President of the United States, White House Office of Administration. He was selected by White House staff, under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, to serve as the Committee Management Officer of the President's Special Review Board for the "Iran-Contra" Investigation; known as the "Tower Commission."

Mikey's family has a distinguished multi-generational history spanning over 57 years at our nation's military academies. His father is a graduate from the United States Naval Academy, while Mikey, his brother-in-law, eldest son and daughter-in-law are all graduates from the United States Air Force Academy. He has been married for 29 years to his wife, Bonnie, whom he met during his first year as a cadet at the Air Force Academy, where their youngest son is currently a cadet.

See other speakers.