Melissa completed 16 years of active-duty service in the U.S. Army as a logistician, with
deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Horn of Africa. She served four years with the 82d
ABN DIV and twelve years with Special Operations Command, rising to the rank of Master
Sergeant. She left active-duty service in 2015, joining the Virginia National Guard and attending
the University of Richmond School of Law, graduating in 2018. Melissa focused heavily on
transactional and tax while in law school, completing her thesis in Tax Policy on state and local
taxes. Shortly after graduating, she deployed to Iraq with the Virginia National Guard as the S4
and Property Book Officer. Melissa returned in late 2019 and passed the Virginia and Maryland
Bar exams in 2020. In 2021, she attended the U.S. Army Judge Advocate Basic Course in
Charlottesville, Virginia, becoming a Judge Advocate in the Virginia National Guard. Melissa
then deployed with the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team to Kosovo, serving as the
operational law attorney and legal assistance attorney. Melissa was also responsible for
providing opinions on contract and fiscal law and ethics matters. Upon her return, Melissa
revamped the Virginia National Guard estate planning services, providing improved legal
services for the state’s 8,500 Soldiers. She is currently serving as the Brigade Judge Advocate for
the 116th and is scheduled to deploy in September 2026.
Melissa has her own practice in Fredericksburg, VA, with the goal of helping local business
owners, provide sound advice for real estate matters, and offer comprehensive estate planning to the community.
Melissa has lived in Fredericksburg, Virginia since 2009. She is married with two sons and
enjoys learning to play the violin, crocheting, and of course, spending time with her family.
Education:
University of Maryland University College – B.S. Political Science, Cum Laude
University of Richmond School of Law – Juris Doctor
Georgetown University Law Center – Tax LL.M Candidate, May 2026
Licensed in Virginia and Maryland since 2020.
Memberships:
Fredericksburg Bar Association
Virginia Academy of Elder Law Attorneys
Veterans of Foreign Wars
U.S. Army Quartermaster Association