John Fortin Receives Veteran Leadership Award from Profiles in Diversity Journal

McDonald Carano congratulates John Fortin on being one of only 12 recipients of a Veteran Leadership Award by Profiles in Diversity Journal magazine. “This award salutes the achievements of these honorees in their civilian lives where they have displayed an unmatched dedication to their work, community, and fellow veterans. Service is the most frequent word for these extraordinary leaders – service to their country, their companies and their families – and for that we give them a hearty thanks.”

The magazine’s August 8, 2024 press release (here) announcing the winners highlights two awardees – John Fortin, a litigation attorney in McDonald Carano’s Las Vegas office serving state, national and international clients throughout Nevada, and Jeffrey W. Martin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sempra, a San Diego, CA-based energy infrastructure company serving 40 million consumers worldwide. The press release describes John as follows.

Prior to law school, John A. Fortin served 10 years on U.S. Navy active duty as a cryptologist and intelligence analyst. Upon matriculation to law school, Fortin transitioned to Naval Reserves where he continues to serve today. Throughout his ongoing 18 years of Navy service, Fortin received leadership awards from the Department of Defense, Navy, and intelligence community. He has served on the leadership team of the Young Lawyers Section (YLS) of the Nevada State Bar since becoming licensed to practice law in 2019. YLS elected Fortin to the prestigious leadership role as the YLS representative to the Nevada Supreme Court’s Commission on Access to Justice. In 2022, the Nevada Supreme Court also officially appointed Fortin to the Commission. Fortin is a member of committees addressing access to justice issues for pro bono attorneys and developing requirements to certify attorneys in appellate law.

Q&A INTERVIEW

The Q3 2024 issue of Profiles in Diversity Journal includes interviews with all awardees. John’s Q&A is published here on page 29 and provided below.

• Words you live by:   

There are two ways to get things done: the right way, or again.

• How is being a veteran beneficial to your career development and leadership success?

Over the last 18 years, I have had the honor and privilege of serving as Cryptologist, Information Warfare Specialist, and intelligence analyst on both active and reserve duty in the U.S. Navy.  My roles in the intelligence community (“IC”) have required me to work on a broad spectrum of projects as I interfaced across the IC, while working mainly for the NSA. While on active duty, I served aboard the USS Simpson (FFG-56), the USS Iwo Jima (LHD-7), and at various cryptologic commands.  I deployed twice to South America and supported counter-narcotics/trafficking operations and I deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operating Enduring Freedom while serving with Cryptologic Support Team-20, the Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force, and Naval Special Warfare Command (“SEAL”) Teams Two and Four. 

To work by, through, and for some of the highest caliber intelligence organizations in the world, with the best, brightest, and highest performing individuals in the military provided me a front row seat to what it means to be excellent. I learned through these experiences the value of teamwork, commitment, and courage. Any team in any organization is only as strong as their least experienced and least qualified member. Leaders must be committed to constantly learning their craft, so that those same leaders can effectively and efficiently teach that craft to the next generation. Indeed, the best teams I ever worked with were teams in which it did not matter whether you were the Skipper or the lowest ranking member, the leadership and the team demanded every member to have courage to speak up, call out mistakes, and work towards learning from those mistakes.  Constructive criticism, always learning, never accepting mediocrity is an ethos and is the standard of excellence I learned to expect out of myself and my teams. 

Most importantly, understanding the time, place, and manner in which to speak the truth to those in power is an invaluable leadership quality that I learned. My mentors, leaders, and peers taught me to think critically, provide solutions to problems, and respect everyone’s conclusions (whether they were right or wrong) to build a team—rather than dimmish those individuals contributions. 

The lessons I learned as a Sailor I apply every day as a litigator, appellate practitioner, and counselor to my clients. There are few times that people need lawyers when things are going well.  Nearly all of my clients have complex and challenging issues facing them. My experiences in the Navy, prepared me to go to battle for my clients, to teach my colleagues, peers, and sometimes even my bosses new things, all while I learn the practice of law from the best lawyers in the State of Nevada.  

• Book(s) you are reading:   

Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Isaac Woodard and the Awakening of President Harry S. Truman and Judge J. Waties Waring, by Richard Gergel

• Favorite charity: 

Cure 4 the Kids Foundation

• Interests/Hobbies:   

Spending as much time with my wife, playing with my children, and reading really good historical and biographical books. 

• Family:  

I have been blessed with a beautiful and supportive of wife for the last nine years, Jessa, our oldest son Liam, middle-son Aiden, and youngest daughter Mia which makes me one of the luckiest guys in the world.

• Personal hero:    

Coach Mike Krzyzewski (“Coach K”).  Growing up in Durham, North Carolina, being a life-long Duke fan, going to church and being a member of the same congregation as Coach K were really unique aspects of my childhood. Having former Duke Assistant Coach and Notre Dame head coach Mike Bray as a neighbor fueled my fandom for Duke Basketball. Attending Duke Basketball games at a Cameron Indoor Stadium is tremendous.  Coach K is the consummate professional. He demanded greatness while always respecting his opponents (whether good or bad) by preparing his teams for every game as if it is a championship.  Coach K also did it the right way, every time, for the whole time while he coached. As College Basketball and (college Sports in general transformed) during his tenure from the 1980s-2020s he never became marred in controversy because he understood his role as mentor and teacher of young men.    

The 12 Veteran Leadership Award recipients are listed below.

1. Jeffrey W. Martin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sempra
2. John A. Fortin, Litigation Attorney, McDonald Carano LLP
3. Jason McKenna, Chief Human Resources Officer and Vice President of Travel, FUJIFILM Holdings Americas Corporation
4. Joshua Durham, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Transamerica Asset Management
5. Erik Swabb, Partner, WilmerHale
6. Todd Rynaski, Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting, Risk and Compliance Officer, Union Pacific Railroad
7. Peter Hart, Development Tech Lead, Freddie Mac
8. Gregory Williamson, Managing Partner, Outside GC LLC
9. James Hilbert, Senior Director of Default Fees & Claims, Single-Family Servicing Operations, Freddie Mac
10. Chip Gray, Senior Associate, NMRS
11. Michael Nacarato, Senior Director, Vendor & Third Party Management, Transamerica
12. Eli Gaylor, Senior Associate, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP

Profiles in Diversity Journal is a quarterly B2B magazine that focuses on diversity, inclusion, and equity in business, government, nonprofit, higher education, and military settings. The Journal presents interviews, profiles, articles, case studies, and awards that highlight mission-driven leadership, best practices, workforce strategies, innovative ideas, and important individual contributions in the realm of diversity and inclusion. “This magazine is an opportunity to tell the world about outstanding employees who are not content with the status quo for themselves or their companies. These sterling employees … exemplify resilience, innovation, and positive change … through hard work and unique qualities.”

Media Contact

Mark Buckovich

mbuckovich@mcdonaldcarano.com
702.257.4559