Brandon Santiago, a second-year Notre Dame Law student and U.S. Coast Guard veteran, recently took his passion for veteran advocacy to Washington, D.C., during Student Veterans of America's (SVA) Washington Week 2025. With a background in public affairs and military service, Santiago engaged directly with elected officials and their staff to advocate for policies supporting student veterans.
Inspired by his parents’ service in the Navy, Santiago felt a strong calling to continue their family tradition. After graduating from Baruch College, he enlisted in the Coast Guard, quickly completed Officer Candidate School, and served on the CGC Hamilton and at the Coast Guard Finance Center before pursuing law at Notre Dame. Drawn to the Law School’s Catholic tradition and "Different Kind of Lawyer" philosophy, he remains committed to being a force for good in the world.
During Washington Week, Santiago participated in SVA policy briefings and advocacy workshops focused on promoting veterans’ access to education and resources. He also had the opportunity to meet with two Notre Dame alumni, Rep. Pat Fallon (R-TX) (ND '90), an ROTC graduate, and Rep. Rudy Yakym (R-IN) (ND EMBA '19), who represents South Bend, Indiana, to discuss the needs and challenges facing student veterans across the country.
"I really enjoyed my experience with SVA in Washington, D.C.," Santiago shared. "Washington Week was a great opportunity to meet fellow veterans and learn the inner workings of Capitol Hill firsthand. I would recommend this experience to any veteran interested in public policy."
The Office of Military and Veterans Affairs and the Notre Dame Washington Office are proud to support student veterans like Brandon and empower them to make a meaningful impact both on campus and in our nation’s capital. OMVA is actively working to establish an official SVA chapter at Notre Dame and send students to Washington Week each year.
Through his dedication and servant leadership, Brandon Santiago exemplifies the power of Notre Dame’s student veterans to drive positive change and shape a better future for service members, veterans, and their families.