longer known as j.d. smith.our time: breaking the silence of don't ask, don't tell." and victor farnbach came out after this program. he fought it and won as he saw the policy crumble this year. gentlemen, i have to say congratulations and thank you both for joining us. lieutenant sigfried, formerly known as j.d. smith on this program, let me start with you. how has it felt to you personally to be able to say who you are and to spend this first 24 hours in the new military? >> it feels like a huge burden has been lifted off your shoulders. i mean there's not a single day that you cannot think about this policy while serving in the military. and knowing today that there's a career that i have an opportunity to have where i don't have to be scared of who i am and who i love, that i can be part of the military family. i'm so excited about it. and i think every other gay person in the military feels the same way. >> are you anticipating that there are going to be problems with implementation of repeal? the military

j.d., baylor university school of law, 1981. mr. gilstrap served as an associate attorney for abney, baldwin and cirsey from 1981-1984. in 1984, he left to begin his own legal practice, smith and gilstrap, where he currently practices, representing individuals, corporations, local government on civil matters. in 1982-2002 -- 1989-2002, mr. gilstrap served as country judge, harrison county, where he had both administrative and judicial responsibilities. the a.b.a.'s standing committee has rated mr. gilstrap with unanimous qualified rating. then we have the distinguished nominee from montana that senator baucus just spoke about i, dana l. christianson, district judge for the district of montana. mr. christianson has b.a. from stanford, 1973; j.d., university of montana school of law, 1976. earlier in his legal career, mr. christensen practiced natural resources law, representing coal mining and oil and gas companies and litigati litigation, administrative matters. he went on to practice general insurance defense litigation, then medical malpractice cases. in 1996, he founded his own firm and continues to represent these entities and practices in these areas. he has also repr