The West Virginia State Bar boasts many attorneys who are leaders in their communities, but we are especially proud of those who go a step further in creating and preparing future leaders to better our communities. This month we celebrate Andrew Skinner as “More Than a Lawyer,” because he seeks to instill leadership skills in others to assure his community continues to grow and prosper.
After completing the ROTC program at the College of William and Mary, Andrew began a 30-year military career in the United States Army. He started in the Fourth Infantry Division as a tank platoon leader, where he was in charge of fifteen soldiers and four tanks. During law school at the University of Texas, he joined the National Guard and then the Army Reserve, where he rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Andrew’s favorite position during his military career was at the Command and General Staff College, where he taught Army doctrine, history, and leadership skills to field grade officers. His military values also run through his family, as his son just completed basic infantry officer training, and his daughter just began Army ROTC.
While attending law school, Andrew lived in Georgetown, Texas, where he participated in “Leadership Georgetown,” a program that developed local leadership talent. Through this experience, Andrew realized his love of developing leaders. Returning to West Virginia, he began practicing law with his father and brother at Nichols & Skinner, now called Skinner Law Firm, a personal injury firm in Charles Town, and he began looking for ways to engage with the community and to share his skill-set. “I had just spent four years on active duty, a year deployed with the National Guard, and another year mobilized in the Reserves, and I realized nothing worthwhile gets done unless there is a leader deciding to move forward and organizing and directing the effort.”
In 2006, in collaboration with the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce, he founded “Leadership Jefferson,” which is dedicated to preparing current and future leaders to better understand and serve the community. Each annual program requires a ten-month commitment from approximately fifteen participants, in exchange for the opportunity to learn more about their community, to network, and to develop leadership skills from experts and program partners. From the start, Andrew has served as a mentor and coach in “Leadership Jefferson.” He is proud of the program and its many graduates, many of whom have become elected officials, while others have started businesses or run non-profit organizations. Andrew is also the former President of the Chamber, has served on the Board of the Jefferson County Development Authority, and serves on the Board of the Bank of Charles Town and the Charles Town Police Civil Service Commission. Andrew’s commitment to community involvement is shared by his wife, Kathy, who is a member of the Jefferson County Board of Education.
Thank you, Andrew Skinner, for your meaningful impact in ensuring future leaders in your community. Andrew was nominated by Alix Hazel.
