Dwight Patterson Alumnus/Alumna of the Year Award granted to Mitchell Ettinger

FLAGSTAFF, AZ (09/28/2012)(readMedia)-- In honor of high achievements in his extensive career in the justice system, Northern Arizona University alumnus Mitchell Ettinger, '80 BS, is awarded with the 2012 Dwight Patterson Alumna/Alumnus of the Year Award from the NAU Alumni Association.

After earning a degree in criminalistics from NAU, Ettinger went on to become a second lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force Reserves before taking a break to attend the Columbia School of Law, Catholic University of America.

While on active duty Ettinger served primarily in the European Theater as the chief prosecutor for eight U.S. Air Force bases in England.

When honorably discharged, he joined Robert S. Bennett, in the defense practice of white collar crime.

In 1990, Ettinger accompanied Bennett to merge with the prestigious Washington firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.

Ettinger is an expert in the defense of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and currently heads the firm's Government Enforcement Defense Group and the Criminal and Civil Litigation practice. He has earned many prestigious awards and titles.

Ettinger's dedication and success in his career makes him a deserving winner of the 2012 Dwight Patterson Award. Like Ettinger, Patterson, president of the Alumni Association in 1946, also had a prestigious career. Patterson died in 1999.

Ettinger's award is one of four that will be presented at NAU's homecoming football game Oct. 20. For information about the award, visit nau.edu/alumni/awards.