| 01/29/93 | President Clinton directed Secretary Aspin to draft an Executive Order "ending discriminationon the basis of sexual orientation in determining who may serve in the Armed Forces of the United States." |
| 04/05/93 | Secretary Aspin called for the formation of a Military Working Group (MWG) from within the service branches "to develop and assess alternative policy options to meet the President's requirements." |
| 07/01/93 | The MWG issued their Summary Report... the initial formulation of what ultimately became the new policy. |
| 11/30/93 | Congress enacted the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy by as part of the National Defense Authorization Act of 1994. |
| 12/22/93 | Secretary Aspin announced new DoD implementing directives. |
| 02/28/94 | The New DoD policy oficially took effect. |
| 03/01/94 | The Chief of Naval Operations released a message (NAVADMIN 33/94) implementing the policy within the Navy. |
| 03/02/94 | LT Thomasson delivered "coming out" letters to four Admirals for whom he had worked in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. |
| 03/09/94 | The Chief of Naval Personnel initiated Involuntary Separation Proceedings against LT Thomasson. |
| 05/23/94 | A Board of Inquiry convened at the Washington Navy Yard to consider LT Thomasson's case. |
| 05/24/94 | The Board of Inquiry found that LT Thomasson's statements constituted "conduct" under the new regulations and recommended honorable discharge. |
| 09/09/94 | A Board of Review convened in the Bureau of Naval Personnel and concurred with the findings and recommendation. |
| 12/19/94 | The Chief of Naval Personnel forwarded the findings and recommendation to the Secretary of the Navy. |
| 01/13/95 | The Secretary of the Navy approved LT Thomasson's discharge. |
| 01/17/95 | The Chief of Naval Personnel issued separation orders for "February." |
| 02/27/95 | LT Thomasson filed suit in United States Federal Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (Alexandria) |
| 02/28/95 | Judge Claude Hilton heard argument on an emergency motion and ordered a preliminary injunction preventing LT Thomasson's discharge "until further order of the Court." |
| 04/13/95 | Judge Hilton heard oral argument "on the merits." |
| 06/08/95 | Judge Hilton issued an opinion upholding "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" |
| 06/12/95 | The Chief of Naval Personnel issued separation orders for 06/15/95. |
| 06/13/95 | Judge Hilton denied LT Thomasson's motion for a stay, pending appeal. |
| 06/14/95 | Judge Michael Luttig (United States Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals) denied a motion for a stay, pending appeal. |
| 06/15/95 | A three-judge panel of the Fourth Circuit: Judges Michael Luttig, M. Blane Michael, and Diana Motz denied a motion for a stay, but ordered an "expedited appeal." |
| 09/12/95 | Judges Luttig, Michael, and Motz heard oral argument in the Federal Courthouse in Alexandria, Virginia. |
| 09/22/95 | The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order that the case be re-argued "en banc" before the circuit's entire 13 active judges. |
| 12/05/95 | The En Banc Fourth Circuit heard oral argument on the merits. |
| 04/05/96 | Decision by the En Banc Fourth Circuit |
| 07/01/96 | Petition for a Writ of Certiorari filed with the United States Supreme Court. |