July 22, 2021

Nomination of Commander, Navy Legal Service Command

We are pleased to announce that CAPT David G. Wilson, JAGC, U.S. Navy, has been nominated by the President to serve as Commander, Naval Legal Service Command, and to advance to the grade of Rear Admiral (Lower Half).  The nomination is now pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

July 22, 2021

Senior Judge Advocate Wins Inaugural International Law Writing Award

Capt. Joseph Hoelz – who currently serves as Fleet Judge Advocate at U.S. Fleet Forces Command – has been awarded the first-ever Rear Admiral Horace B. Robertson Prize for International Law from the U.S. Naval War College’s Stockton Center for International Law.

July 8, 2021

RLSO NDW Billet Spotlight: Naval Air Station Patuxent River

When considering where the Navy is conducting some of its most cutting edge science and technology, you may not think of Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NASPR) or Naval Support Activity South Potomac (NSASP), but on these two bases, you will find commands that are at the tip of spear of Naval Aviation and science and engineering research and development.

July 7, 2021

LEGADs Bolstered International Rule of Law During Historic 50th Iteration of BALTOPS

Baltic Sea Operation (BALTOPS) is the largest annual exercise series in the Baltic Sea. Its purpose is to improve training for participants, enhance flexibility and interoperability, and demonstrate resolve among Allied and Partner Forces in defending the Baltic Sea Region. First established in 1972, BALTOPS50 was the 50th iteration and took place June 2-18, 2021. NATO Allies engaged in live training events including air defense, anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction and mine countermeasure operations.

July 1, 2021

Navigating Post-NJP Actions

Navigating post-nonjudicial punishment (NJP) actions is understandably confusing. It is important to handle modifications to punishment correctly at the command level to ensure compliance with servicemembers’ due process rights. Keep in mind that, for many actions, a command must have an articulated reason for changing the punishment, such as a demonstrated conduct improvement or a determination that the punishment resulted in clear injustice. If a valid reason exists, there are four courses of action that NJP authorities or their successors in command can take under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) Article 15, paragraph 6: suspension, mitigation, remission, and a set aside.

June 21, 2021

Nomination of the Judge Advocate General of the Navy

Please join me in congratulating Rear Adm. Darse “Del” E. Crandall Jr., on his nomination by the President to be our next Judge Advocate General of the Navy, and for his appointment to the grade of Vice Admiral.  His nomination is now pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate.

June 10, 2021

JAG Community Members Earn Outstanding Legal Professional Awards

The Kitsap County Bar Association recognized Lt. Ryan M. Feingold and Legalman 2nd Class LaClaire Cartwright during the 2021 Law Day celebration, a joint civilian and military award ceremony. This year’s ceremony, themed “The Rule of Law Now,” was held virtually on May 7. Kitsap Superior Court Judge Kevin D. Hull was the presiding judge, and State Supreme Court Justice Deborah Stevens served as keynote speaker.

June 7, 2021

Legal Assistance Award Ceremony

During an All Hands call, Capt. Rock De Tolve, acting Assistant Judge Advocate General for Civil Law, presented awards for individual achievement and commended the Code 16 Team for its extraordinary mission impact during 2020, at the Washington Navy Yard.   

June 4, 2021

Legalman Named Office of the Secretary of Defense Sailor of the Year

Legalman 1st Class Sophia Davis was named Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Sailor of the Year (SOY) by the Navy’s senior enlisted leader at OSD. She was chosen from among Sailors assigned to all activities under the direct supervision of OSD. Davis currently serves as a defense paralegal in the Legal Department in the Office of Military Commissions.

June 3, 2021

Communication is Key to Supporting Victims

A majority of sexual assault victims report feeling a lack of support from their leadership, and almost twothirds of victims report experiencing a behavior in line with retaliation. As a former Staff Judge Advocate, these numbers did not reflect my experiences advising Navy commands.

June 1, 2021

RLSO Southeast Holds Change of Command

Region Legal Service Office Southeast (RLSO SE) held a change of command ceremony May 14, 2021 at the Beacon aboard Naval Station Mayport, Fla. Rear Adm. Darse E. “Del” Crandall, Jr., deputy judge advocate general and commander of Naval Legal Service Command, presided over the ceremony in which Cmdr. Brian Korn relieved Capt. Joseph Hoelz as commanding officer of RLSO SE.

May 25, 2021

​JAG Community Announces In-Service Procurement Program Selectees

In February, the Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) Selection Board met to consider 18 highly qualified applicants for Fiscal Year 2021.

May 20, 2021

Military Claims Act—What is it and how does it work?

NAS Sigonella — What is the Military Claims Act (MCA)? The MCA is a mechanism to administratively settle and pay claims arising from personal injury, death, or damage and loss of real or personal property caused by the Department of Defense (DOD).

May 5, 2021

JAG Community Wins 2020 ABA LAMP Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Members of the JAG community received individual and team awards from the American Bar Association’s 2020 Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP).

May 4, 2021

YN1 Jonathan A. Swager selected for the Secretariat Office Sailor of the Quarter

Yeoman First Class (Surface Warfare) Jonathan A. Swager, assigned to the Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG), was selected for the Secretary of the Navy Secretariat Staff Senior Sailor of the Quarter for the 2nd Quarter, Fiscal Year 2021 (FY-21).

May 3, 2021

Fighting Fraud And Bad Deals: Consumer and Financial Protection for Service Members

Service members, military retirees, and their families are sadly not immune from consumer and financial fraud and are often directly targeted. High mobility, a steady government paycheck with publicly available information on salaries, BAH, etc., by rank and location, and other factors contribute to bad actors seeking to take advantage of service members and their families. According to the Federal Trade Commission, military members reported higher median loses from consumer fraud - including identity theft and imposter scams - than civilians.

April 30, 2021

Victims’ Legal Counsel Program Provides Essential Support

Washington, D.C. — As Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (SAAPM) – which is commemorated each April throughout the Department of Defense – draws to a close, the Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps continues working tirelessly on behalf of victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.  Its Victims’ Legal Counsel (VLC) program has provided assistance and advocacy to more than 6,100 people since its inception, fulfilling a critical legal need.

April 26, 2021

Navy Legalman are Meritoriously Advanced

Washington, D.C. — Two Sailors from the Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) community earned promotions through the U.S. Navy’s Meritorious Advancement Program (MAP) in February.

April 14, 2021

Judge Advocate Receives 2021 Richard R. Baxter Military Prize

Lt. Cmdr. Dennis Harbin – a judge advocate currently serving as a joint legal observer and trainer for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – was awarded the 2021 Richard R. Baxter Military Prize by the American Society of International Law (ASIL) Lieber Society on the Law of Armed Conflict. His writing topic was “Targeting Submarine Cables.”

April 8, 2021

Colleagues Celebrate Capt. Noone’s Retirement from the Navy Reserve Law Program

After a long and illustrious career spanning more than 30 years – including several deployments and assignments all over the world – Capt. Gregory P. Noone retired from the Navy Reserve as a judge advocate on Feb. 1, 2021.

March 22, 2021

2020 JAG Legalman of the Year and Naval Legal Service Command Service Member of the Year

Leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps Judge Advocate General (JAG) communities honored the achievements and service of the top enlisted Sailors and Marines during a virtual recognition ceremony on March, 22nd.

March 17, 2021

Judge Advocate Named a 2021 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyer Under 40

Lt. Aaron Spencer – a judge advocate currently assigned to the Ethics Branch of the Administrative Law Division (Code 13) at the Office of the Judge Advocate General – has been named one of the 2021 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40 by the LGBT Bar Association.

March 11, 2021

Tax Season 2021: What You Need to Know

Washington — The Internal Revenue Service began accepting and processing tax year 2020 federal returns on Feb. 12, 2021.

March 5, 2021

Judge Advocate Receives Leadership Award

Washington — In November 2020, Lt. Martin Bunt accepted a Leadership Award for his work in 2019 as a Deputy Command Judge Advocate aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). He received this accolade from The Navy & Marine Association, which annually sponsors more than 400 awards presented to service members by the commanders of Naval Air Forces, Naval Surface Forces, and U.S. Marine Forces Atlantic and Pacific, as well as the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy.

March 3, 2021

Judge Advocate Named COMSUBPAC’s 2020 Junior Officer of the Year

With as much fanfare as 2020 would permit, Lt. DeNealia Cunningham Peterson accepted the award for the Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) Junior Officer of the Year for her work as a judge advocate aboard USS Emory S. Land (AS-39). She still serves aboard AS-39 as Command Judge Advocate (CJA) and a public affairs officer.

March 3, 2021

Cutting the Cord & Contracts Abroad

Forgot to cancel a cell, internet, or TV contract before moving overseas?

Feb. 25, 2021

Deputy Judge Advocate General Nomination

Please join us in congratulating Rear Admiral Christopher C. French, on his nomination by the President to serve as Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy, and for his appointment to the grade of Rear Admiral (Upper Half). Admiral French is an outstanding naval officer and a widely respected and accomplished legal practitioner. Throughout his distinguished and decorated career – as a member of both the profession of law and the profession of arms – Admiral French has exemplified our core values of honor, courage, and commitment.

Feb. 20, 2021

Bring Your...Pet to Work: Are Fido Fridays Legal?

NSA Souda Bay — Friday rolls around and the guilt of daily doggy daycare is weighing on you — can you bring Rover to work if he promises to sleep under your desk and not bark during meetings? The answer is…it depends.

Feb. 2, 2021

Divorcing in the U.S. While Overseas

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a Uniform Code of Divorce Law? Like the Uniform Code of Military Justice? One set of rules governing divorce from San Diego, to Sasebo, to Sigonella?

Jan. 29, 2021

Reserve Judge Advocates Make Their Mark in the Pacific Northwest

The Navy Reserve Law Program (NRLP) includes nearly 600 dedicated legal professionals who excel in both their civilian and part-time military careers. Throughout 2020, Reserve members located in the Pacific Northwest were recognized for their outstanding contributions in their respective legal fields. Reserve Capt. Dan Jones was awarded the Washington State Bar Association’s Award of Merit, the state bar’s highest award. Also, two NRLP members were named finalists in the lawyer category for the 2020 Best of Kitsap in the Kitsap Daily News.

Jan. 20, 2021

Are You Prepared to Deploy/PCS? A Legal Readiness Cheat-Sheet

A critical part of deployment readiness is being ready-to-go at a moment’s notice, and that includes being legally prepared. Trying to resolve personal legal issues from overseas or while deployed is not just difficult,

Jan. 4, 2021

49th Anniversary of the Legalman Rating

On January 4, 1972 – 49 years ago – Secretary of the Navy John Chaffee approved the establishment of the Legalman (LN) rating and converted 275 Sailors to LNs. Today, the LN community includes more than 600 active and Reserve LNs – a diverse force of skilled paralegals delivering essential support to the Navy Fleet around the globe.

Dec. 1, 2020

​Storage Lien Enforcement & Eviction Protections

The Service Members Civil Relief Act (SCRA) is a must-know federal law providing legal protections and benefits to Service Members. 

Nov. 17, 2020

Judge Advocate Wins Second Place in CNO Naval History Essay Contest

Each year, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) invites Navy personnel to compete in his Naval History Essay Content. Entries must thoughtfully apply past lessons to the Navy’s current focus on establishing and maintaining maritime superiority.

Nov. 13, 2020

Judge Advocate Wins 2019 Kevin J. Barry Writing Award

Almost every year – when a writing piece is deemed worthy – the National Institute of Military Justice (NIMJ) awards the Kevin J. Barry Award for Excellence to its writer. The award is named after the founder and longtime director of NIMJ, an outstanding scholar and peerless advocate of reform.

Nov. 6, 2020

Reservists Promoted via Direct Commission Officer Program

Lt. j. g. Richard Robertson and Lt. j. g. Corey Mitchell were the first legalmen to promote via the Reserve Direct Commission Officer Program in May 2020. They hosted intimate, virtual commissioning ceremonies during the summer – observing COVID-19 restrictions on social gatherings – but their achievements were applauded across the worldwide JAG community. Robertson and Mitchell are now attending Officer Development School in Newport, R.I.

Oct. 28, 2020

CJTF-HOA JAG trains BIR soldiers

Recently, Lt. Cmdr. Alison Hoyt, the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA) deputy staff judge advocate stepped in to provide critical training to the Armed Forces of Djibouti (FAD) Bataillon d’intervention rapide (BIR), on behalf of the Defense Institute for International Legal Studies (DIILS).

Oct. 23, 2020

Lt. Lauren Yutchishen Receives Ethical Character in Leadership Award

Lt. Lauren Yutchishen – a JAG community member who currently serves as Deputy Command Judge Advocate aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) – received the ship’s annual Ethical Character in Leadership award.

Oct. 16, 2020

Understanding Legal Readiness for Reserve Sailors

NORFOLK, Va. — Imagine, while deployed in the Middle East, you receive an excited call from your daughter. She asks for permission to play soccer this year and says her coach is sure she’s going to be a star player. She seems to be bursting at the seams with enthusiasm; you reply “Absolutely, let’s get you signed up!”

Oct. 9, 2020

Lt. Belyea Attends 2021 Leadership Development Program

The Department of Defense’s (DoD) Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) provides deliberate, experiential learning opportunities for future leaders. The program is designed for high-potential individuals who have an understanding and appreciation for DoD’s global mission. One of the 2021 ELDP selectees – Navy judge advocate Lt. Ashley Belyea – certainly meets those criteria.

Oct. 2, 2020

A Memorable Milestone Promotion

Lt. Cmdr. Jennifer L. Johnson advanced from lieutenant to lieutenant commander during a promotion ceremony at Heather Heyer Way in Charlottesville, Va., on Sept. 1. Like hundreds of other naval officers – both within and outside the JAG community – Johnson traded the bars on her collar for an oak leaf insignia and shed her status as a junior officer.

Sept. 29, 2020

Commissioning of LTJG Tate

Lt. j.g. Thaddeus H. Tate, Jr. enlisted as a naval intelligence analyst in 2009, and, since then, he has been chasing his career goals at full speed. Now a member of the Navy JAG Corps, Tate was selected in 2018 for the In-Service Procurement Program (IPP). He is now attending Officer Development School, and he will begin his first tour as a judge advocate at Region Legal Service Office, Naval District Washington (NDW) at the end of 2020.

Sept. 22, 2020

LCDR Eaton Received Fletcher School Award

Earlier this year, Lt. Cmdr. Tom Eaton – a JAG community member currently serving as staff judge advocate at Carrier Strike Group FIFTEEN – was selected as a recipient of the prestigious Leo Gross Prize in International Law.

Sept. 21, 2020

JAG Community Provides Dedicated Legal Support to Families in Exceptional Family Member Program

The Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) community – in collaboration with Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) – is expanding legal assistance and special education support to families enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP).

Sept. 18, 2020

Navy Medicine paralegal specialist receives top professional achievement award

When nominations were being accepted for the Outstanding Navy Legal Professional Award for the Pacific Northwest, there was no hesitation from Naval Hospital Bremerton.

Sept. 4, 2020

The Return of the Naval Law Review

After a three-year hiatus, the Naval Justice School has published a new volume of the Naval Law Review, a scholarly journal for military and civilian practitioners, as well as academia, who work in and study all aspects of the military’s legal practice.

Aug. 10, 2020

DSO West Holds Change of Command

Defense Service Office (DSO) West held a virtual change of command ceremony in San Diego, California, on August 6, 2020. COVID-19 restrictions limited in-person attendance to ceremony staff and key personnel. DSO West command members, family, and friends were invited to witness the ceremony via live stream.

July 31, 2020

Judge Advocate Authors Chapter for International Publication

Lt. Cmdr. Adam Smith – a JAG community member currently serving as deputy force judge advocate at Commander, Navy Installations Command – co-authored a chapter in the international law treatise, “Securitising Asylum Flows: Deflection, Criminalisation and Challenges for Human Rights,” which was published in May.

July 15, 2020

LEGADs Supporting Law and Order During BALTOPS20

Baltic Sea Operation (BALTOPS) is the largest annual exercise series in the Baltic Sea. Its purpose is to improve training for participants, enhance flexibility and interoperability, and demonstrate resolve among Allied and Partner Forces in defending the Baltic Sea region. First established in 1972, BALTOPS20 was the 49th iteration, taking place June 7-16. NATO Allies participated in live training events including air defense, anti-submarine warfare, maritime interdiction, and mine countermeasure operations.

July 6, 2020

Chief Legalman Graduates from the Senior Enlisted Academy on the Dean’s List

Chief Legalman Daniela Briceno – a valued and experienced member of the Navy JAG community – recently graduated from the military’s Senior Enlisted Academy (SEA) with high honors. The SEA is a 10-week leadership development program for active and Reserve enlisted personnel from the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and National Guard, as well as from international service partners. SEA instruction is focused on management, leadership, national security, and physical fitness.