Please join me in congratulating Captain John G. Hannink, JAGC, U.S. Navy, on his
nomination by the President to be our next Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy/Commander, Naval Legal Service Command and for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (upper half). Captain Hannink is an exceptional naval officer with the background and expertise to serve as a leader of the JAG Corps. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Captain Hannink was designated a naval aviator and deployed to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean aboard USS NIMITZ (CVN 68).
After his selection for the law education program, he graduated from Baylor Law School and later received his master of laws degree in International Law from George Washington University Law School. Captain Hannink has served with distinction within Naval Legal Service Command (NLSC), the Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG), and various positions across the fleet. He is currently assigned to the Chief of Naval Operations Strategic Studies Group, the first judge advocate ever selected for this prestigious assignment. His vast staff and operational experience includes tours as the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate for Fifth Fleet, Staff Judge Advocate for Second Fleet., Staff Judge Advocate for U.S. Pacific Command, Special Counsel to the Chief of Naval Operations, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Navy, and Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He also served as the Assistant Judge Advocate General (Operations and Management)/Chief of Staff, Region Legal Service Office (RLSO), and several significant NLSC and OJAG assignments including Commanding Officer of RLSO Southeast and Executive Assistant to the Deputy Judge Advocate General and the Judge Advocate General.
As the complexity of our practice grows and the Navy faces increased demands for legal services, we could not have a more broadly experienced, tested and proven leader. Congratulations to Captain Hannink!