Today, the Navy JAG Corps will hold a change of office ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard. During the traditional change of office ceremony, presided over by the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, Vice Adm. Nanette DeRenzi will retire and be relieved by Vice Adm. James W. Crawford III who will become the 43rd Judge Advocate General of the Navy. Rear Adm. John G. Hannink will become Deputy Judge Advocate General and assume command of Naval Legal Service Command.
Vice Adm. Nanette M. DeRenzi, the 42nd judge advocate general of the Navy, will retire after 29 years of service on June 26th. Before her appointment to flag rank, she served as the senior staff judge advocate for Commander, U.S. Southern Command; special assistant for Legal and Legislative Matters to the Secretary of the Navy; legislative counsel for Environmental Programs in the Navy Office of Legislative Affairs; and, executive assistant to the JAG. In command, she served as commanding officer, Naval Legal Service Office, North Central. Afloat, DeRenzi served as the fleet judge advocate to Commander, U.S. 7th and 3rd Fleets, as well as staff judge advocate to Commander, Carrier Group Seven.
When sworn in today, Vice Admiral James W. Crawford III will become the 43rd Judge Advocate General of the Navy. As the Judge Advocate General, Crawford will be the principal military legal counsel to the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations, and serve as the Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs (REPOPA). As the Judge Advocate General, he will lead the 2,300 attorneys, enlisted legalmen, and civilian employees of the worldwide Navy JAG Corps community. Before his appointment to flag rank, he served as Special Counsel to the Chief of Naval Operations, the senior Staff Judge Advocate for Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, and as the Fleet Judge Advocate for U.S. Seventh Fleet. In command, he served as Commanding Officer, Region Legal Service Office Southeast. Crawford also served at Navy Personnel Command, the Office of the Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Naval War College, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, the Naval Justice School, and Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight.
When sworn in today, Rear Admiral John G. Hannink will assume duties as the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy (DJAG) and Commander, Naval Legal Service Command (CNLSC). As the DJAG, he will also serve as the Deputy Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs. As CNLSC, he will lead the attorneys, enlisted legalmen, and civilian employees of 14 commands that provide prosecution and defense services, legal services to individuals, specialized legal training, and legal support to Navy units around the world. Following graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985, Hannink completed pilot training at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. Hannink then entered the Navy’s Law Education Program, and graduated from Baylor Law School in 1994. He later earned a Master of Laws degree in International Law from George Washington University Law School.