The Navy JAG Community proudly nominated four attorneys and two commands for 2015 Distinguished Service Awards from the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP). We are very pleased to announce that the LAMP Committee has acknowledged the Navy's outstanding legal assistance program by making the Navy the only Service to receive four 2015 LAMP Awards! The following recipients have been selected for 2015 LAMP Distinguished Service Awards:
Distinguished Service Individual Award
Mr. Dan Jones, assigned to Region Legal Service Office Northwest (RLSO NW), was selected as a 2015 LAMP Distinguished Service Individual Award Recipient for the Navy JAG Community. In addition to serving as the lone full-time legal assistance attorney for Bangor and Bremerton during the last quarter of 2015, Jones trained and mentored five first tour judge advocates, numerous paralegals, and all of the reserve attorneys assigned to support RLSO NW. Jones was also able to provide legal assistance to 1,800 clients in 2015. His impressive achievements make him absolutely deserving of recognition as a 2015 LAMP Distinguished Service Individual Award Recipient. Lt. Sarah Aguero, assigned to Region Legal Service Office Southeast (RLSO SE), was selected as a 2015 LAMP Distinguished Service Individual Award Recipient for the Navy JAG Community. In 2015, Aguero expertly advised 475 clients, including preparing and executing 180 estate plans. Aguero aggressively pursued the expansion of transitional compensation to apply to a wider range of victims of domestic abuse. Aguero's tireless efforts resulted in an award of $67,500 in transitional compensation, full medical insurance, and other benefits for her client. Aguero's superior efforts in providing legal assistance throughout 2015 make her absolutely deserving of recognition as a 2015 LAMP Distinguished Service Individual Award Recipient.
Distinguished Service Command Award
Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington (RLSO NDW) was selected as a 2015 LAMP Distinguished Service Command Award Recipient. In 2015, RLSO NDW led from the front by implementing a novel centralized, full-time remote legal assistance program. RLSO NDW increased the efficiency of legal services by consolidating their five legal assistance offices into two legal offices that provide in-person and remote legal assistance throughout the National Capital Region. This innovation substantially increased the amount of legal assistance services that RLSO NDW provided while reducing the wait time for a legal assistance appointment from up to 60 days to less than 12 days. RLSO NDW's major legal assistance innovation makes it absolutely deserving of recognition as a 2015 LAMP Distinguished Service Command Award Recipient.
Special Recognition Award
The Disability Evaluation System (DES) Counsel Program, Formal Physical Evaluation Board (FPEB) Section was selected for a Special Recognition Award. Despite experiencing serious manning shortages in 2015, the FPEB Section provided superb advocacy to more than 1,000 wounded, ill, and injured Sailors and Marines going through the DES process. With a caseload of approximately 190 clients per attorney, the FPEB Section achieved positive results for more than 40 percent of their clients, resulting in TRICARE and compensation benefits of approximately $6 million equivalent cash value for the single year and more than $200 million in lifetime benefits. The FPEB Section's ability to rise above resource adversity and maintain a quality legal assistance program makes it absolutely deserving of a 2015 LAMP Special Recognition Award. Bravo Zulu!