WASHINGTON -- Rear Adm. Carol M. Lynch relieved Rear Adm. Janet R. Donovan as the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy for Reserve Affairs and Operations and Deputy Commander, Naval Legal Service Command at a change of office and retirement ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard on Oct. 7.
Lynch was nominated to flag rank in March 2016 while serving as the Reserve Deputy Force Judge Advocate for Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command and Military Justice Pillar Lead. In her new position, Lynch will be responsible for leading the reserve Judge Advocate General community and ensuring the provision of legal services to commands around the world. A native of Fall River, Massachusetts, Lynch graduated from Yale University in 1981 and in 1985 graduated from Suffolk University Law School.
“Carol Lynch is the right officer at the right time to take the conn from Janet Donovan,” said retired Vice Adm. Nanette DeRenzi, the 42nd Judge Advocate General of the Navy.
Lynch entered active duty in 1986 and transitioned to the Reserve Component in 1993. Since then, she has served as executive officer and commanding officer of Naval Reserve Civil Law Support Activity 108 in support of the Legal Assistance Division of the Office of the Judge Advocate General; and as commanding officer, Naval Reserve Navy-Marine Corps Appellate Review Activity, providing appellate defense representation in support of the Appellate Defense Division.
Donovan retired after 31 years of service in the U.S. Navy. She served in a wide variety of commands including United States Forces Korea; U. S. Naval Academy, NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation; Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic; Commander, Naval Network Warfare Command; Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs; and the Department of Justice/Department of the Navy A-12 Litigation Team. She commanded Navy Reserve Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic 206 and Navy Reserve Appellate Review/NAVJAG 113.
“Janet can look back at her three decades of service with tremendous pride,” said DeRenzi. “She made a difference for good everyday in virtually every area of our practice.”
There are currently more than 550 reserve judge advocates and petty officers practicing in the fields of military justice, international and operational law, legal assistance, admiralty and other specialized areas. They serve throughout the United States and in several foreign countries.