Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Hawaii held a change of command ceremony June 19 aboard USS Missouri (BB-63) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii.
Rear Adm. Darse E. Crandall – deputy judge advocate general of the Navy and commander, Naval Legal Service Command – presided over the ceremony in which Capt. Bradley A. Appleman relieved Capt. Lia M. Reynolds as commanding officer of RLSO Hawaii.
“Based on her amazing record, we all expected that Capt. Reynolds would absolutely succeed as commanding officer of RLSO Hawaii, and – let me tell you – succeed she did!” said Crandall.
During the ceremony, Reynolds, a native of Honolulu, Hawaii, thanked her Sailors for a rewarding tour and acknowledged the support her mother has provided throughout the years. “It has been an honor and special privilege to be in command in my hometown. The Sailors, civilians, and officers of RLSO Hawaii have awed me every day with their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to service. I will miss my RLSO Hawaii Ohana, but am looking forward to the next adventure,” said Reynolds.
Reynolds will assume duties as the JAG community’s senior detailer in Millington, Tenn. Appleman recently completed his tour at OPNAV N3/N5 as the legal and oceans policy advisor to Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Plans and Strategy. “Your incredible record of demonstrated success in tough assignments has brought you to this pinnacle moment of your Navy career … and you have truly earned the great trust the Navy has put in you to lead the men and women of this command,” Crandall said in remarks directed to Appleman.
“I look forward to serving with the Sailors and civilians of RLSO Hawaii to deliver legal services that enable operations and support Sailors and their families. We will be ready,” said Appleman.
Appleman, from Oconomowoc, Wis., graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in international relations and political science in 1992, and the University of Wisconsin Law School, with a Juris Doctor degree in 1996. He received his Master of Laws (with distinction) and national security law certificate from the Georgetown University Law Center in 2010, and a Master of Arts (with distinction) in national security and strategic studies from the U.S. Naval War College in 2016. He is admitted to the Wisconsin Bar. He was commissioned through the Student Program in 1996.
RLSO Hawaii provides comprehensive, professional legal services and solutions. It serves all Navy commands within the Hawaii area of responsibility and provide legal assistance to all active-duty service members and their families, retirees, and eligible Reservists.