Please join us in congratulating Legalman 1st Class (SW/AW) Michael Monteith on his selection as the 2013 Judge Advocate General Legalman of the Year, and Legalman 1st Class (SW/AW) Earl Brown on his selection as the 2013 Naval Legal Service Command Sailor of the Year.
These two exceptional Sailors were chosen from a pool of incredibly talented nominees. Monteith became a legalman in 2010, earning the Helton-Morrison Award for top graduate from the Naval Justice School. In addition to a Bachelor's degree from Utah State, he holds an Associate's degree in Paralegal Studies from Roger Williams University. He is currently assigned to the USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77).
Monteith is responsible for the professional development of four legalmen, whom he skillfully trained and mentored in all aspects of being shipboard Sailors, including supporting damage control efforts, medical drills, and 3M. Monteith's infectious leadership and commitment to his Sailors resulted in 100% retention, advancement and warfare qualification within the legal department. As the Command Privacy Act (PA) Coordinator, he led a 16-member Privacy Act Team and conducted inspections of 18 departments, covering 71 divisions and 134 divisional spaces to ensure proper handling and storage of personally identifiable information (PII). His efforts led to the successful completion of the first Naval Audit Service PA/PII audit performed on an aircraft carrier. He regularly serves as a member on boards for the Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal, Blue Jacket of the Quarter, and Junior Sailor of the Quarter.
Brown became a legalman in 2007 and is currently assigned to Region Legal Service Office Midwest. Brown consistently performed his demanding duties with professional competence and ingenuity while leading a team of 15 sailors. He supervised the completion of over 2,500 administrative separations, served as a recorder for two administrative separation boards, and assisted Sailors with over 1,000 U.S. citizenship packages, 500 parental inquiries, and 50 powers of attorney. Always going above and beyond, in January 2013 he volunteered to support the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program and contributed over 75 hours, including nights and weekends. His efforts enabled more than 1,530 active-duty service members, retirees, reservists and family members to recover more than $1.6 million dollars in federal and state tax refunds, while saving them more than $238,000 in tax preparation fees. Brown is a sustained superior performer who embodies the ideals of a 21st century Sailor; a true deck-plate leader. His accomplishments this year were superlative and his superior leadership and unyielding integrity revitalized the RLSO Midwest team.
Bravo Zulu to the other outstanding finalists: Legalman 1st Class (SW/AW) Erica Keels, USS Enterprise (CVN 65); Legalman 1st Class (SW/AW) Melika Frazier, USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70), Legalman 1st Class (SW/AW/IDW) Andrea Howard, Defense Service Office Southeast, and Legalman 1st Class(SW) Marcus Thomas, Region Legal Service Office Mid-Atlantic. Congratulations to all of the Sailors nominated for recognition this year, and thank you to all of the legalmen and Sailors who support the worldwide JAG Corps community and the United States Navy each and every day.