It is my distinct pleasure to recognize outstanding judge advocates and legalmen for professional excellence and dedication to service. I am pleased to announce that the following individuals have been selected as the Naval Legal Service Command Junior Officer of the Quarter and Sailor of the Quarter for the period from October to December 2013:
Junior Officer of the Quarter: Lt. Joey A. Lonjers, assigned to Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington (RLSO NDW), Branch Office Patuxent River, was selected as Naval Legal Service Command's Junior Officer of the Quarter for the 1st Quarter of FY14. As the Branch Head for the Patuxent River Branch Office, Lonjers expertly managed three junior personnel and served as the installation staff judge advocate to Naval Air Station Patuxent River and Naval Support Activity South Potomac. As the primary command services attorney for both installations' tenant commands, she provided legal advice and support on 105 command service issues, drafted eight ethics opinions, supervised two litigation reports and served as a recorder on a board of inquiry. Additionally, Lonjers provided over 190 legal assistance services to 98 clients. Lonjers also spearheaded several initiatives this quarter. She began a program to provide legal assistance services to NSA South Potomac, greatly expanding the service range of RLSO NDW. Additionally, she drafted an instruction for the NAS Patuxent River sponsor program to provide junior sailors with local family sponsors. Third, she drafted the scenario for a sexual assault response exercise to train commands on how to better respond to sexual assault complaints. Finally, she revived the command newsletter and published the inaugural issue in November, and she currently serves as its editor-in-chief.
Sailor of the Quarter: Legalman 1st Class Victor L. Rolling Jr., assigned to Defense Service Office (DSO) North, Washington Navy Yard, was selected as Naval Legal Service Command's Sailor of the Quarter for the 1st Quarter of FY14. While serving as primary office manager, his organizational skills were critical to the success of DSO North's Washington Navy Yard office, ensuring prompt service to defense clients across DSO North's continental United States area of responsibility. Mid-quarter, Rolling volunteered to assist with the JAGMAN Investigation into the Sept. 16, 2013 Washington Navy Yard shooting. For a full month, Rolling worked weekends and 18-hour days to help ensure timely completion of this monumental investigation. One of only two legalmen assigned, he catalogued and ensured proper handling of 12,630 documents amassed during the investigation, totaling over 51,000 pages. Throughout this time, Rolling remained active in the First Class Petty Officer's Association and the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions. He helped develop public service videos promoting healthy behaviors and mentored seven at-risk junior Sailors from local commands. These accomplishments are even more remarkable in light of the fact that Rolling maintained a full college caseload this quarter, working toward a Bachelor of Arts degree in English.