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 April to June 2014:
Junior Officer of the Quarter: Congratulations to Lt. Tanya Nikam, assigned to Region Legal Service Office, Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia, Detachment Bahrain. During this period, in addition to the attorney and notary services Nikam provided clients at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, she also provided underway legal assistance services aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) to 43 deployed Sailors, including facilitating a deployed Sailor in receiving his U.S. citizenship while operating forward. She exponentially expanded available services by coordinating appointments with reserve component attorneys performing annual training, providing telephonic consults with transiting ships, traveling to local hospitals to advise service members awaiting medical evacuation, and briefing command ombudsmen on available services. Managing the Bahrain Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Center, she trained and supervised 10 volunteers who assisted service members, DoD civilians, and dependents in filing over 300 federal and state tax returns.
Sailor of the Quarter: Congratulations to Legalman 1st Class Demetric Hart, assigned to Region Legal Service Office Southwest. During this period, he mentored and trained 6 Sailors in supporting 13 judge advocates across three high-tempo divisions as leading petty officer of the Trial Department. Hart's active mentorship resulted in all six Sailors within the Trial Department achieving a 100% retention rate and 100% LPEP enrollment and course work completion, as well as 100% college class enrollment from the limited duty sailors within the Trial Department. Selected to provide legal support on a short-notice criminal investigation into the allegations surrounding a high-visibility case, he skillfully crafted 35 results of interviews and his model affidavit became the adopted template for all other affidavits compiled during the investigation. In addition to his daily duties, Hart volunteered during his off-duty hours, serving as a sideboy for the 72nd Battle of Midway Commemoration Ceremony and spending numerous hours supporting the local community, earning the Volunteer Service Medal for his tireless efforts.