April 11, 2022

Legalman is Joint Command Shore Sailor of the Year

Legalman 1st Class Luisa Rosado De Los Santos – who currently serves as the Law Office Manager for the Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – was named the 2021 Joint Command Shore Sailor of the Year.  The award was presented by her senior enlisted leader during a special ceremony at the Pentagon on March 1, 2022.

March 21, 2022

2021 JAG Legalman of the Year and Naval Legal Service Command Service Member of the Year

Washington, D.C. — Navy Legalman 1st Class Phillip Farris – who is assigned to Carrier Strike Group Twelve – has been named the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) 2021 Legalman of the Year. Navy Legalman 1st Class Hailee Montes – who is assigned to Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Northwest Detachment Hawaii – is the Naval Legal Service Command (NLSC) 2021 Service Member of the Year.

Feb. 15, 2022

2020 and 2021 Judge Advocate Award Winners Celebrated

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In December 2021, the Judge Advocates Association (JAA) named four Navy judge advocates as recipients of the organization’s 2020 and 2021 JAA Outstanding Career Armed Services Attorney Awards.

Jan. 10, 2022

Reserve Master Chief Wins Washington State Bar Association Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Dec. 13, 2021, the Washington State Bar Association presented Reserve Master Chief Legalman Sally A. Webster – who also works as an attorney for Microsoft Corporation – with the organization’s Pro Bono and Public Service Award at the 2021 APEX Awards virtual event.

Jan. 7, 2022

JAG Community Member Receives LATINA Style Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In September 2021, Legalman 1st Class Lorena Morales received a LATINA Style Distinguished Military Service Award at the 18th Annual National LATINA Symposium.  Morales currently serves as a paralegal in the Legal Assistance Office at Region Legal Service Office Southwest’s branch office in Lemoore, Calif.

Nov. 5, 2021

Three Judge Advocates Selected as ICAP Fellows

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Three Navy judge advocates have been named 2021 fellows in the International Career Advancement Program.  The program is sponsored by the Navy and hosted by the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver.

Oct. 19, 2021

Navy Reserve Captain Receives NAPABA Award

Washington, D.C. — In September, Capt. John Han – a seasoned and decorated member of the Navy Reserve Law Program – was awarded the Military and Veteran Service Award from the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.  The award will be presented to Han at the 2021 NAPABA Convention in December in Washington, D.C.

Oct. 1, 2021

Navy Judge Advocate Receives Prestigious Award from National Intelligence University

Washington, DC — JAG community member Lt. Cmdr. Alex Homme was awarded the Judge Allan Nathanial Kornblum Award upon his July graduation from National Intelligence University master’s degree program.  Homme is an active-duty judge advocate, who currently serves as Deputy Special Assistant for Legal Matters at the Office of the Naval Inspector General in Washington, D.C.

Sept. 28, 2021

Judge Advocate Wins ABA Outstanding Young Military Lawyer Award

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Bar Association (ABA) has awarded Lt. Michelle Flash – a Navy JAG community member currently serving as staff judge advocate at Naval Special Warfare Group 10 – the 2021 ABA Outstanding Young Military Lawyer Award.

July 31, 2021

Judge Advocate Receives McGinnis Family Award for Outstanding Performance in Fleet Seminar Education

OAHU, Hawaii — Lt. Cmdr. Joseph "JoHo" Horton – who serves as staff judge advocate for Joint Inter-Agency Task Force-West, Camp H.M. Smith, Oahu, Hawaii – was awarded the McGinnis Family Award for Outstanding Performance in Fleet Seminar Education at the U.S. Naval War College Joint Professional Military Education graduation, held June 24, 2021.

July 28, 2021

JAG Community Member Wins ABA Career Judge Advocate Award

WASHINGTON, DC — The American Bar Association has announced that Navy judge advocate Cmdr. Abigail L. Meyers – who currently serves as Operations Officer at the Naval Justice School – has been selected to receive the ABA Outstanding Military Service Career Judge Advocate Award, sponsored by the Standing Committee on Armed Forces Law.

July 22, 2021

Senior Judge Advocate Wins Inaugural International Law Writing Award

Capt. Joseph Hoelz – who currently serves as Fleet Judge Advocate at U.S. Fleet Forces Command – has been awarded the first-ever Rear Admiral Horace B. Robertson Prize for International Law from the U.S. Naval War College’s Stockton Center for International Law.

June 10, 2021

JAG Community Members Earn Outstanding Legal Professional Awards

The Kitsap County Bar Association recognized Lt. Ryan M. Feingold and Legalman 2nd Class LaClaire Cartwright during the 2021 Law Day celebration, a joint civilian and military award ceremony. This year’s ceremony, themed “The Rule of Law Now,” was held virtually on May 7. Kitsap Superior Court Judge Kevin D. Hull was the presiding judge, and State Supreme Court Justice Deborah Stevens served as keynote speaker.

June 7, 2021

Legal Assistance Award Ceremony

During an All Hands call, Capt. Rock De Tolve, acting Assistant Judge Advocate General for Civil Law, presented awards for individual achievement and commended the Code 16 Team for its extraordinary mission impact during 2020, at the Washington Navy Yard.   

June 4, 2021

Legalman Named Office of the Secretary of Defense Sailor of the Year

Legalman 1st Class Sophia Davis was named Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) Sailor of the Year (SOY) by the Navy’s senior enlisted leader at OSD. She was chosen from among Sailors assigned to all activities under the direct supervision of OSD. Davis currently serves as a defense paralegal in the Legal Department in the Office of Military Commissions.

May 25, 2021

​JAG Community Announces In-Service Procurement Program Selectees

In February, the Navy Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) Selection Board met to consider 18 highly qualified applicants for Fiscal Year 2021.

May 5, 2021

JAG Community Wins 2020 ABA LAMP Awards

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Members of the JAG community received individual and team awards from the American Bar Association’s 2020 Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP).

May 4, 2021

YN1 Jonathan A. Swager selected for the Secretariat Office Sailor of the Quarter

Yeoman First Class (Surface Warfare) Jonathan A. Swager, assigned to the Office of the Judge Advocate General (OJAG), was selected for the Secretary of the Navy Secretariat Staff Senior Sailor of the Quarter for the 2nd Quarter, Fiscal Year 2021 (FY-21).

April 14, 2021

Judge Advocate Receives 2021 Richard R. Baxter Military Prize

Lt. Cmdr. Dennis Harbin – a judge advocate currently serving as a joint legal observer and trainer for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – was awarded the 2021 Richard R. Baxter Military Prize by the American Society of International Law (ASIL) Lieber Society on the Law of Armed Conflict. His writing topic was “Targeting Submarine Cables.”

March 22, 2021

2020 JAG Legalman of the Year and Naval Legal Service Command Service Member of the Year

Leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps Judge Advocate General (JAG) communities honored the achievements and service of the top enlisted Sailors and Marines during a virtual recognition ceremony on March, 22nd.

March 17, 2021

Judge Advocate Named a 2021 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyer Under 40

Lt. Aaron Spencer – a judge advocate currently assigned to the Ethics Branch of the Administrative Law Division (Code 13) at the Office of the Judge Advocate General – has been named one of the 2021 Best LGBTQ+ Lawyers Under 40 by the LGBT Bar Association.

March 5, 2021

Judge Advocate Receives Leadership Award

Washington — In November 2020, Lt. Martin Bunt accepted a Leadership Award for his work in 2019 as a Deputy Command Judge Advocate aboard the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). He received this accolade from The Navy & Marine Association, which annually sponsors more than 400 awards presented to service members by the commanders of Naval Air Forces, Naval Surface Forces, and U.S. Marine Forces Atlantic and Pacific, as well as the superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy.

March 3, 2021

Judge Advocate Named COMSUBPAC’s 2020 Junior Officer of the Year

With as much fanfare as 2020 would permit, Lt. DeNealia Cunningham Peterson accepted the award for the Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet (COMSUBPAC) Junior Officer of the Year for her work as a judge advocate aboard USS Emory S. Land (AS-39). She still serves aboard AS-39 as Command Judge Advocate (CJA) and a public affairs officer.

Nov. 17, 2020

Judge Advocate Wins Second Place in CNO Naval History Essay Contest

Each year, the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) invites Navy personnel to compete in his Naval History Essay Content. Entries must thoughtfully apply past lessons to the Navy’s current focus on establishing and maintaining maritime superiority.

Nov. 13, 2020

Judge Advocate Wins 2019 Kevin J. Barry Writing Award

Almost every year – when a writing piece is deemed worthy – the National Institute of Military Justice (NIMJ) awards the Kevin J. Barry Award for Excellence to its writer. The award is named after the founder and longtime director of NIMJ, an outstanding scholar and peerless advocate of reform.

Oct. 23, 2020

Lt. Lauren Yutchishen Receives Ethical Character in Leadership Award

Lt. Lauren Yutchishen – a JAG community member who currently serves as Deputy Command Judge Advocate aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) – received the ship’s annual Ethical Character in Leadership award.

Sept. 22, 2020

LCDR Eaton Received Fletcher School Award

Earlier this year, Lt. Cmdr. Tom Eaton – a JAG community member currently serving as staff judge advocate at Carrier Strike Group FIFTEEN – was selected as a recipient of the prestigious Leo Gross Prize in International Law.

Sept. 18, 2020

Navy Medicine paralegal specialist receives top professional achievement award

When nominations were being accepted for the Outstanding Navy Legal Professional Award for the Pacific Northwest, there was no hesitation from Naval Hospital Bremerton.

June 3, 2020

Lt. Cmdr. Catherine McMahon is Recognized by UGA Law School

Earlier this year, Lt. Cmdr. Catherine T. (Katie) McMahon – a member of the Navy JAG community – was named a 2020 Young Alumni/Alumnae of Excellence Award recipient by her alma mater, the University of Georgia (UGA) Law School.

May 29, 2020

Cmdr. Craig Thedwall Receives Environmental Achievement Award

On May 13, during a virtual ceremony, Navy JAG community member Cmdr. Craig Thedwall, who currently serves as the Navy Region Northwest environmental counsel, was presented the Richard W. Eddy Environmental Achievement Award.

May 1, 2020

JAG Community Receives ABA LAMP Awards

Every year, the American Bar Association (ABA) recognizes an exemplary practitioner, as well as a legal team, with the prestigious Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP) Distinguished Service Awards. In March, the ABA Standing Committee announced the 2019 recipients: Lt. Rosemarie Lombardi, Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Southeast Branch Office New Orleans, La., received the individual award; and RLSO Southwest Legal Assistance Department received the group award.

April 9, 2020

Lt. Cmdr. Jarrod Franks is Recognized by His Alma Mater

Lt. Cmdr. Jarrod Franks earned his first post-graduate degree in 2009 and hit the ground running. His subsequent professional accomplishments caught the eye of leadership at his alma mater, Arizona State University (ASU), and he recently was selected in 2020 to receive the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law’s Recent Alumni Achievement Award.

March 24, 2020

MCDO’s Officer of the Year!

With his years of experience and lifelong passion, it should come as no surprise that Lt. Charles “Chuck” Ball was named the Military Commissions Defense Organization’s (MCDO) Officer of the Year.

March 3, 2020

Naval Justice School Instructor Leaves a Lasting Impression on His Students

Students of all ranks call him “fantastic,” “motivated and knowledgeable,” and “well-prepared, personable, and professional.” They leave Lt. David Rowley’s legal courses feeling more energized and engaged.

Jan. 24, 2020

2019 JAG Legalman of the Year and Naval Legal Service Command Sailor/Marine of the Year

Leaders of the Navy and Marine Corps Judge Advocate General (JAG) communities honored the achievements and service of the top enlisted Sailors and Marines during a recognition ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard on Jan. 24.

Dec. 6, 2019

CSS-15 Announces Sailors of the Year

Commander, Submarine Squadron Fifteen announced its Sailors of the Year during an all hands call at Konetzni Hall, Nov 14. Capt. Tim Poe and Command Master Chief Eric Baker announced Legalman 1st Class Stacy Oglesby-Peacock as Senior Sailor of the Year and Fire Control Technician 2nd Class Patrick Trevino as the Junior Sailor of the Year.

Nov. 15, 2019

Ms. Jana Rittman Received the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award

Human Resource Specialist at the Bureau of Naval Personnel (BUPERS), Ms. Jana Rittman received the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award for outstanding meritorious service while serving the Judge Advocate General and Commander, Navy Legal Service ...

Oct. 18, 2019

Judge Advocate Honored by Alma Mater

Cmdr. Tim Stone – who currently serves as the officer in charge at Defense Service Office (DSO) West in Bremerton, Wash. – was honored with an Outstanding Achievement Award from his undergraduate alma mater, Ottawa University, on Oct. 11, 2019.

Oct. 11, 2019

JAG Community Member Named Honor Graduate of Sergeants Course

Marine Corps Sgt. Demontre Neal – who currently is assigned to the trial department at the Region Legal Service Office detachment in Pensacola, Fla. – was named Honor Graduate of the Sergeants Course on Sept. 30, 2019, at the National Naval Aviation Museum onboard Naval Air Station Pensacola.

Sept. 20, 2019

LT Thomas Caruso Receives Law School Award

Lt. Thomas M. Caruso has been named a recipient of the 2019 Syracuse Law Honors Awards, which are presented annually to celebrate the achievements of the university’s law school alumni, faculty and current students.

Sept. 13, 2019

Judge Advocates Recognized with 2019 LATINA Style Awards

Two Navy judge advocates – Lt. Cmdr. Margaret “Maggie” Cole and Lt. Melissa “Mely” Rodriguez – were presented with 2019 LATINA Style Meritorious Service Awards on Sept. 5 at the 16th Annual National Latina Symposium in Arlington, Va.

Sept. 6, 2019

American Bar Association Honors Navy Judge Advocates

The career achievements of three Navy judge advocates were recognized by the American Bar Association (ABA) during an awards ceremony in August at the organization's annual meeting in San Francisco, Calif.

Aug. 9, 2019

Distinguished NLSC Attorney Earns Award, Selected for the Executive Leadership Development Program

Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington (RLSO NDW) is proud to announce that Erica S. Riley has been selected to participate in the Department of Defense’s...

Aug. 2, 2019

CNO Naval History Essay Contest Winner

Lt. Philip D. Mayer was selected as a winner of the 2019 CNO Naval History Essay Contest in the category of Rising Historian for his essay "Incubate Innovation: The Development of Naval Aviation in the Interwar Period". Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson presented awards to the winners at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy on the Washington Navy Yard, Washington, DC on July 17. Mayer is currently serving as a first-tour judge advocate at Region Legal Service Office Southeast.  He graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with Bachelor of Arts degrees in Political Science and Peace, War, and Defense. 

July 9, 2019

NCIS SJA Presents Law Enforcement Public Service Award to Interagency Investigative Team

Lt. David Layne, staff judge advocate, Executive Assistant Director for Atlantic Operations Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), presented a public service award to members of the NCIS, Defense Criminal investigative Service, Internal Revenue Service, and Federal Bureau of Investigation for their work in the case of United States v. Randolph M. Prince.

June 14, 2019

Officers Receive Outstanding Career Judge Advocate Awards

On May 21, the exceptional achievements of two members of the Navy JAG community – Cmdr. Katherine “Katy” Pasieta and Cmdr. Ann Vallandingham – were acknowledged with Outstanding Career Judge Advocate Awards. Th...

May 31, 2019

Capt. Lia Reynolds Wins 2019 Burton Award

Capt. Lia Reynolds, commanding officer of Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Hawaii, received the 2019 Burton Award for Public Service in the Military at an awards ceremony at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. on May 20. The Burton Award...

May 24, 2019

JAG Community Commands Earn Retention Awards

Three JAG community commands were selected for the Fiscal Year 2018 Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education (MPT&E) Retention Excellence Award:

May 17, 2019

Navy Judge Advocate Awarded the U.S. Special Operations Command Garrison Award

Lt. Cmdr. Charles (“Charlie”) Gough was awarded the 2018 U. S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Garrison Award. The Maj. Gen. Garrison award is presented to the attorney or paralegal who b...

Feb. 1, 2019

Legalman 7th Fleet Sea Sailor of the Year

Commander, U.S. 7th Fleet Vice Admiral Phil Sawyer announced the 2018 Sailor of the Year during a ceremony held at the Chief Petty Officer’s Club in Yokosuka, Japan Jan 17th. This year’s competition featured 9 Sailors competing for the prestigious award. “