Lt. Cmdr. Paul C. Kapfer, Region Legal Service Office Naval District Washington (RLSO NDW), retired from active duty after twenty years of service in a ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard, Jan. 23, 2015. Capt. Tammy P. Tideswell served as the guest speaker and spoke at length regarding Kapfer’s leadership and dedication to service.
Kapfer reported to Naval Air Station Brunswick, Maine, in 1995 as a trial counsel and branch head before moving into ethics and military affairs at the Office of the Judge Advocate General's Administrative Law Division (Code 13). After serving as the staff judge advocate (SJA) for the Naval Security Group, he was the first Navy judge advocate to serve with Multi-National Corps in Iraq. He then served as SJA for Navy Medicine Support Command at Bethesda Naval Hospital and for Recruit Training Command in Great Lakes, Ill., before becoming the executive officer of RLSO Midwest from 2008-2010. Tideswell served as one of Kapfer’s two commanding officers at RLSO Midwest and spoke highly of his work in promoting the command and ensuring its personnel received JAG Corps-wide professional recognition.
From 2010-2013 Kapfer served as the Navy liaison to the Center for Law and Military Operations, focusing on piracy and Law of the Sea, and editing a book on legal operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since then, Kapfer has served as the RLSO NDW legal assistance department head, ensuring unit readiness by helping sailors and their families navigate complicated legal issues. Capt. Gregory Smith, commanding officer of RLSO NDW, presented Kapfer with his fifth Meritorious Service Medal at the event, the citation for which lauded him for the “provision of over 12,100 services to more than 3,200 clients, personally advising 250 clients and preparing 300 estate planning documents.”
In his retirement speech, Kapfer took the time to focus on how JAGs serve their larger Navy community by creating environments in which others can thrive. Whether advising operational commanders, promoting rule of law in a conflict area, or safeguarding the environment of public perception so the Navy as a whole can operate effectively, he stressed the important role of counselor and facilitator that JAGs must play. Kapfer also took the opportunity to thank his colleagues and family, “It was great to celebrate 20 years of service surrounded by friends and loved ones, and to honor my wife Marianne for all the ways she served as well. Thanks to RLSO NDW for a great sendoff, to Capt. Smith for his support, and to Capt. Tideswell for serving as guest speaker." In his retirement speech, Kapfer took the time to focus on how JAGs serve their larger Navy community by creating environments in which others can thrive. Whether advising operational commanders, promoting rule of law in a conflict area, or safeguarding the environment of public perception so the Navy as a whole can operate effectively, he stressed the important role of counselor and facilitator that JAGs must play. Kapfer also took the opportunity to thank his colleagues and family, “It was great to celebrate 20 years of service surrounded by friends and loved ones, and to honor my wife Marianne for all the ways she served as well. Thanks to RLSO NDW for a great sendoff, to Capt. Smith for his support, and to Capt. Tideswell for serving as guest speaker."