News 2019

Judge Advocates Pen Chapters for New Book

Judge Advocates Pen Chapters for New Book

December 13th, 2019

Navy judge advocates Cmdr. Tim Boyle and Cmdr. Sean Thompson were published in the recently released book, The Law of Naval Warfare, which was compiled by the University of Adelaide Law School in Australia.

Boyle – who currently serves as Assistant Fleet Judge Advocate (National Security Law) at U.S. Fifth Fleet in Bahrain – wrote a chapter titled, “At the Edges of Peace and War: Non-Traditional Vessels in Great …

CSS-15 Announces Sailors of the Year

CSS-15 Announces Sailors of the Year

December 6th, 2019

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.

"We have a large number of Sailors here at squadron that put in their …

USS GHWB Legal Department Earn Qualifications

November 22nd, 2019

The Legal Department aboard USS George H. W. Bush (CVN 77) crushed qualifications!  Lt. SaraAnn Bennett qualified as Officer of the Deck (Underway) (OOD(U/W)), Legalman 1st Class Precious Lee and Legalman 3rd Class Tiffany Williams earned Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) qualifications, and Legalman 1st Class Jonathan White earned Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist (EAWS) qualification. 

The ESWS and EAWS qualifications help legalmen better understand the different departments on the ship …

Navy Reserve Law Program Luminary Retires

November 20th, 2019

On Nov. 2, 2019, Capt. Bradley Cordts -- a widely respected member of the Navy Reserve Law Program -- retired after 31 years of service. The ceremony was held at the World War II Museum in New Orleans, La. Capt. Mark Holley -- who currently leads the Inspector General's office at the JAG community headquarters -- served as the master of ceremonies and Rear Adm. (ret.) Carol M. Lynch officiated the …

Ms. Jana Rittman Received the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award

Ms. Jana Rittman Received the Navy Meritorious Civilian Service Award

November 15th, 2019

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 Command from August 2014 through June 2019.

Rittman’s service has been marked by outstanding professionalism and dedication.  She skillfully oversaw the day-to-day management behind personnel decisions was especially critical to the JAG Corps attaining the …

Judge Advocate and Harvard Law School Fellow Shares Public Service Experience

November 8th, 2019

Lt. Joshua Fiveson – a judge advocate currently assigned to the Appellate Government Division at the Office of the Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Navy – provided remarks at the 20th annual dinner for Harvard Law School (HLS) Heyman Fellows in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 17.

Fiveson – a 2016 Heyman Fellow who joined the Navy JAG Corps in 2013 – spoke passionately about the importance of public service, …

VLC Team Member Coordinates Charitable Drive in Naples

November 1st, 2019

In late August, Navy Yeoman 2nd Class Coryna Houston – who currently is stationed in Naples, Italy, and provides administrative support to the Navy JAG community’s Victims' Legal Counsel (VLC) program – coordinated an extremely successful humanitarian drive for a nearby immigrant family shelter.

She already is coordinating a second humanitarian drive to benefit local residents in need, which she expects to take place January or February 2020.

“I've always …

Reservist Re-affiliates with Navy Reserve Law Program

Reservist Re-affiliates with Navy Reserve Law Program

October 25th, 2019

Lt. Cmdr. Christopher Baugh – an accomplished civilian attorney, as well as a former judge advocate and Navy Reserve member – re-affiliated with the Navy Reserve Law Program. Motivated by a sense of duty, Baugh re-commissioned after nearly 11 years of separation from naval service.

“Re-commissioning was like opening a door I thought was closed, and finding a renewed sense of purpose,” said Baugh. “It was a homecoming of sorts …

Judge Advocate Honored by Alma Mater

Judge Advocate Honored by Alma Mater

October 18th, 2019

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.

Stone earned a bachelor of arts degree in history in 1990 from Ottawa University, which is located in Ottawa, Kan. Upon graduation, he attended Washburn University School of Law in …

JAG Community Member Named Honor Graduate of Sergeants Course

JAG Community Member Named Honor Graduate of Sergeants Course

October 11th, 2019

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.

Sergeants Course is a resident Professional Military Education course required for advancement within the Marine Corps’ enlisted ranks. The course – which …

Navy Reserve Law Program Holds Change of Office

Navy Reserve Law Program Holds Change of Office

October 8th, 2019

WASHINGTON (NNS) – Rear Adm. Les E. Reardanz relieved Rear Adm. Carol M. Lynch as the deputy judge advocate general of the Navy for Reserve Affairs and Operations, and deputy commander, Naval Legal Service Command, at a change of office ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard Oct. 4.

“Those of you here today know the true value our Reservists brought to the JAG Corps under Carol Lynch’s leadership,” said Vice …

Judge Advocate Helps Plan Women’s Symposium in Sasebo

October 4th, 2019

Lt. Shauna Morris – a judge advocate assigned to Defense Service Office (DSO) Pacific – played an integral role in the planning and execution of the 2019 Sasebo Women’s Waterfront Symposium on Sept. 18 at the Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo (CFAS) Community Education Center.

Morris worked closely with Cmdr. Greta Densham, commanding officer of Naval Beach Unit 7, to design an inclusive and productive event. The symposium, titled “Embracing Life …

LT Thomas Caruso Receives Law School Award

September 20th, 2019

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.

A tireless advocate for veterans rights, Caruso co-founded the Betty and Michael D. Wohl Family Veterans Legal Clinic, the first comprehensive veterans legal clinic in New York State. As a student and alum, Caruso has …

Judge Advocates Recognized with 2019 LATINA Style Awards

Judge Advocates Recognized with 2019 LATINA Style Awards

September 13th, 2019

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.

The award recognizes military and Department of Defense civilian personnel who have enhanced the role of Latinas in their organizations in the areas of equal opportunity, civil rights programs, and public service …

American Bar Association Honors Navy Judge Advocates

American Bar Association Honors Navy Judge Advocates

September 6th, 2019

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.

Lt. Jim Howland -- branch officer at Defense Service Office West, Guam -- was presented with the ABA Outstanding Young Military Service Lawyer Award. Lt. Ben Maddox -- deputy staff judge advocate for the Commandant, Naval District Washington -- …

Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Holds Gender and Diversity Forum

August 30th, 2019

Lt. Cmdr. Sarah R. Dorsett assisted Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island host a successful “Mission Readiness: Gender and Diversity in the United States Navy” forum on Ault Field.

Dorsett served as the Installation Staff Judge Advocate and the Branch Head and Legal Assistance attorney at Region Legal Service Office Northwest (RLSO NW) Branch Office Whidbey Island from July 2016 through July 2019.

Capt. Matt Arny, commanding officer of NAS …

JAG Community Member Completes Clerkship at D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals

August 30th, 2019

Navy judge advocate Lt. Cmdr. Ben Adams took a new oath of office during a special ceremony at the National Archives in Washington, D.C., Aug. 13. Adams returned to active duty after completing a one-year clerkship at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Judge Thomas Griffith – who was nominated to the court in 2005 by President George W. Bush – administered Adams’s oath of office. Adams …

Navy JAG Corps Officers Benefit from the Career Intermission Program

August 30th, 2019

On Aug. 29, Navy judge advocate Lt. Cmdr. Ben Adams reported to Defense Service Office West (Detachment Bremerton) after a one-year career intermission to complete a clerkship at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Adams is one of several judge advocates who have taken advantage of the Navy’s Career Intermission Program (CIP), which allows service members – for various personal and professional reasons – to transfer …

Navy Hosts First Joint-Service Disability Evaluation System Certification Course

August 20th, 2019

The Navy’s Disability Evaluation System Counsel Program (DESCP) hosted the first-ever Joint Service DESCP Training and Certification Course at Lackland Air Force Base, July 15-18. Nearly 200 practitioners from all branches of service attended this milestone event, which was planned and staffed by JAG community personnel.

“The information we learned at this critical training course will help us better serve our nation’s wounded warriors,” said Capt. David Gonzalez, director of …

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

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

August 9th, 2019

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 (DoD) prestigious and highly competitive Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP). Riley will be in the 2020 ELDP cohort. 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 …

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