Navy JAG Corps Judge Advocate General's Corps

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 Office of the Judge Advocate General's Legal Assistance Division (Code 16) team for its extraordinary mission impact during 2020, at the Washington Navy Yard.   

Capt. De Tolve presented Code 16's acting Division Director Ms. Kate Somerville with the Department of the Navy (DON) Superior …

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. Legalman 1st Class Sophia Davis was named Office of the Secretary of Defense …

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).

LAMP fosters the continued growth of the military legal assistance programs; promotes the delivery of legal services to military personnel and their family members, and works with other organizations to enhance the scope, quality, and delivery of free or affordable legal services …

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. 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.

Navy Legalman 1st Class Bryan Fox …

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.

“DeNealia is the consummate professional,” said Cmdr. Chris Kimball, COMSUBPAC Force Judge Advocate. …

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.

This year, the CNO was specifically interested in essays that address efforts by China and Russia to use their economic, political and military powers to compete for commercial, geostrategic, political and military advantage and …

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.

The award was created to recognize substantial scholarship and entries are evaluated for excellence in military legal studies. The winner …

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.

The award is presented by members of the US Naval Academy’s Class of 1971, which has a special relationship with USS Theodore Roosevelt (TR) because of the commonality between their graduation year and the ship’s hull number. Members …

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.

Originally from Southern California, Eaton received a Bachelor of Arts in history from Point Loma University in 2004, a Juris Doctor from the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in 2008, and a …

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

The submission was prescient.

Ms. Marquita Hooks, paralegal specialist in the command’s Judge Advocate office was selected as the award recipient for her outstanding achievement, performance of duty, leadership, special accomplishment and significant public or community service.

“I have been in a daze ever since my …

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.

McMahon – who currently serves in Rota, Spain as a victims' legal counsel (VLC) representing victims of sexual assault – was recognized for her commitment and dedication to both her country …

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 from the Region Legal Service Office (RLSO) Southeast Branch Office in New Orleans, La., received the individual award; and the RLSO Southwest Legal Assistance Department received the group …

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.

Navy Legalman 1st Class (Surface Warfare/Aviation Warfare/Information Warfare) Keiana K. Zinnah – who is assigned to the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) as the Legal Officer and Executive Department Leading Petty Officer – has been …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 -- …