Today, the Navy JAG Corps will hold a change of office ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard. During the traditional change of office ceremony, presided over by the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M. Richardson, Vice Adm. James W. Crawford III will retire and be relieved by Vice Adm. John G. Hannink who will become the 44th Judge Advocate General of the Navy.   Today, the Navy JAG Corps will hold a change of office ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard. During the traditional change of office ceremony, presided over by the Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John M. Richardson, Vice Adm. James W. Crawford III will retire and be relieved by Vice Adm. John G. Hannink who will become the 44th Judge Advocate General of the Navy.  

Rear Adm. Darse E. Crandall will become Deputy Judge Advocate General and assume command of Naval Legal Service Command. Rear Adm. Darse E. Crandall will become Deputy Judge Advocate General and assume command of Naval Legal Service Command. Vice Adm. James W. Crawford III, the 43rd Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Navy, will retire after 34 years of distinguished of service. Before his appointment to flag rank, he served as Special Counsel to the Chief of Naval Operations, the senior Staff Judge Advocate for Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, and as the Fleet Judge Advocate for U.S. Seventh Fleet. In command, he served as Commanding Officer, Region Legal Service Office Southeast. Crawford also served at Navy Personnel Command, the Office of the Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Naval War College, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, the Naval Justice School, and Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight.       Vice Adm. James W. Crawford III, the 43rd Judge Advocate General (JAG) of the Navy, will retire after 34 years of distinguished of service. Before his appointment to flag rank, he served as Special Counsel to the Chief of Naval Operations, the senior Staff Judge Advocate for Commander, U.S. Pacific Command, and as the Fleet Judge Advocate for U.S. Seventh Fleet. In command, he served as Commanding Officer, Region Legal Service Office Southeast. Crawford also served at Navy Personnel Command, the Office of the Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Naval War College, Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe, the Naval Justice School, and Cruiser-Destroyer Group Eight.      

When sworn in today, Rear Adm. John G. Hannink will become the 44th Judge Advocate General of the Navy. As the Judge Advocate General, Hannink will be the principal military legal counsel to the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations and serve as the Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs (REPOPA). As the Judge Advocate General, he will lead the 2,300 attorneys, enlisted legalmen, and civilian employees of the worldwide Navy JAG Corps community.  Following graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985, Hannink completed pilot training at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. Hannink then entered the Navy’s Law Education Program and graduated from Baylor Law School in 1994. He later earned a Master of Laws degree in International Law from George Washington University Law School.       When sworn in today, Rear Adm. John G. Hannink will become the 44th Judge Advocate General of the Navy. As the Judge Advocate General, Hannink will be the principal military legal counsel to the Secretary of the Navy and Chief of Naval Operations and serve as the Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs (REPOPA). As the Judge Advocate General, he will lead the 2,300 attorneys, enlisted legalmen, and civilian employees of the worldwide Navy JAG Corps community.  Following graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985, Hannink completed pilot training at Naval Air Station Kingsville, Texas. Hannink then entered the Navy’s Law Education Program and graduated from Baylor Law School in 1994. He later earned a Master of Laws degree in International Law from George Washington University Law School.      

When sworn in today, Rear Adm. “Del” Crandall a native of Elgin, Ill., will assume duties as the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy (DJAG) and Commander, Naval Legal Service Command (CNLSC).  As the DJAG, he will also serve as the Deputy Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs. As CNLSC, he will lead the attorneys, enlisted legalmen, and civilian employees of 14 commands that provide prosecution and defense services, legal services to individuals, specialized legal training, and legal support to Navy units around the world. He was commissioned in 1984 through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Program at Northwestern University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. In 1992, he graduated from Georgetown University Law Center, cum laude. While serving as administrative assistant and aide to the deputy chief of Naval Operations (Naval Warfare), Crandall was selected for the law education program. When sworn in today, Rear Adm. “Del” Crandall a native of Elgin, Ill., will assume duties as the Deputy Judge Advocate General of the Navy (DJAG) and Commander, Naval Legal Service Command (CNLSC).  As the DJAG, he will also serve as the Deputy Department of Defense Representative for Ocean Policy Affairs. As CNLSC, he will lead the attorneys, enlisted legalmen, and civilian employees of 14 commands that provide prosecution and defense services, legal services to individuals, specialized legal training, and legal support to Navy units around the world. He was commissioned in 1984 through the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Program at Northwestern University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics. In 1992, he graduated from Georgetown University Law Center, cum laude. While serving as administrative assistant and aide to the deputy chief of Naval Operations (Naval Warfare), Crandall was selected for the law education program.