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 Adm. John G. Hannink, the 44th judge advocate general of the Navy. “Carol understands the Navy, cares deeply about its mission, and treasured everyone in her community.”
Reardanz was nominated to flag rank in March while serving as Reserve deputy force judge advocate for Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command, as well as the Navy Reserve Law Program Pillar 3 Lead (international, environmental, and admiralty law specialties). In his civilian capacity, he has held various local government positions, including as the chief executive officer of a Washington state port authority, a municipal attorney, a museum director, and a waterfront redevelopment project manager.
In his new position, Reardanz will be responsible for leading Reserve Component officers and enlisted personnel to ensure the provision of legal services to commands around the world.
“Les Reardanz is bright, engaging and humble, and he’s every bit a true professional – as an officer and as an attorney,” said Hannink. “The Navy JAG Corps is going to use his experience as we continue our efforts to ensure that every single judge advocate who deploys forward is ready to face the very real challenges that are out there – ready in a month, ready in a week, and ready on day one to do what needs to be done.”
Reardanz is a native of Illinois and holds his Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of California Davis and his Juris Doctor from Southwestern University School of Law. His operational tours include forward-deployed mobilizations as legal advisor, Combined Security Transition Command, Afghanistan; chief, Rule of Law for International Security Assistance Forces, Afghanistan; and chief, Operational Law at U.S. Central Command.
His command and senior leadership tours include serving as commanding officer of Navy Reserve (NR) Region Legal Service Office Northwest; staff judge advocate for the Reserve Component Command, Navy Region Northwest; and the first commanding officer of NR Commander, Pacific Fleet Legal; Reardanz also is an appointed member of the National Navy Reserve Policy Board.
“I am so very proud of the amazing law firm we support,” said Lynch. “My family, friends, teammates, shipmates and colleagues are my foundation – I would not be here today without all of you.”
Lynch entered active duty in 1986 and transitioned to the Reserve Component in 1993. Since then, she has served as executive officer and commanding officer of Naval Reserve Civil Law Support Activity 108 in support of the Legal Assistance Division of the Office of the JAG; and as commanding officer, Naval Reserve Navy-Marine Corps Appellate Review Activity, providing appellate defense representation in support of the Appellate Defense Division.
There currently are more than 600 Reserve judge advocates and petty officers practicing in the fields of military justice, national security law, legal assistance, admiralty, and other specialized areas. They serve throughout the U.S. and abroad.