Navy JAG Corps Judge Advocate General's Corps

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 …

On May 13, during a virtual ceremony, Navy JAG community member Cmdr. Craig Thedwall, who currently serves as the Navy Region Northwest environmental counsel, was presented the Richard W. Eddy Environmental Achievement Award.

Twenty years ago, the “Eddy Award” was established to recognize outstanding performance and invaluable assistance in support of the Naval Litigation Office (NLO) during environmental litigation. Mr. Eddy served as the assistant director of the NLO from …

No two days are the same for Lt. Timothy Garcia, who leads the bustling Region Legal Service Office Southwest branch office located at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, Nev.

In fact, Garcia’s role as branch head is just one of many responsibilities he juggles. Supporting the personnel who populate the “Supercarrier in the Desert” can be unpredictable and challenging, but it is never dull and always rewarding.

Despite its remote …

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 …

Lt. Cmdr. Jarrod Franks earned his first post-graduate degree in 2009 and hit the ground running. His subsequent professional accomplishments caught the eye of leadership at his alma mater, Arizona State
University (ASU), and he recently was selected in 2020 to receive the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law’s Recent Alumni Achievement Award.

The Recent Alumni Achievement Award recognizes alumni of the law school who have graduated within the past …

The Navy JAG community's In-Service Procurement Program (IPP) Selection Board convened to consider 13 highly qualified candidates on Feb. 4, 2020. The board relied upon the “whole person” concept to identify applicants with the greatest potential for successful service as a Navy judge advocate. Ultimately, Legalman 2nd Class Cade A. Sawyer was named the 2020 IPP selected.

In 2014, Sawyer enlisted in the Navy, and he began his career with …

With his years of experience and lifelong passion, it should come as no surprise that Lt. Charles “Chuck” Ball was named the Military Commissions Defense Organization’s (MCDO) Officer of the Year.  

Ball joined the Navy in the spring of 2016 at the age of 40. After more than 15 years of experience in private practice, and a lifelong desire to serve in the military, a friend from the Army encouraged …

Capt. D. Monique Brown – Commanding Officer, Navy Reserve, Navy-Marine Corps Appellate Review Activity – took part in a joint swearing-in ceremony during the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas on Jan. 4.

Brown – alongside O6 representatives from every branch of military service, as well as an Air Force flag officer – formally enlisted 25 new Navy recruits on the football …

Students of all ranks call him “fantastic,” “motivated and knowledgeable,” and “well-prepared, personable, and professional.” They leave Lt. David Rowley’s legal courses feeling more energized and engaged.

Rowley teaches a wide range of courses – including the Legal Officer Course and the Senior Leader Legal Course – at the Naval Justice School (NJS) detachment in Norfolk, Va.

Rowley reported to NJS – where he serves as Assistant Officer in Charge …

Lt. Cmdr. Jarrod Franks selected to participate in the prestigious program

The Presidential Leadership Scholars (PLS) program has announced that Lt. Cmdr. Jarrod Franks -- a member of the Navy JAG community -- has been selected as one of the 60 Scholars chosen for the program’s sixth annual class. PLS serves as a catalyst for a diverse network of leaders brought together to collaborate and make a difference in the …

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 …

Region Legal Service Office Detachment Groton (RLSO MIDLANT Det. Groton) hosted Vice Adm. John G. Hannink on Dec. 19, 2019.  Hannink the Groton team while en route to Newport, R.I., to address graduates at Naval Justice School. 

Hannink spent a day at Det. Groton and toured the local Defense Service Office, Victims Legal Counsel office, and RLSO spaces.  He took time to speak with each attorney and paralegal individually about …

Beginning in 2020, the Navy’s Legalman (LN) community is expanding career opportunities for Sailors interested in cross-rating.

Changes have been made to the LN rating’s prerequisites in order to boost recruitment. These measures include reducing the minimum typing requirement, opening conversion opportunities to some E-6s on a case-by-case basis, and eliminating the required completion of college-level credits in English.

“The intention of these changes is to increase the pool of …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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, …

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 …